Central Java

It has a total area of 34,347.43 km 2, with a population of 36,516,035 at the 2020 Census making it the third-most populous province in both Java and Indonesia after West Java and East Java. The official population estimate in mid-2025 was 38,233,930 (comprising 19,203,430 males and 19,030,500 females), still increasing at the rate of 330,000 per year. The province also includes a number of offshore islands, including the island of Nusakambangan in the south (close to the border of West Java), and the Karimun Jawa Islands in the Java Sea. Also a cultural concept that includes the Yogyakarta Special Region, in turn including the city of Yogyakarta; however, administratively that city and its surrounding regencies have formed a separate special region (equivalent to a province) since the country's independence, and is administered separately. Although known as the "heart" of Javanese culture, there are several other non-Javanese ethnic groups, such as the Sundanese on the border with West Java. Chinese Indonesians, Arab Indonesians, and Indian Indonesians are also scattered throughout the province. The province has been inhabited by humans since the prehistoric-era. Remains of a Homo erectus, known as "Java Man", were found along the banks of the Bengawan Solo, and date back to 1.7 million years ago. What is present-day Central Java was once under the control of several Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms, Islamic sultanates, and the Dutch East Indies colonial government. Also the centre of the Indonesian independence movement.

• Name — Central Java • Native Name — Jawa Tengah • Official Name — Province of Central Java Provinsi Jawa Tengah • Shield Size — 110 • Motto — Prasetya Ulah Sakti Bhakti Praja (Javanese) ꦥꦿꦱꦼꦠꦾꦲꦸꦭꦃꦱꦏ꧀ꦠꦶꦧꦏ꧀ꦠꦶꦥꦿꦗ "The Powerful Devotion for the Country" • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — Indonesia • Subdivision Type1 — Region • Subdivision Name1 — Java (Western Indonesia) • Established Title — Established • Established Date — 19 August 1945 • Seat Type — Capital and largest city • Seat — Semarang • Governing Body — Central Java Provincial Government • Leader Title — Governor • Leader Name — Ahmad Luthfi (Gerindra) • Leader Title2 — Vice Governor • Leader Name2 — Taj Yasin Maimoen • Leader Title3 — Legislature • Leader Name3 — Central Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) • Unit Pref — Metric • Area Total Km2 — 34347.43 • Area Rank — 25th in Indonesia • Population Total — 38233930 • Population As Of — mid 2025 estimate • Population Density Km2 — auto • Demographics Type1 — Demographics • Demographics1 Title1 — Ethnic groups • Time Zone1 — Indonesia Western Time • Utc Offset1 — +7 • Iso Code — ID-JT • Website — jatengprov.go.id • Type — Province • Elevation Max M — 3428 • Elevation Max Point — Mount Slamet • Demographics1 Info1 — 97.9% Javanese 1.4% Sundanese 0.4% Chinese 0.3% other • Demographics1 Title2 — Religion • Demographics1 Info2 — 97.30% Islam • 2.50% Christianity • 1.58% Protestantism • 0.92% Catholicism 0.14% Buddhism 0.04% Hinduism 0.02% Kejawèn 0.04% Confucainism • Demographics1 Title3 — Languages and dialects • Demographics1 Info3 — Indonesian (official) Javanese (native) Sundanese • Custom Label Sec1 — GDP (nominal) • Custom Data Sec1 — 2024 • Custom Label1 Sec1 — - Total • Custom Data1 Sec1 — Rp 1,817.8 trillion (4th) US$ 114.6 billion Int$ 382.8 billion (PPP) • Custom Label2 Sec1 — - Per capita • Custom Data2 Sec1 — Rp 48.0 million (31st) US$ 3,024 Int$ 10,104 (PPP) • Custom Label3 Sec1 — - Growth • Custom Data3 Sec1 — 4.95% • Custom Label4 Sec1 — HDI (2024) • Custom Data4 Sec1 — 0.739 (20th) – high

• Illustration — Fossil of the Java Man, found in Sangiran, Sragen Regency Java has been inhabited by humans or their ancestors (hominina) since prehistoric times. In Central Java and the adjacent territories in East Java remains known as "Java Man" were discovered in the 1890s by the Dutch anatomist and geologist Eugène Dubois. It belongs to the species Homo erectus, and are believed to be about 1.7 million years old. The Sangiran site is an important prehistoric site on Java. Around years ago, Australoid peoples related to modern Australian Aboriginals and Melanesians settled in Central Java. They were assimilated or replaced by Mongoloid Austronesians by about 3,000 BC, who brought technologies of pottery, outrigger canoes, the bow and arrow, and introduced domesticated pigs, fowls, and dogs. They also introduced cultivated rice and millet.

