Map of Nusa Tenggara Timur
Nusa Tenggara Timur is a first-level division of Indonesia. Its largest mapped city is Kupang, with about 282,396 people in the metropolitan area. The interactive map below is centred on Nusa Tenggara Timur, and the tables list its 5 mapped cities along with the ports, World Heritage Sites nearest to them.
- Cities Mapped
- 5
- Largest City
- Kupang
- Country
- Indonesia
Interactive Map of Nusa Tenggara Timur
About Nusa Tenggara Timur
East Nusa Tenggara (Indonesian: Nusa Tenggara Timur; NTT; Indonesian pronunciation: [ˌnusa təŋˌɡara ˈtimʊr], lit. 'East Southeast Islands') is the southernmost province of Indonesia. It is the eastern portion of the Lesser Sunda Islands, facing the Indian Ocean in the south and the Flores Sea in the north, with a total land area of 46,378.11 km2. It consists of some 653 islands (excluding smaller unnamed ones), with the largest ones being Sumba (10,899.41 km2 in area), Flores (15,482.42 km2), and the western part of Timor (14,079.36 km2); the latter shares a land border with the separate nation of East Timor. Also substantial in land area are Alor (2,918.75 km2) and Lembata (1,263.77 km2). The province is subdivided into twenty-one regencies and the regency-level city of Kupang, which is the capital and largest city.
Archaeological research shows that Liang Bua cave in East Nusa Tenggara has been inhabited by humans since about 190,000 years ago. The site was home to early humans, including Homo floresiensis, who were found in the cave's archaeological layers.
East Nusa Tenggara is known for its natural environment and parks, including Komodo National Park, Labuan Bajo, Lake Kelimutu and the area's beaches. The province is rich in culture, with diverse tribes, languages, and traditions such as ikat weaving and the Pasola ceremony in Sumba. East Nusa Tenggara also has a strong missionary history, seen from the majority Catholic population and is one of the two Indonesian provinces where Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, alongside South Papua. In addition, its marine ecosystem is very rich, making it a popular destination for divers.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: East Nusa Tenggara (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Nusa Tenggara Timur in Depth
History
After the declaration of Indonesian independence in 1945, the eastern part of Indonesia declared the State of East Indonesia. The state was further included in the United States of Indonesia as part of the agreement with the Dutch contained in the transfer of sovereignty to Indonesia in 1949.
In 1950, United States of Indonesia dissolved itself into a unitary state and began to divide its component area into provinces. In 1958, by Indonesian law (Undang-Undang) No. 64/1958, three provinces were established in the Lesser Sunda Islands: Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara.
Geography
Located in the east of Lesser Sunda Islands, East Nusa Tenggara faces the Indian Ocean in the south and the Flores Sea in the north. This province borders East Timor (Timor-Leste) in the western part of Timor island, and is also close to the province of West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Barat) and the province of Maluku.
The province consists of about 566 islands, the largest and most dominant are Flores, Sumba, and the western part of Timor. The smaller islands include Adonara, Alor, Komodo, Lembata (formerly called Lomblen), Menipo, Pantar, Raijua, Rincah, Rote Island, Savu, Semau, and Solor.
Economy
The economy of East Nusa Tenggara Province is dominated by the agriculture, fisheries, and tourism sectors. Most of the East Nusa Tenggara population works in the agricultural sector, with main crops such as corn, rice, cassava, beans, and coconuts. The livestock sector also plays an important role, especially in areas such as Sumba and Timor, where many residents raise cattle, horses, and pigs.
In addition, the fisheries sector is one of the main sources of livelihood for people in coastal areas and small islands. Fish, seaweed, and other marine products are important commodities developed by local communities.
Demographics
Based on the latest data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the population of East Nusa Tenggara Province had reached around 5.74 million people by mid 2025. Population growth in East Nusa Tenggara is at a fairly stable level, although variations in growth rates are seen in various districts and cities. Kupang City as the provincial capital is the urban area with the largest population, while the most populous regency is South Central Timor, followed by other large regencies such as Sikka and Manggarai on Flores, and Southwest Sumba.
The average population density in East Nusa Tenggara is around 110 people per km², but the population distribution is uneven.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: East Nusa Tenggara (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Nusa Tenggara Timur: Key Facts
| Population | 5,656,000 (2024) |
|---|---|
| Area | 48,718 km² |
| Capital | Kupang |
| Head of government | Viktor Laiskodat |
| Established | 17 December 1958 |
Facts from Wikidata Q5061 (CC0).
History of Nusa Tenggara Timur: Empires and States
The atlas records 5 polities whose mapped territory included part of Nusa Tenggara Timur, from Majapahit in 1363 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here |
|---|---|
| Majapahit | 1363–1474 CE |
| The Majapahit Empire | 1363–1474 CE |
| Dutch East Indies | 1866–1949 CE |
| Netherlands | 1866–1949 CE |
| Republic of Indonesia | 1950–2024 CE |
Historical Maps of Nusa Tenggara Timur
Nusa Tenggara Timur on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Largest Cities in Nusa Tenggara Timur
5 cities mapped. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kupang | 282,396 | Nusa Tenggara Timur | Admin-1 capital |
| 2 | Maumere | 104,285 | Nusa Tenggara Timur | Populated place |
| 3 | Ende | 77,205 | Nusa Tenggara Timur | Populated place |
| 4 | Ruteng | 53,976 | Nusa Tenggara Timur | Populated place |
| 5 | Waingapu | 48,828 | Nusa Tenggara Timur | Populated place |
Ports in Nusa Tenggara Timur
5 ports mapped. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kupang | 49.4 m | Small | Java Sea & Indonesian Archipelago | large vessels |
| 2 | Ende | 49.4 m | Very Small | Java Sea & Indonesian Archipelago | medium vessels |
| 3 | Maumere | 45.7 m | Very Small | Java Sea & Indonesian Archipelago | medium vessels |
| 4 | Waingapu | 31.1 m | Very Small | Java Sea & Indonesian Archipelago | medium vessels |
| 5 | Larantuka | — | Very Small | Java Sea & Indonesian Archipelago | point_of_interest |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nusa Tenggara Timur
1 World Heritage Site mapped. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Komodo National Park | 1991 | Natural | (vii) (x) |
Nusa Tenggara Timur: Quick Answers
- Where is Nusa Tenggara Timur?
- Nusa Tenggara Timur is a first-level division of Indonesia, in Asia. Its mapped cities centre on 9.1860° S, 121.6334° E.
- What is the largest city in Nusa Tenggara Timur?
- Kupang is the largest city mapped in Nusa Tenggara Timur, with a metropolitan population of about 282,396.
- How many cities are in Nusa Tenggara Timur?
- YearMaps maps 5 cities and towns in Nusa Tenggara Timur, with a combined metropolitan population of about 566,690. This counts mapped settlements, not every municipality.