Kebumen

Kebumen covers an area of 1,281.12 km² and had a population of 1,453,417 in mid 2025. The regency is known for its southern coastline, karst landscapes, caves, geological heritage, and the Karangsambung–Karangbolong Geopark, which forms part of the Kebumen UNESCO Global Geopark.

• Name — Kebumen Regency • Native Name — Kabupaten Kebumen • Type — Regency • Official Name — Regency of Kebumen • Translit Lang1 — Other scripts • Translit Lang1 Type1 — Javanese • Translit Lang1 Info1 — ꦏꦼꦧꦸꦩꦺꦤ꧀ • Translit Lang1 Type2 — Kawi • Translit Lang1 Info2 — 𑼒𑽀𑼨𑼸𑼪𑼾𑼥𑽁 • Translit Lang1 Type3 — Pegon • Translit Lang1 Info3 — كبومن • Nickname — Kota Lawet • Motto — Bhumi Tirta Praja Mukti

Kebumen Regency lies in southern Central Java between 7°27′–7°50′ South latitude and 109°33′–109°50′ East longitude. It is bounded by Banjarnegara Regency to the north, Purworejo and Wonosobo regencies to the east, the Indian Ocean to the south, and Cilacap and Banyumas regencies to the west. The regency has an area of 1,281.12 km². Its elevation ranges from 9 metres to 198 metres above sea level, with an average regency elevation of 29 metres. Administratively, Kebumen consists of 26 districts. The largest district by area is Karanggayam, covering 109.29 km² or 8.53% of the regency, while the smallest is Gombong, covering 19.48 km² or 1.52%. Southern Kebumen consists mainly of lowland and coastal areas facing the Indian Ocean, while the northern part is dominated by hills and mountains associated with the South Serayu range. In 2024, village-potential data recorded 30 coastal villages or urban villages and 430 non-coastal villages or urban villages in the regency.

Kebumen contains important geological areas extending from Karangsambung in the north to the Karangbolong–South Gombong karst region in the south. Karangsambung was designated a Geological Nature Reserve by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Decree No. 2817 K/40/MEM/2006. The Gombong Karst Landscape Area was designated by Ministerial Decree No. 3043 K/40/MEM/2014, later amended by Ministerial Decree No. 3873 K/40/MEM/2014. The Karangsambung–Karangbolong area was later developed as a geopark. The Kebumen Regency tourism office records 41 geosites, 2 biosites, and 14 cultural sites spread across 118 villages in 12 districts. UNESCO lists Kebumen as a UNESCO Global Geopark and describes Karangsambung as a natural laboratory containing continental-edge and oceanic rocks that record plate-tectonic processes.

In 2024, Kebumen had 40,139.55 hectares of wet-rice fields. Of these, 25,794.20 hectares were irrigated rice fields, 14,306.35 hectares were rain-fed rice fields, 38.00 hectares were tidal-swamp fields, and 1.00 hectare was lowland-swamp field. Non-rice agricultural land covered 52,837.08 hectares. The largest uses were dry fields or gardens, state forest, community forest, and ponds. Non-agricultural land covered 35,134.87 hectares. BPS climate data from the Sempor station show variable rainfall in 2024. The highest monthly rainfall was recorded in January at 742 mm, while the lowest was recorded in August at 3 mm.