• Illustration — The shattered kingdom, Mataram in 1830, after the Java War. By the late 16th century, European traders began to frequent central Javanese ports. The Dutch established a presence in the region through the East India Company. Following the fall of Demak to Mataram under the reign of Sultan Agung, Mataram was able to conquer almost all of Java by the 17th century, but internal disputes and Dutch intervention forced it to cede more land to the Dutch. These cessions led to several partitions of Mataram. The first was after the 1755 Treaty of Giyanti, which divided the kingdom in two, the Sultanates of Surakarta and Yogyakarta. Surakarta was divided again with the establishment of the Mangkunegaran following the 1757 Treaty of Salatiga. During the Napoleonic Wars, Central Java as a Dutch colony was taken over by the British. In 1813, the Sultanate of Yogyakarta was divided with the establishment of the Pakualaman. Following the departure of the British, the Dutch returned as stipulated in the Congress of Vienna. The Java War between 1825 and 1830 ravaged Central Java, which resulted in a consolidation of the Dutch power. The power and the territories of the already divided Mataram were greatly reduced. After the war, the Netherlands enforced the Cultivation System which was linked to famines and epidemics in the 1840s, first in Cirebon and then Central Java, as cash crops such as indigo and sugar had to be grown instead of rice. In the 1900s, the predecessor of the modern Central Java was created, named Gouvernement van Midden-Java. Before 1905, central Java consisted of 5 gewesten (regions) namely Semarang, Rembang, Kedu, Banyumas, and Pekalongan. Surakarta was still an independent vorstenland (autonomous region) which stood alone and consisted of two regions, Surakarta and Mangkunegaran, as well as Yogyakarta. Each gewest consisted of districts. At that time, the Rembang Gewest also included Regentschap Tubanand Regentschap Bojonegoro. After the enactment of the 1905 Decentralisatie Besluit (Decentralisation Decision), the governor was given autonomy and a regional Council was formed. In addition, autonomous gemeente (municipal) was formed, Pekalongan, Tegal, Semarang, Salatiga, and Magelang. In 1930, the province was designated as an autonomous region with a provinciale raad (provincial council). The province consists of several residenties (residencies), covering several regentschap (districts), divided into several kawedanan (districts). Central Java consisted of 5 residences: Pekalongan, Jepara-Rembang, Semarang, Banyumas, and Kedu.

On 1 March 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army landed on Java, and the following week, the Dutch East Indies surrendered to Japan. During Japanese rule, Java and Madura were placed under the Japanese 16th Army. Many who lived in areas considered important to the war effort experienced torture, sex slavery, arbitrary arrest and execution, and other war crimes. Thousands of people were taken away as forced labourers (romusha) for Japanese military projects, including the Burma-Siam and Saketi-Bayah railways, and suffered or died as a result of ill-treatment and starvation. A later UN report stated that four million people died in Indonesia as a result of the Japanese occupation. About 2.4 million people died in Java from famine during 1944–45. • Illustration — Aerial view of the city of Semarang, the capital of Central Java since the Dutch colonial era Following the surrender of Japan, Indonesia proclaimed its independence on 17 August 1945. The final stages of warfare were initiated in October when, under the terms of their surrender, the Japanese tried to re-establish the authority they relinquished to the Indonesians in towns and cities. The fiercest fighting involving the Indonesian pemuda and the Japanese was in Semarang. Six days later, British forces began to occupy the city, after which retreating Indonesian Republican forces retaliated by killing between 130 and 300 Japanese prisoners. Five hundred Japanese and 2,000 Indonesians had been killed, and the Japanese had almost captured the city when British forces arrived. The province of Central Java was formed on 15 August 1950, excluding Yogyakarta but including Surakarta. There has been no significant changes in the administrative division of the province ever since. In the aftermath of the 30 September Movement in 1965, an anti-communist purge took place in Central Java, in which the army and community vigilante groups killed Communists and leftists, both actual and alleged. Others were interned in concentration camps, the most infamous of which was on the isle of Buru in Maluku, first used as a place of political exile by the Dutch. Some were executed years later, but most were released in 1979 In 1998, near the downfall of Suharto, anti-Chinese violence broke out in Surakarta (Solo) and surrounding areas, in which Chinese property and other buildings were burnt down. The following year, public buildings in Surakarta were burnt by supporters of Megawati Sukarnoputri after Indonesia's parliament chose Abdurrahman Wahid instead of Megawati for the presidency. The 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake in the south and Yogyakarta devastated many buildings and caused thousands of deaths and more than injuries.

