{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Short description|City in North Sumatra, Indonesia}} {{distinguish|Sibonga}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Sibolga |native_name = |official_name = City of Sibolga<br>{{nobold|{{lang|id|Kota Sibolga}}}} |nickname = |translit_lang1 = Other |translit_lang1_type1 = Batak |translit_lang1_info1 = ᯘᯪᯅᯬᯞ᯲ᯎ |motto = |settlement_type = City |image_skyline = Sibolga dari Tor Simarbarimbing.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = Sibolga view from Simarbarimbing hill, 2016, with Sibolga Bay and Poncan Island in the background |image_flag = |image_seal = Lambang Kota Sibolga.png |image_map = Lokasi Sumatra Utara Kota Sibolga.svg |mapsize = |map_caption = Location within North Sumatra |pushpin_map = Indonesia_Sumatra#Indonesia |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Sumatra and Indonesia |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Indonesia}} |subdivision_type1 = Province |subdivision_name1 = {{flag|North Sumatra}} |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = {{Ill|Akhmad Syukri Nazri Penarik|lt=Akhmad Syukri Nazri Penarik|id}} (Nasdem) |leader_title1 = Vice Mayor |leader_name1 = {{Ill|Pantas Maruba Lumbantobing|lt=Pantas Maruba Lumbantobing|id}} (Nasdem) |leader_title2 = Chairman of City's Council of Representatives |leader_name2 = Ansyar Afandi Paranginangin (Nasdem) |leader_title3 = Vice Chairman of City's Council of Representatives |leader_name3 = Andika Pribadi Waruwu (Gerindra) |established_title = |established_date = |area_magnitude = |area_total_km2 = 11.47 |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_km2 = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_km2 = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |population_as_of = mid 2025 estimate |population_note = <ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2026" /> |population_total = 92244 |population_density_km2 = auto |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |timezone = Indonesia Western Time |utc_offset = +7 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |area_code_type = Area code |area_code = (+62) 631 |coordinates = {{coord|1|44|24|N|98|46|48|E|region:ID|display=inline,title}} |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = |website = {{URL| https://www.sibolgakota.go.id/}} |footnotes = }}
'''Sibolga''' (formerly sometimes '''Siboga''') is a city and a port located in the natural harbour of Sibolga Bay on the west coast of North Sumatra province, in Indonesia.
The city is located on the western side of North Sumatra facing the Indian Ocean, is a transit harbour to Nias Island, and was hard hit during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Sibolga is also a semi-enclave within Central Tapanuli Regency, as Sibolga borders Central Tapanuli Regency in the north, east, and south, while it borders the Mentawai Strait in the west.
The city has an area of {{cvt|11.47|km2|sqmi}} — the smallest city by land area in Indonesia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=5 Kota Terkecil di Indonesia, yang Paling Kecil Luasnya Hanya 10 KM Persegi! |url= https://voi.id/lifestyle/218136/5-kota-terkecil-di-indonesia-yang-paling-kecil-luasnya-hanya-10-km-persegi |access-date=2022-11-19 |website= voi.id| publisher= Waktunya Merevolusi Pemberitaan |language=id}}</ref> It had a population of 84,444 at the 2010 census<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011">Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.</ref> and 89,584 at the 2020 census;<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.</ref> the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 92,244 (comprising 46,365 males and 45,879 females).<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2026">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, ''Kota Sibolga Dalam Angka 2026'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.1271)</ref>
== History == Poncan Ketek Island (Small Poncan Island) in Sibolga Bay was once the location of a fort, with British, Dutch, French, and American traders passing through. It is thought Stamford Raffles passed through before he moved to Bengkulu in southern Sumatra. From Bengkulu Raffles, after relinquishing the port to the Dutch, established the trade port that became Singapore.
At some point between 1890 and 1920, there was a major fire in the city, which was presumably mostly built from wood from the surrounding mountains (shown partly denuded in the 1928 panorama below).
After the Japanese invasion of Sumatra in 1942, a makeshift prison described as a "civilian camp" was set up at ''Taroetoengweg'', in the city center, from 16 March to 4 May 1942. It first housed 10 "European" men from in and around Sibolga, who were then joined on April 24 by another 10 men from the island of Nias. On May 4 they were taken to the Native Secondary School for Boys in Pearadja (Taroetoeng), located in the mountains behind Sibolga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indischekamparchieven.nl/en/search?mivast=963&miadt=968&miahd=209038670&miaet=14&micode=kampen&miview=ika2|title=Search in this website - East Indies camp archives| website= indischekamparchieven.nl| publisher= | date= | access-date= }}</ref>
==Administrative districts== The city is divided into four districts (''kecamatan''), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011">Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.</ref> and the 2020 census,<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021" /> together with the official estimates as of mid 2025.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2026" /> The table also includes the number of administrative villages or subdistricts (all classed as urban ''kelurahan'') in each district and its postcodes.