• Illustration — Large brick remains at the former Wonoyudo site in Mirit District. The area now forming Kebumen Regency has archaeological and cultural traces that predate the modern regency. Megalithic and ancient Hindu artefacts have been recorded in several places, including lingga-yoni remains in Ayah and Sumberadi, Ganesha statues in Kejawang and Kebumen, and the Talangpati site in Pujotirto, Karangsambung. A study by Hindarto and Ansori describes Talangpati as a transitional megalithic-Hindu site in Kalipuru hamlet, Pujotirto village, Karangsambung District, while noting that its archaeological status still requires further study. In local historical tradition, the area was formerly known as Panjer. The Kebumen Regency government links the early history of Kebumen with the Mataram Sultanate and the role of Ki Bodronolo in supplying logistics for Sultan Agung's campaign against Batavia in 1629. Through Regional Regulation No. 3 of 2018, Kebumen Regency set 21 August 1629 as its official anniversary. The name Kebumen is traditionally associated with the term kabumian, meaning the residence of Kyai Bumi or Prince Bumidirja. According to local history recorded by the regency government, Prince Bumidirja withdrew from Mataram during the reign of Sunan Amangkurat I, and the area of his residence became known as Kabumian, later Kebumen. During the colonial period, the area underwent several administrative changes. After the end of the Java War in 1830, Bagelen came under Dutch colonial administration, and Kebumen later became one of the regencies in the Bagelen Residency. The local tourism office states that the name "Kebumen" or "Keboemen" began to be used for the western coastal part of Bagelen after the Java War, replacing Panjer in colonial administration. In 1901, the Bagelen Residency was abolished and its territory was incorporated into the Kedu Residency. At that time, Kebumen also became the name of an afdeeling covering Kebumen Regency and Karanganyar Regency, with its centre in Kebumen district.

Before 1936, Karanganyar was a separate regency in what is now western Kebumen. A study by Teguh Hindarto describes Karanganyar as an independent regency from 1832 to 1936. Its abolition was associated with the impact of the 1930s economic depression on the Dutch East Indies bureaucracy. According to the Karanganyar District government, several regencies were abolished on 31 December 1935, including Karanganyar, which was merged into Kebumen Regency. From 1 January 1936, Karanganyar ceased to exist as a separate regency and later became a district within Kebumen Regency.

After Indonesian independence, Kebumen's status as a regency within Central Java was confirmed by Law No. 13 of 1950 concerning the establishment of regencies in Central Java Province.

• Illustration — The emblem of Kebumen Regency under Regional Regulation No. 6 of 2022. The emblem of Kebumen Regency is regulated by Regional Regulation No. 6 of 2022 concerning the regional emblem. The regulation replaced the previous 1970 regulations on the form and use of the regency emblem. The emblem is a shield with a 4:3 ratio. Its elements include a five-pointed star, mountains, a cave, the sea, two swiftlet birds, rice and cotton, a chain, a bamboo spear, bricks, roof tiles, the word "KEBUMEN", and the motto "Bhumi Tirta Praja Mukti". The shield symbolizes the people's resolve and readiness to defend the Republic of Indonesia. The golden star represents belief in God Almighty. The mountains refer to the hilly and mountainous parts of the regency, while the cave and sea represent Kebumen's karst, cave, and southern coastal landscapes. The two swiftlets symbolize perseverance, agility, harmony, balance, and concord. The eight rice grains represent the month of Indonesian independence and the month of Kebumen's anniversary, while the five cotton flowers represent the five principles of Pancasila. The seventeen chain links symbolize the date of Indonesian independence, and the nine-segment bamboo spear represents the spirit of struggle in defending independence. The red bricks and roof tiles represent brick and tile industries, which are among the traditional livelihoods of Kebumen communities. The sixteen bricks, two roof tiles, and nine bamboo segments are interpreted as the year of Kebumen's anniversary, while the waves above and below the emblem together total twenty-one, representing the date of the anniversary. The motto Bhumi Tirta Praja Mukti means that land and water are sources of welfare for society, the nation, and the state.

Kebumen Regency is led by a regent and vice regent. Since 20 February 2025, the regent has been Lilis Nuryani, with Zaeni Miftah as vice regent, for the 2025–2030 term.