• Illustration — Tree-cover loss year in Central Java, 2001-2024, from the Global Forest Change dataset. • Illustration — Landscape of the Serayu River Valley, with Mount Slamet in the background • Illustration — Mount Sindoro and Mount Sumbing viewed from the Dieng Pleteau According to the slope level of land in Central Java, 38% of the land has a slope of 0–2%, 31% has a slope of 2–15%, 19% has a slope of 15–40%, and the remaining 12% has a slope of more than 40%. The northern coastal region of Central Java has a narrow lowland. In the Brebes area, it is 40 km wide from the coast, while in Semarang, it is only 4 km wide. This plain continues with the depression of Semarang-Rembang in the east. Mount Muria at the end of the Ice Age (around 10,000 years BC) was a separate island from Java, which eventually fused because of alluvial deposits from flowing rivers. The city of Demak during the era of the Demak Sultanate was on the edge of the sea and became a thriving port. This sedimentation process is still ongoing on the coast of Semarang. In the south of the area are the Northern Cretaceous Mountains and the Kendeng Mountains, which are limestone mountains stretching from the east of Semarang from the Southwest end of Pati then east to the Lamongan and Bojonegoro in East Java. • Illustration — Beach in Karimunjawa Island, Jepara Regency The main range of mountains in Central Java is the North and South Serayu Mountains. The North forms a mountain chain that connects the Bogor range in West Java with the Kendeng Mountains in the east. The width of this mountain range is around 30–50 km; on the western end there is Mount Slamet, which is the highest mountain in Central Java as well as the second-highest mountain in Java, and the eastern part is the Dieng Plateau with peaks of Mount Prahu and Mount Ungaran. Between the series of North and South Serayu Mountains are separated by the Serayu Depression which stretches from Majenang in the Cilacap Regency, Purwokerto, to Wonosobo. East of this depression is the Sindoro and Sumbing volcano, and the east again (Magelang and Temanggung areas) is a continuation of depression which limits Mount Merapi and Mount Merbabu. The Southern Serayu Mountains are part of the South Central Java Basin located in the southern part of the province. This mandala is a geoantiklin that extends from west to east along 100 kilometres and is divided into two parts separated by the Jatilawang valley, namely the western and eastern regions. The western part is formed by Mount Kabanaran (360 m) and can be described as having the same elevation as the Bandung Depression Zone in West Java or as a new structural element in Central Java. This section is separated from the Bogor Zone by the Majenang Depression. The eastern part was built by the Ajibarang anticline (narrow anticline) which was cut by the Serayu River stream. In the east of Banyumas, the anticline developed into an anticlinorium with a width reaching 30 km in the Lukulo area (south of Banjarnegara-Midangan) or often called the Kebumen Tinggi. At the very eastern end of Mandala, the South Serayu Mountains are formed by the dome of the Kulonprogo Mountains (1022 m), which is located between Purworejo and the Progo River. The area of the south coast of Central Java also has a narrow lowland, with a width of 10–25 km. In addition, there are South Gombong Karst Areas. Sloping hills stretch parallel to the coast, from Yogyakarta to Cilacap. East of Yogyakarta is a limestone mountain area that extends to the southern coast of East Java.

• Illustration — Lake Rawa Pening in Semarang Regency The rivers that empty into the Java Sea include the Bengawan Solo River, Kali Pemali, Kali Comal, and Kali Bodri, while the ones that empty into the Indian Ocean include Serayu River, Bogowonto River, Luk Ulo River and Progo River. Bengawan Solo is the longest river on the island of Java (572 km); has a spring in the Sewu Mountains (Wonogiri Regency), this river flows to the north, crosses the City of Surakarta, and finally goes to East Java and empties into the Gresik area (near Surabaya). Among the main reservoirs (lakes) in Central Java are Gunung Rowo Lake (Pati Regency), Gajahmungkur Reservoir (Wonogiri Regency), Kedungombo Reservoir (Boyolali and Sragen Regency), Rawa Pening Lake (Semarang Regency), Cacaban Reservoir (Tegal Regency), Malahayu Reservoir (Brebes Regency), Wadaslintang Reservoir (border of Kebumen Regency and Wonosobo Regency), Gembong Reservoir (Pati Regency), Sempor Reservoir (Kebumen Regency) and Mrica Reservoir (Banjarnegara Regency).

The average temperature in Central Java is between 18-28 °C and the relative humidity varies between 73% and 94%. While the humidity is high in most low-lying parts of the province, it drops significantly in the upper mountains. The highest average annual rainfall of 3,990 mm with 195 rainy days was recorded in Salatiga.

• Illustration — Administrative map of Central Java, showing the boundaries and names of all regencies, cities and districts. On the eve of the World War II in 1942, Central Java was subdivided into seven residencies (Dutch: residentie or plural residenties, Javanese karésiḍènan or karésidhènan) which corresponded more or less with the main regions of this area. These residencies were: • Residency — Containing present-day Regencies and Cities — Population mid 2025 • Banjoemas — Cilacap, Banyumas, Purbalingga and Banjarnegara — 6,027,030 • Kedoe — Kebumen, Purworejo, Wonosobo, Magelang and Temanggung plus City of Magelang — 5,460,330 • Gouvernement Jogjakarta — Kulon Progo, Bantul, Gunungkidal and Slemen plus City of Yogyakarta — 3,781,550 • Gouvernement Soerakarta — Boyolali, Klaten, Sukoharjo, Wonogiri, Karanganyar and Sragen plus City of Surakarta — 6,927,120 • Djapara-Rembang — Grobogan, Blora, Rembang, Pati, Kudus and Jepara — 6,621,590 • Semarang — Demak, Semarang and Kendal plus Cities of Salatiga and Semarang — 5,366,070 • Pekalongan — Batang, Pekalongan, Pemalang, Tegal and Brebes plus Cities of Pekalongan and Tegal — 7,831,780 The Southeastern (Solo) area (or Gouvernement Soerakarta) used to be the Surakarta Sunanate until the monarchy was unrecognized by the Indonesian government. However, after the local elections in 1957, the role of these residencies were reduced in significance until they finally disappeared. The only major boundary change since the creation of the province took place on 14 June 1965, when a new Batang Regency was formed from the eastern half of Pekalongan Regency. Today, Central Java (excluding Special Region of Yogyakarta, which is the former Gouvernement Jogjakarta) is divided into 29 regencies (kabupaten) and six cities (kota, previously kotamadya and kota pradja), the latter being independent of any regency. These contemporary regencies and cities can further be subdivided into 565 districts (kecamatan). These districts are further divided into rural villages (desa) and 764 urban villages (kelurahan).