{| class="sortable wikitable" |- ! Kode <br>Wilayah || Name of<br>District<br>(''kecamatan'') ||Area<br>in<br>km<sup>2</sup>|| Pop'n<br>census<br>2010|| Pop'n<br>census<br>2020|| Pop'n<br>estimate<br>mid 2025||No.<br>of<br>subdistricts||Post<br>codes |- | 12.73.01 || Sibolga Utara <br />(North Sibolga) ||align="right"|6.02||align="right"|19,970||align="right"|21,383||align="right"|22,096||align="center"|5||22511<br>-22514 |- | 12.73.02 || Sibolga Kota <br />(Sibolga Town) ||align="right"|1.27||align="right"|14,304||align="right"|15,172||align="right"|15,608||align="center"|4||22521<br>-22524 |- | 12.73.03 || Sibolga Selatan <br />(South Sibolga) ||align="right"|3.29||align="right"|30,082||align="right"|33,346||align="right"|34,681||align="center"|4||22533<br>-22538 |- | 12.73.04 || Sibolga Sambas ||align="right"|0.90||align="right"|20,125||align="right"|19,683||align="right"|19,859||align="center"|4||22531<br>-22535 |- | || ''Totals'' ||align="right"|''11.47''||align="right"|''84,441''||align="right"|''89,584''||align="right"|''92,244''||align="center"|''17''|| |}
== Transport and tourism == Buses are available from Medan, Parapat, and Padang. Ferries from here service the outlying islands to the west, Simeulue and Nias, as well as the rest of Indonesia. Sibolga is a step-off point for trade and passenger boats to Nias Island. The local airport is Ferdinand Lumban Tobing Airport.
==Climate== This area has a tropical rainforest climate with no real dry season. Regions with this climate typically feature tropical rainforests, and are designated by the Köppen climate classification as "Af".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=37069&cityname=Sibolga%2C+Sumatera+Utara%2C+Indonesia&units= |title=Sibolga, Indonesia Köppen Climate Classification |work=Weatherbase.com}}</ref> {{Weather box |location = Sibolga |single line = Yes |metric first = Yes |Jan high F = 87 |Feb high F = 88 |Mar high F = 88 |Apr high F = 87 |May high F = 88 |Jun high F = 88 |Jul high F = 87 |Aug high F = 86 |Sep high F = 85 |Oct high F = 86 |Nov high F = 86 |Dec high F = 87 |year high F = 87 |Jan low F = 74 |Feb low F = 74 |Mar low F = 74 |Apr low F = 75 |May low F = 75 |Jun low F = 74 |Jul low F = 73 |Aug low F = 73 |Sep low F = 73 |Oct low F = 73 |Nov low F = 74 |Dec low F = 73 |year low F = 74 |Jan precipitation mm = 300 |Feb precipitation mm = 280 |Mar precipitation mm = 390 |Apr precipitation mm = 420 |May precipitation mm = 310 |Jun precipitation mm = 230 |Jul precipitation mm= 280 |Aug precipitation mm = 350 |Sep precipitation mm = 370 |Oct precipitation mm = 490 |Nov precipitation mm = 450 |Dec precipitation mm = 420 |year precipitation mm = |source 1 = Weatherbase <ref name=Weatherbase> {{cite web |url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=37069&cityname=Sibolga- |publisher=Weatherbase |title=Weatherbase.com |year=2013 }} Retrieved on October 5, 2013. </ref> |date=October 2013 }}
== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed"> Fort-Tapanoeli-on-Poncan-Ketek.png|Fort Tapanuli on Poncan Ketek Island in 1878 COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Ravage na een brand in Sibolga TMnr 60046398.jpg|Devastation after the fire (ca. 1890–1920) COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Ravage na een brand in Sibolga TMnr 60046397.jpg|Devastation after the fire (ca. 1890–1920) COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Ravage na brand in Sibolga TMnr 60046396.jpg|Devastation after the fire (ca. 1890–1920) COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Erepoort in de Chinese wijk van Sibolga TMnr 60023143.jpg|Entrance gate to Sibolga's Chinese Quarter, 1920 COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Autobus van de Gouvernements Automobieldienst op de lijn Sibolga - Balige TMnr 60021703.jpg|Government bus descending Sibolga's mountain road, June 1919 Sibolga Panorama 1928.jpg|Panorama of Sibolga, 1928 </gallery>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{wikivoyage|Sibolga}} {{Commons category-inline}}
{{North Sumatra}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Sibolga Category:Port cities and towns in Indonesia Category:Ports and harbours of the Indian Ocean