Kebumen Regency comprises twenty-six districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 Census and the 2020 Census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2025. At the next level of administration there are 460 urban villages (kelurahan) and rural villages (desa), further divided into 1,965 hamlets, 1,952 neighbourhood associations, and 7,288 community units. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (totaling 449 rural desa and 11 urban kelurahan), and its post code. • Kode Wilayah|| Name of District (kecamatan) — Area in km 2 — Pop'n 2010 Census — Pop'n 2020 Census — Pop'n mid 2025 Estimate — Admin centre — No. of villages — Post code • 33.05.01 — Ayah — 76.37 — 53,970 — 63,886 — 69,010 — Demangsari — 18 — 54473 • 33.05.02 — Buayan — 68.42 — 53,466 — 64,643 — 70,588 — Buayan — 20 — 54474 • 33.05.03 — Puring — 61.97 — 51,986 — 62,788 — 68,029 — Sitiadi — 23 — 54383 • 33.05.04 — Petanahan — 44.84 — 51,951 — 59,724 — 64,517 — Petanahan — 21 — 54382 • 33.05.05 — Klirong — 43.25 — 53,445 — 63,305 — 68,071 — Klirong — 24 — 54381 • 33.05.06 — Buluspesantren — 48.77 — 51,524 — 58,175 — 62,958 — Setropenar — 21 — 54391 • 33.05.07 — Ambal — 62.41 — 54,050 — 61,901 — 67,152 — Ambalresmi — 32 — 54392 • 33.05.08 — Mirit — 52.35 — 43,367 — 51,524 — 57,415 — Mirit — 22 — 54396 • 33.05.23 — Bonorowo — 20.91 — 18,289 — 20,962 — 22,990 — Boborowo — 11 — 54395 • 33.05.09 — Prembun — 22.96 — 25,984 — 28,478 — 30,540 — Prembun — 13 — 54397 • 33.05.24 — Padureso — 28.95 — 13,146 — 16,347 — 17,774 — Padureso — 9 — 54394 • 33.05.10 — Kutowinangun — 33.73 — 41,619 — 47,518 — 50,910 — Kutowinangun — 19 — 54393 • 33.05.11 — Alian — 57.75 — 53,343 — 65,776 — 72,127 — Krakal — 16 — 54352 • 33.05.25 — Poncowarno — 27.37 — 14,717 — 18,044 — 19,999 — Poncowarno — 11 — 54390 • 33.05.12 — Kebumen (town) — 42.04 — 118,847 — 131,749 — 137,649 — Kebumen — 29 (a) — 54311 - 54317 • 33.05.13 — Pejagoan — 34.58 — 47,264 — 54,834 — 58,439 — Pejagoan — 13 — 54361 • 33.05.14 — Sruweng — 43.68 — 52,747 — 60,779 — 65,167 — Sruweng — 21 — 54362 • 33.05.15 — Adimulyo — 43.43 — 33,669 — 37,152 — 39,452 — Adimulyo — 23 — 54363 • 33.05.16 — Kuwarasan — 33.84 — 43,389 — 50,157 — 53,937 — Kuwarasan — 22 — 54366 • 33.05.17 — Rowokele — 53.79 — 41,766 — 50,295 — 54,457 — Rowokele — 11 — 54472 • 33.05.18 — Sempor — 100.15 — 58,418 — 68,121 — 73,850 — Sempor — 16 — 54421 • 33.05.19 — Gombong — 19.48 — 46,732 — 50,196 — 50,787 — Gombong — 14 (b) — 54411 - 54416 • 33.05.20 — Karanganyar — 31.40 — 33,548 — 38,575 — 38,325 — Karanganyar — 11 (c) — 54364 • 33.05.21 — Karanggayam — 109.29 — 47,801 — 57,993 — 63,517 — Karanggayam — 19 — 54365 • 33.05.22 — Sadang — 54.23 — 17,899 — 22,294 — 24,363 — Sadang — 7 — 54354 • 33.05.26 — Karangsambung — 65.15 — 36,989 — 46,528 — 51,144 — Karangsambung — 14 — 54353 • Totals — 1,281.12 — 1,159,926 — 1,350,438 — 1,453,417 — Kebumen — 460 Notes: (a) comprising 5 kelurahan (Bumirejo, Kebumen, Panjer, Selang and Tamanwinangun) and 24 desa. (b) including 2 kelurahan (Gombong and Wonokriyo). (c) comprising 4 kelurahan (Jatiluhur, Karanganyar, Panjatan and Plarangan) and 7 desa.