• Code — Coat of arms — Name — Capital — Area (km 2) — Population (mid 2025) — Level 3 — Level 4 — Location map • # — SNI Kode SNI 7657:2023 — English — Bahasa Indonesia — Javanese (Hanacaraka) — Dis. District — UV Urban village — RV Rural village • — Cilacap Regency — Kabupaten Cilacap — ꦕꦶꦭꦕꦥ꧀ — Cilacap — 2,325,17 — 2,046,390 — 24 — 15 — 269 — • — Banyumas Regency — Kabupaten Banyumas — ꦧꦚꦸꦩꦱ꧀ — Purwokerto — 1,391.15 — 1,865,270 — 27 — 30 — 301 — • — Purbalingga Regency — Kabupaten Purbalingga — ꦥꦸꦂꦧꦭꦶꦁꦒ — Purbalingga — 805.76 — 1,047,760 — 18 — 15 — 224 — • — Banjarnegara Regency — Kabupaten Banjarnegara — ꦧꦚ꧀ꦗꦂꦤꦼꦒꦫ — Banjarnegara — 1,144.90 — 1,067,610 — 20 — 12 — 266 — • — Kebumen Regency — Kabupaten Kebumen — ꦏꦼꦧꦸꦩꦺꦤ꧀ — Kebumen — 1,333.90 — 1,431,780 — 26 — 11 — 449 — • — Purworejo Regency — Kabupaten Purworejo — ꦥꦸꦂꦮꦉꦗ — Purworejo — 1,081.76 — 801,670 — 16 — 25 — 469 — • — Wonosobo Regency — Kabupaten Wonosobo — ꦮꦤꦱꦧ — Wonosobo — 1,011.62 — 931,140 — 15 — 29 — 236 — • — Magelang Regency — Kabupaten Magelang — ꦩꦒꦼꦭꦁ — Mungkid — 1,129.98 — 1,351,950 — 21 — 5 — 367 — • — Boyolali Regency — Kabupaten Boyolali — ꦧꦺꦴꦪꦭꦭꦶ — Boyolali — 1,096.61 — 1,109,330 — 22 — 6 — 261 — • — Klaten Regency — Kabupaten Klaten — ꦏ꧀ꦭꦛꦺꦤ꧀ — Klaten — 701.51 — 1,300,940 — 26 — 10 — 391 — • — Sukoharjo Regency — Kabupaten Sukoharjo — ꦱꦸꦏꦲꦂꦗ — Sukoharjo — 493.60 — 950,420 — 12 — 17 — 150 — • — Wonogiri Regency — Kabupaten Wonogiri — ꦮꦤꦒꦶꦫꦶ — Wonogiri — 1,905.82 — 1,057,050 — 25 — 43 — 251 — • — Karanganyar Regency — Kabupaten Karanganyar — ꦏꦫꦔꦚꦂ — Karanganyar — 802.85 — 968,480 — 17 — 15 — 162 — • — Sragen Regency — Kabupaten Sragen — ꦯꦿꦒꦺꦤ꧀ — Sragen — 994.57 — 1,011,820 — 20 — 12 — 196 — • — Grobogan Regency — Kabupaten Grobogan — ꦒꦿꦺꦴꦧꦺꦴꦒꦤ꧀ — Purwodadi — 2,023.85 — 1,519,380 — 19 — 7 — 273 — • — Blora Regency — Kabupaten Blora — ꦨ꧀ꦭꦺꦴꦫ — Blora — 1,957.29 — 914,170 — 16 — 24 — 271 — • — Rembang Regency — Kabupaten Rembang — ꦉꦩ꧀ꦧꦁ — Rembang — 1,038.32 — 670,100 — 14 — 7 — 287 — • — Pati Regency — Kabupaten Pati — ꦥꦛꦶ — Pati — 1,576.69 — 1,381,910 — 21 — 5 — 401 — • — Kudus Regency — Kabupaten Kudus — ꦏꦸꦢꦸꦱ꧀ — Kudus — 447.45 — 891,720 — 9 — 9 — 123 — • — Jepara Regency — Kabupaten Jepara — ꦗꦼꦥꦫ — Jepara — 1,020.12 — 1,244,310 — 16 — 11 — 184 — • — Demak Regency — Kabupaten Demak — ꦢꦼꦩꦏ꧀ — Demak — 970.08 — 1,265,050 — 14 — 6 — 243 — • — Semarang Regency — Kabupaten Semarang — ꦱꦼꦩꦫꦁ — Ungaran — 1,019.27 — 1,098,570 — 19 — 27 — 208 — • — Temanggung Regency — Kabupaten Temanggung — ꦠꦼꦩꦔ꧀ꦒꦸꦁ — Temanggung — 864.83 — 821,120 — 20 — 23 — 266 — • — Kendal Regency — Kabupaten Kendal — ꦏꦼꦟ꧀ꦝꦭ꧀ — Kendal — 1,006.17 — 1,076,480 — 20 — 20 — 266 — • — Batang Regency — Kabupaten Batang — ꦨꦠꦁ — Batang — 857.27 — 857,070 — 15 — 9 — 239 — • — Pekalongan Regency — Kabupaten Pekalongan — ꦥꦏꦭꦺꦴꦔꦤ꧀ — Kajen — 892.58 — 1,030,340 — 19 — 13 — 272 — • — Pemalang Regency — Kabupaten Pemalang — ꦥꦼꦩꦭꦁ — Pemalang — 1,135.76 — 1,559,310 — 14 — 12 — 212 — • — Tegal Regency — Kabupaten Tegal — ꦠꦼꦒꦭ꧀ — Slawi — 983.71 — 1,694,240 — 18 — 6 — 281 — • — Brebes Regency — Kabupaten Brebes — ꦧꦽꦧꦼꦱ꧀ — Brebes — 1,754.77 — 2,087,330 — 17 — 5 — 292 — • — Magelang City — Kota Magelang — ꦩꦒꦼꦭꦁ — 18.56 — 122,670 — 3 — 17 — • — Surakarta City — Kota Surakarta — ꦯꦸꦫꦏꦂꦡ — 46.80 — 529,080 — 5 — 51 — • — Salatiga City — Kota Salatiga — ꦯꦭꦠꦶꦒ — 54.98 — 203,550 — 4 — 23 — • — Semarang City — Kota Semarang — ꦯꦼꦩꦫꦁ — 374.75 — 1,722,420 — 16 — 177 — • — Pekalongan City — Kota Pekalongan — ꦥꦏꦭꦺꦴꦔꦤ꧀ — 46.08 — 324,560 — 4 — 27 — • — Tegal City — Kota Tegal — ꦠꦼꦒꦭ꧀ — 39.08 — 288,820 — 4 — 27 — Note: The regencies now appear in the formal order prescribed by the Indonesian Central Statistics Board (Badan Pusat Statistik), as indicated by the regional codes (Kode Wilayah).

