Surabaya's 2026 population is now estimated at 3,189,960. In 1950, the population of Surabaya was 679,000. Surabaya has grown by 52,340 in the last year, which represents a 1.67% annual change. These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Surabaya, which typically includes Surabaya's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.
Surabaya is a city located in Indonesia. It is also the capital of the Jawa Timur province. The city is one of the most significant financial hubs in the country. As of the 2015 Census, the population of the city is 3,457,404. It is the second most populous city in Indonesia.
The city proper contains a total surface area of 350.5 km² (135.3 sq mi). The metropolitan area however sprawls out to 5,925 km² (2,288 sq mi). The population density reaches upward of 9,900/km² (26,000/sq mi) in the city proper, and drops toward 2,200 per square kilometer (5,700 per square mile) as one moves toward the edge of the metropolitan area.
The main religion observed in Surabaya is Islam. Over 85% of the population practices this religion. Other religions include Protestantism, Roman Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism.
The population is primarily compromised of Javanese people. However, there are also Indian Indonesians, Chinese Indonesians and Madurese There are other ethnic groups that reside in Surabaya that originally came from other parts of Indonesia, including the Sundanese, Batak, Balinese and Bugis people.
Most people within this city speak with is known as Suroboyoan, which is a dialect of Indonesian and Javanese.
The city of Surabaya was first mentioned in writing in 1225. However, during that time, it was called Jung-ya-lu. During the 14th and 15h centuries, the city was establishing itself as a port of Mahapahit. Later in the 15th century, the city was becoming a center of Islam.
In the years that followed, the city was Java’s major political and military power. It also functioned as a major trading port because of its location. The city went under the rule of the Demak Sultanate in 1530, but gained its independence just 16 years later. In the 1600s, the city was captured by the Sultanate of Mataram. It held control of Surabaya until it was taken by the Dutch East India Company in 1743.
Under the Dutch government, the city continued to be a thriving trading center. It was also home to the largest naval base in the Dutch East Indies. The city was occupied in 1942 by Japan and bombed two years later. When the Japanese surrendered following World War II, the city was taken by Indonesian nationalists. This led to the Battle of Surabaya, which was part of the Indonesian revolution. Because of its role in the Battle of Surabaya, the city earned the nickname Kota Pahlawan, which means “city of heroes.”
Today, the city is one of the cleanest and greenest in all of Indonesia. The city is an important financial hub and is still one of the busiest seaports in the country. It has an important role in trading, and its primary exports include coffee, sugar and tobacco. Surabaya is also home to multiple businesses and modern shopping centers, as well as many historic landmarks that showcase the history of this city.
As previously mentioned, this city is one of the most populous in the country, and it has seen steady expansion and growth over the years. Currently, the population is continuing to grow at a rate of 1.2%, primarily because more people are moving from suburbs and villages to live within the city. There is no indication that this trend will change in the near future, so Surabaya is expected to see steady growth in the years to come.
| City | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Jakarta | 11,840,000 | 1.77% |
| Bekasi | 4,015,740 | 2.28% |
| Depok | 3,296,680 | 2.44% |
| Depok | 3,296,680 | 2.44% |
| Bandung | 2,804,750 | 1.69% |
| Tangerang | 2,680,800 | 2.06% |
| Medan | 2,565,940 | 1.76% |
| Semarang | 2,091,480 | 1.9% |
| Palembang | 1,923,140 | 1.88% |
| Batam | 1,906,820 | 2.58% |
| Makassar | 1,770,180 | 1.89% |
| Tasikmalaya | 1,333,470 | 2.74% |
| Bogor | 1,305,840 | 1.94% |
| Bandar Lampung | 1,233,990 | 1.97% |
| Samarinda | 1,180,100 | 2.19% |
| Denpasar | 1,119,120 | 1.99% |
| Padang | 1,092,560 | 1.86% |
| Malang | 964,677 | 1.7% |
| Banjarmasin | 814,539 | 1.85% |
| Pontianak | 749,194 | 1.91% |
| Ambon | 618,585 | 2.41% |
| Mataram | 573,000 | 1.99% |
| Surakarta | 569,924 | 1.65% |
| Yogyakarta | 484,808 | 1.79% |
| Manado | 481,631 | 1.69% |
| Bengkulu | 460,295 | 2.07% |
| Sukabumi | 375,414 | 1.8% |
| Jayapura | 354,092 | 1.94% |
| Cirebon | 348,237 | 1.7% |
| Pekalongan | 343,697 | 1.76% |