The Regional House of Representatives of Kebumen Regency has 50 members from the 2024 legislative election. The parties with the largest number of seats are the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and the National Awakening Party, with 11 seats each. Composition of the Regional House of Representatives of Kebumen Regency, 2024 • Political party — Seats • Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle — 11 • National Awakening Party — 11 • NasDem Party — 8 • Gerindra Party — 7 • United Development Party — 4 • Golkar — 3 • National Mandate Party — 3 • Prosperous Justice Party — 2 • Democratic Party (Indonesia) — 1 • Total — 50

According to Statistics Indonesia, Kebumen Regency had a population of 1,453,417 in mid 2025, consisting of 736,988 males and 716,429 females. The annual population growth rate for 2020–2025 was 0.75%, with a population density of 1,134.5 people per km² and a sex ratio of 103. The most populous district was Kebumen District, with 137,649 people in 2025, or 9.47% of the regency's population. The least populous district was Padureso, with 17,774 people or 1.22%. Kebumen District was also the most densely populated, with 3,274 people per km 2, while Sadang had the lowest density, at 449 people per km 2. By age group, 311,229 people, or about 22.00% of the population, were aged 0–14. The working-age population aged 15–64 numbered 966,460, or about 68.31%. People aged 65 and over numbered 137,065, or about 9.69%. The largest five-year age group was 25–29, with 115,504 people.

In 2024, the population aged 15 and over numbered 1,106,025. Of these, 855,785 were in the labour force, consisting of 812,379 employed people and 43,406 openly unemployed people. The labour-force participation rate was 77.37%, while the open unemployment rate was 5.07%. By main employment sector, the largest number of working residents were employed in services, with 321,815 people. Agriculture employed 292,506 people, while manufacturing employed 198,058 people.

Education in Kebumen Regency includes primary, secondary, religious, special-needs, and higher education. BPS education data cover schools under both the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. In the 2024/2025 academic year, Kebumen had 746 elementary schools, 112 junior high schools, 23 senior high schools, and 65 vocational high schools under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. Under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, in the 2023/2024 academic year there were 115 Raudatul Athfal, 117 Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 91 Madrasah Tsanawiyah, and 27 Madrasah Aliyah. In 2024, BPS recorded six private higher-education institutions in Kebumen under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, with 283 lecturers and 7,379 students. These institutions were located in Kutowinangun, Kebumen, Pejagoan, and Gombong districts. There was also one private higher-education institution under the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Kebumen District, with 72 lecturers and 949 students.

• Illustration — Kebumen Station after renovation and the operation of the double track. • Illustration — Gombong Station during the Dutch East Indies period, c. 1890–1900. Kebumen Regency is served by land transport networks consisting of national roads, provincial roads, regency roads, public transport services, passenger terminals, and the southern Java railway line. Its position between Banyumas–Cilacap to the west and Purworejo–Yogyakarta to the east makes it one of the main transport corridors on the southern coast of Central Java.

In 2024, Kebumen had 1,157.09 km of roads, consisting of 92.36 km of national roads, 47.58 km of provincial roads, and 1,017.15 km of regency roads. The main national-road corridor in the regency lies on the southern route of Central Java. The regency government identifies the Banyumas–Prembun national road and the Southern Cross Road Network as important routes for long-distance traffic and holiday travel.

Kebumen is crossed by the southern Java railway line on the Kroya–Kutoarjo segment. The route forms part of the rail corridor connecting West Java, southern Central Java, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, and East Java. The Directorate General of Railways previously built the approximately 76 km Kroya–Kutoarjo double track as part of the development of the southern Java railway line. The main station in the regency is Kebumen railway station, which is located near the regency centre and is part of Operation Area V Purwokerto. Other passenger stations include Gombong railway station, Karanganyar railway station, Kutowinangun railway station, and Prembun railway station. The regency also has Ijo, Sruweng, and Wonosari stations supporting railway operations on the southern line.