The province comprises 10 of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to the House of Representatives. The province's 77 elected members are comprised as follows: • Electoral District — Regency and City — No of seats • Central Java I — 8 • Central Java II — 7 • Central Java III — 9 • Central Java IV — 7 • Central Java V — 8 • Central Java VI — 8 • Central Java VII — 7 • Central Java VIII — 8 • Central Java IX — 8 • Central Java X — 7

As of the 2010 census, Central Java's population stood at 32.38 million, barely increasing from 2000, compared with the 1990 census when the population was 28 million. This reflected an increase of approximately 13.5% in 20 years. At the 2020 Census the population was 36,516,035, and the official estimate for mid 2025 was 38,233,930. Birthrates had not plunged between 2000 and 2010, instead losses due to domestic outmigration on 2010 figures, reversed themselves in 2020 with pandemic back to kampung influence. The three biggest regencies in terms of population are: Brebes, Cilacap and Banyumas. Together they make up approximately 16% of the province's population. Major urban population centres include Greater Semarang, Greater Surakarta and the Brebes-Tegal-Slawi area in the northwest of the province.

• Religions — Total • Islam — 37,273,804 • Protestant — 593,139 • Roman Catholic — 342,347 • Buddhism — 49,987 • Hinduism — 14,045 • Kejawen — 6,262 • Confucianism — 1,303 • Overall — 38,280,887 Although the overwhelming majority of Javanese are Muslims, many also profess indigenous Javanese beliefs. Clifford Geertz, in his book about the religion of Java, made a distinction between the so-called santri Javanese and abangan Javanese. He considered the former as orthodox Muslims and the latter as nominal Muslims that devote more energy to indigenous traditions. Dutch Protestants were active in missionary activities and were rather successful. The Dutch Catholic Jesuit missionary, F.G.C. van Lith also achieved some success, especially in areas around the central-southern parts of Central Java and Yogyakarta at the beginning of the 20th century, and is buried at the Jesuit necropolis at Muntilan. Following the upheavals in 1965–66, religious identification of citizens became compulsory, and there has been a renaissance of Buddhism and Hinduism since then. As one has to choose a religion out of the five official religions in Indonesia; i.e. Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, the latter two became alternatives for people who did not want to be Muslims or Christians. Confucianism is also common among Chinese Indonesians. In the post-Suharto era, it is recognised as an official religion along with the aforementioned five. • Illustration — The Demak Great Mosque, built in the 15th century. • Illustration — Menara Kudus Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia. • Illustration — Blenduk Church, Semarang. Built in 1753, it is the oldest church in the province. • Illustration — Sam Poo Kong Chinese Temple, in Semarang • Illustration — Statue of Buddha Vihara Buddhagaya Watugong, Semarang

At approximately 98%, Javanese people form the overwhelming majority of the population, and a minority of the Sundanese people. Central Java is known as the centre of Javanese culture. The cities of Surakarta and Yogyakarta are the centres of the Javanese royal palace that still stands today. Significant minority ethnic groups include the Chinese Indonesians. They usually reside in urban areas, although they are also found in rural areas. In general, they primarily work in trade and services. Many speak the Javanese language with sufficient fluency as they have lived alongside the Javanese. One can feel the strong influence in Semarang and the town of Lasem in Rembang Regency, which is on the northeastern tip of Central Java. Even Lasem is nicknamed Le petit chinois or the Small Chinese City. The urban areas that are densely populated by Chinese Indonesians are called pecinan, which means "Chinatown". Additionally, in several major cities, the Arab-Indonesian community can also be found. Similar to the Chinese community, they are usually engaged in trade and services. In areas bordering the province of West Java, there are Sundanese people and Sundanese culture, especially in the Cilacap, Brebes, and Banyumas regions. Sundanese toponyms are common in these regions such as Dayeuhluhur in Cilacap, Ciputih and Citimbang in Brebes and even Cilongok as far away in Banyumas. In the interior of Blora, which borders East Java, there is an isolated Samin community, the case of which is almost the same as the Baduy people in Banten.

• Illustration — Languages of Java Although Indonesian is the official language, people mostly speak Javanese as their daily language. The Solo-Jogja dialect or the Mataram dialect is considered as the standard Javanese Language. Additionally, there are a number of Javanese dialects but in general, it consists of two, namely kulonan and timuran. The former is spoken in the western part of Central Java, consisting of the Banyumasan dialects and Tegal dialects (also called Basa Ngapak). They are quite different in pronunciation from the standard Javanese. The latter dialect is spoken in the eastern part of the province, including the Mataram dialect (Solo-Jogja), Semarang dialect, and the Pati dialect. Between the borders of the two dialects, Javanese is spoken with a mixture of both dialects; these areas are Pekalongan and the Kedu Plain, which composes Magelang and Temanggung.

Some parts of the districts of Brebes and Cilacap speak Sundanese, the western part of Central Java is the border between the Javanese people and Sundanese people worlds in the western of Java.

Central Java is considered to be the heart of the Javanese culture. The ideal conduct and moral of the courts (such as politeness, nobility and grace) has a tremendous influence on the people. They are known as soft-spoken, very polite, extremely class-conscious, apathetic, down-to-earth, etc. These stereotypes form what most non-Javanese see as the "Javanese Culture", when in fact, not all Javanese behave in such manner as most Javanese are far from the court culture.

The Javanese cultural area can be divided into three distinct main regions: Western, Central, and Eastern Javanese culture or in their Javanese names as Ngapak, Kejawèn and Arèk. The boundaries of these cultural regions coincide with the isoglosses of the Javanese dialects. Cultural areas west of Dieng Plateau, Pekalongan, and Kebumen regencies are considered Ngapak whereas the border of the eastern cultural areas or Arèk lies in East Java. Consequently, culturally, Central Java consists of two cultures, while the Central Javanese Culture proper is not entirely confined to Central Java.

• Illustration — The Chicken Church is a unique building that was used as a filming location for the film AADC 2 The architecture of Central Java is characterised by the juxtaposition of the old and the new and a wide variety of architectural styles, the legacy of many successive influences from the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East, China, and Europe. In particular, northern coastal cities such as Semarang, Tegal, and Pekalongan can boast European colonial architecture. The European and Chinese influence can be seen in Semarang's temple of Sam Poo Kong dedicated to Zheng He and the Domed Church built in 1753. The latter is the second-oldest church in Java and the oldest in Central Java. In the former capital of Surakarta, there are also several European architectures. Central Java also has some notable religious buildings. The Borobudur and the Prambanan temple complexes are among the largest Buddhist and Hindu structures in the world. In general, a characteristic Javanese mosque does not have a dome as its roof but a Meru-like roof which is reminiscent of a Hindu or Buddhist temple. The tower of the famous Mosque of Kudus resembles a Hindu-Javanese or Balinese temple more than a traditional Middle Eastern mosque.

• Illustration — Batik Lasem, incorporating both Javanese and Chinese influence Central Java is famous and well known for its exquisite batik, a generic wax-resist dyeing technique used on textiles. There are different styles of batik motifs. A centre of batik production is in Pekalongan. Other centres include Surakarta and Yogyakarta. Batik in Pekalongan style, which represent gaya pesisir (or coastal style), is different from the one in Surakarta and Yogyakarta that represent batik from the heartland of Java (gaya kejawèn).