Tourism in Kebumen Regency is centred on the southern coast, karst landscapes, caves, reservoirs, hot springs, geological sites, and colonial-era heritage buildings. The Central Java tourism office lists attractions in Kebumen including Jatijajar Cave, Petruk Cave, Menganti Beach, Suwuk Beach, Karangbolong Beach, Ayah Beach, Petanahan Beach, Sempor Reservoir, Wadaslintang Reservoir, Krakal Hot Spring, Pentulu Indah Hill, and Fort Van der Wijck. • Illustration — Jatijajar Cave • Illustration — Menganti Beach • Illustration — Logending Beach or Ayah Beach • Illustration — Wadaslintang Reservoir • Illustration — Fort Van der Wijck • Illustration — Pentulu Indah Hill • Illustration — Kedondong Waterfall One of the regency's main natural-tourism areas is the Karangsambung–Karangbolong Geopark. The Kebumen tourism office records 41 geosites, 2 biosites, and 14 cultural sites in the geopark area, spread across 118 villages in 12 districts. In 2025, UNESCO listed Kebumen as part of the UNESCO Global Geoparks network under the name Kebumen UNESCO Global Geopark.

• Illustration — Sate Ambal, a dish associated with Kebumen. Foods associated with Kebumen include sate ambal, nasi penggel, lanthing, and jipang kacang. These foods are recorded as Kebumen culinary attractions by the Central Java tourism office and the Kebumen Regency tourism office. Sate Ambal is a chicken satay from Ambal, Kebumen. Unlike many other satay dishes in Indonesia, its sauce is made with a tempeh-based seasoning. Nasi penggel is a dish of rounded rice balls served on banana leaves with side dishes such as beef offal, eggs, jackfruit vegetables, tempeh, and tofu. Lanthing is a cassava-based cracker commonly shaped like a figure eight or small ring.

• Illustration — Chandradimuka Stadium in Kebumen. Football and futsal are among the most visible organized sports in Kebumen Regency. Persak Kebumen is a football club based in Kebumen and has participated in regional football competitions in Central Java. In the 2025/2026 season, Persak Kebumen was listed as a participant in Liga 4 Central Java under the Central Java Provincial Association of the Indonesian Football Association. Kebumen was also associated with SKN FC Kebumen, a professional futsal club that reached the final of the 2018 Indonesian Professional Futsal League and finished third in the 2019 Pro Futsal League. In women's futsal, Kebumen United Angels won the 2023–2024 Women's Professional Futsal League.

• Illustration — Prabowo Subianto • Illustration — Sri Mulyani • Illustration — Sutoyo Siswomiharjo • Illustration — Martha Tilaar • Illustration — Rustriningsih Notable people born in or associated with Kebumen include M. Sarbini, a military figure and former Minister of Defence; Sutoyo Siswomiharjo, a Revolutionary Hero; economist and minister Soemitro Djojohadikusumo; comedian Kasino Hadiwibowo of Warkop DKI; entrepreneur Martha Tilaar; businesswoman Kartini Muljadi; former Central Java vice governor Rustriningsih; and singer Shani Indira Natio. Several national figures have family connections with Kebumen. Prabowo Subianto, the eighth president of Indonesia, is connected to Kebumen through his father, Soemitro Djojohadikusumo, who was born in Kebumen. Sri Mulyani, Indonesia's Minister of Finance, has parents from Kebumen, according to the Ministry of Finance. Indonesian diaspora footballer Amar Rayhan Brkic was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and has maternal ancestry from Kebumen.

• Illustration — Kebumen Regency Government Office • Illustration — Office of the regent and vice regent • Illustration — Pendopo Kebumian • Illustration — Regional House of Representatives building • Illustration — Fort Van der Wijck • Illustration — Menganti Beach • Illustration — Logending Beach • Illustration — Pentulu Indah Hill • Illustration — Wadaslintang Reservoir • Illustration — Kedondong Waterfall • Illustration — Kebumen railway station • Illustration — Bicycle lane on Soekarno–Hatta Street, Kebumen