• Illustration — Javanese dancers performing the Ramayana epic One can even see the court influences in the art forms. The dances of the courts of Java are usually slow and graceful with no excessive gestures. The people followed this approach, and as a result, slow-paced and graceful movements can even be found in folk dances throughout Central Java, though with some exceptions. One can enjoy the beauty of Central Javanese dances in "Kamajaya-Kamaratih" or "Karonsih", usually performed in a traditional Javanese wedding.

There are several kinds of Central Javanese theatre and performing arts. The most well-known is the Javanese wayang theatre, which has several types. These are wayang kulit, wayang klitik, wayang beber, wayang golek, and wayang wong. Wayang kulit are shadow puppets theatre with leather puppets. The stories are loosely based on the Mahabharata and Ramayana cycles. Wayang klitik are puppets theatre with flat wooden puppets. The stories are based on Panji stories. Panji was a native Javanese princes who embarked a 'journeys of desire'. Wayang beber is scroll theatre, and it involves "performing" scenes of a story elaborately drawn and painted on rolled sheets. Wayang golek consists of three-dimensional wooden puppets. The narrative can be based on anything, but usually are drawn from Islamic heroic ones. Finally, wayang wong is wayang theatre involving live figures, actors who are performing a play. The narrative, however, must be based on the Mahabharata or the Ramayana. In addition to wayang, there is another form of theatre called ketoprak. It is a staged play by actors accompanied by Javanese gamelan. The narrative is free but cannot be based on Mahabharata or Ramayana.

• Illustration — Javanese gamelan ensemble performance during traditional Javanese style wedding ceremony Central Javanese music is almost synonymous with gamelan. It is a musical ensemble typically featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums, gongs, bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included. The term refers more to the set of instruments than the players of those instruments. A gamelan as a set of instruments is a distinct entity, built and tuned to stay together. Instruments from different gamelan are not interchangeable. However, gamelan is not typically Central Javanese as it is also known elsewhere. Contemporary Javanese pop music is called campursari. It is a fusion between gamelan and Western instruments, much like kroncong. Usually, the lyrics are in Javanese, though not always. One notable singer is Didi Kempot, born in Sragen, north of Surakarta. He mostly sings in Javanese.

Rice is the staple food of Central Java. In addition to rice, dried cassava, known locally as gaplèk, also serve as a staple food. Javanese food tends to taste sweet. Cooked and stewed vegetables, usually in coconut milk (santen in Javanese) are prevalent. Raw vegetable, which is popular in West Java, is less prevalent in Central Java. Saltwater fish, both fresh and dried are common, especially among coastal areas. Freshwater fish is not popular in Central Java, unlike in West Java, except perhaps for catfish known locally as lélé. It is usually fried and served with chilli condiment (sambal) and raw vegetables. Chicken, mutton and beef are common meat. Certain parts of the population also eat dog meat, known by its euphemism daging jamu (literally "traditional medicine meat"). Tofu and tempe serve as the standard replacement to fish and meat. Famous dishes in Central Java include gudeg (sweet stew of jackfruit) and sayur lodeh (vegetables cooked in coconut milk). Besides the aforementioned tofu, there is a strong Chinese influence in numerous dishes. Some examples of Sino-Javanese food include noodles, bakso (meatballs), lumpia, soto etc. The widespread use of sweet soybeans sauce (kecap manis) in the Javanese cuisine can also be attributed to the Chinese influence. • Illustration — Nasi Gudeg, mostly found in Yogyakarta and Surakarta • Illustration — Nasi Liwet Solo • Illustration — Soto Kudus • Illustration — Lumpia Semarang • Illustration — Tempeh Goreng

• Illustration — Semarang–Solo Toll Road Central Java is connected to the Trans-Java Toll Road which currently runs from Merak in Banten to Probolinggo (planned: Banyuwangi), East-Java. Within the province the toll road starts at Brebes, continuing via Semarang then turn southeast to Surakarta until east of Sragen. Along the north coast east of Semarang, the North Coast Road (Jalur Pantai Utara or Jalur Pantura) is the main road. Losari, the Central Javanese gate at the western border on the northern coast, could be reached from Jakarta in 4 hours drive. On the southern coast, there is also a national way which run from Kroya at the Sundanese-Javanese border, through Yogyakarta to Surakarta and then to Surabaya via Kertosono in East Java. There is furthermore a direct connection from Tegal to Purwokerto and from Semarang to Yogyakarta and Surakarta. Central Java was the province that first introduced a railway line in Indonesia. The very first line began in 1873 between Semarang and Yogyakarta by a private company, but this route is now no longer used. Today there are five lines in Central Java: the northern line which runs from Jakarta via Semarang to Surabaya. Then there is the southern line from Kroya through Yogyakarta and Surakarta to Surabaya. There is also a train service between Semarang and Surakarta and a service between Kroya and Cirebon. At last there is a route between Surakarta and Wonogiri. The line between Kutoarjo and Surakarta, the line from Cirebon to Purwokerto up to Kroya and the entire north coast line (since 2014) are double-track, while second tracks from Surakarta to Kertosono (towards Surabaya) and Purwokerto-Kroya-Kutoarjo are under construction of which the latter will be finished in 2019. Other lines are single-track. On the northern coast Central Java is served by 8 harbours. The main port is Tanjung Mas in Semarang, other harbours are located in Brebes, Tegal, Pekalongan, Batang, Jepara, Juwana and Rembang. The southern coast is mainly served by the port Tanjung Intan in Cilacap. Finally on mainland Central Java there are five commercial airports. There is one additional commercial airport on the Karimunjawa isles. The airports on the mainland are: Adisumarmo International Airport in Surakarta, Jenderal Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang, Ngloram Airport in Cepu, Blora, General Sudirman Airport in Purbalingga and Tunggul Wulung Airport in Cilacap. Karimunjawa is served by Dewadaru Airport. • Illustration — Ahmad Yani International Airport in Semarang • Illustration — Trains in Kroya Station, Cilacap Regency • Illustration — Becak lining up in Surakarta street • Illustration — Port of Karimun Jawa

GDP in the province of Central Java was estimated to be around $US 98 billion in 2010, with a per capita income of around $US 3,300. Economic growth in the province is quite rapid and GDP is forecast to reach $US 180 billion by 2015. The poverty rate of its people is 13% and will be decreased below 6%.

• Illustration — Rice fields in Weru, Sukoharjo Regency. Farming is one of the most important sector in Central Java. Much of Central Java is a fertile agricultural region. The primary food crop is wet rice. An elaborate irrigation network of canals, dams, aqueducts, and reservoirs has greatly contributed to Central Java's the rice-growing capacity over the centuries. In 2001, productivity of rice was 5,022 kilograms/ha, mostly provided from irrigated paddy field (± 98%). Klaten Regency had the highest productivity with 5525 kilograms/ha. Other crops, also mostly grown in lowland areas on small peasant landholdings, are corn (maize), cassava, peanuts (groundnuts), soybeans, and sweet potatoes. Terraced hillslopes and irrigated paddy fields are familiar features of the landscape. Kapok, sesame, vegetables, bananas, mangoes, durian fruits, citrus fruits, and vegetable oils are produced for local consumption. Tea, coffee, tobacco, rubber, sugarcane and kapok; and coconuts are exported. Several of these cash crops at a time are usually grown on large family estates. Livestock, especially water buffalo, is raised primarily for use as draft animals. Salted and dried fish are imported.

Central Java is home to such notable state universities, which are: • Diponegoro University • Semarang State Polytechnic • Semarang State University • Sebelas Maret University • Jenderal Soedirman University • Walisongo State Islamic University • Surakarta Institute of Indonesian Arts • Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta • Tidar University The Military Academy (Akademi Militer) is located in Magelang Regency while the Police Academy (Akademi Kepolisian) is located in Semarang. For foreign students requiring language training Salatiga has been a location for generations of students attending courses.

• Illustration — Borobudur Temple, located in Magelang Regency • Illustration — Kraton Surakarta Hadiningrat Royal Palace of the Sultanate of Surakarta There are several tourism sites in Central Java. Semarang itself has many old buildings: Puri Maerokoco and the Indonesian Record Museum are located in this city. Borobudur, which is one of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites of Indonesia, is also located in this province, in the Magelang Regency. Candi Mendut and Candi Pawon can also be found near the Borobudur temple complex. Candi Prambanan, on the border of Klaten regency and Yogyakarta is the biggest complex of Hindu temples. It is also a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. There are several temples in the region around the Dieng Plateau. These date from before the era of the ancient Mataram. The Palace of the Sunan Kraton Surakarta and Pura Mangkunegaran, are located in Surakarta, while the Grojogan Sewu waterfall is located in Karanganyar Regency. Several Majapahit temples and Sangiran museum are also located in Central Java.

The motto of Central Java is Prasetya Ulah Sakti Bhakti Praja. This is a Javanese phrase meaning "A vow of devotion with all might to the country". The coat of arms of Central Java depicts a legendary flask, Kundi Amerta or Cupu Manik, formed in a pentagon representing Pancasila. In the centre of the emblem stands a sharp bamboo spike (representing the fight for independence, and it has 8 sections which represent Indonesia's month of Independence) with a golden five-pointed star (representing faith in God), superimposed on the black profile of a candi (temple) with seven stupas, while the middle stupa is the biggest. This candi is reminiscent of the Borobudur. Under the candi wavy outlines of waters are visible. Behind the candi two golden mountain tops are visible. These twin mountains represents the unity between the people and their government. The emblem shows a green sky above the candi. Above, the shield is adorned with a red and white ribbon, the colours of the Indonesian flag. Lining the left and right sides of the shield are respectively stalk of rice (17 of them, representing Indonesia's day of Independence) and cotton flowers (5 of them, each one is 4-petaled, representing Indonesia's year of Independence). At the bottom, the shield is adorned with a golden red ribbon. On the ribbon the name "Central Java" (Jawa Tengah) is inscribed in black. The floral symbol of the province is the Michelia alba, while the provincial fauna is Oriolus chinensis.