Semarang — Population
How many people live in Semarang, how young the city is, and how densely it is packed.
People
Total population
1.74M
2026+0.8% vs 2025
BPS mid-year projection, published rounded as 1,735.50 thousand (Proyeksi Penduduk Kabupaten/Kota Provinsi Jawa Tengah 2020–2035, table 13.1). Civil-registry counts (Disdukcapil) are different.
Population growth rate
0.86%
2025
Average annual growth 2020–2025 (SP2020 September count to the June 2025 projection). Fastest in Mijen (3.75%) and Genuk (2.87%); Semarang Selatan and Candisari shrank slightly (-0.02%).
Population density
4,608
2025
Projected population over 373.78 km²; ranges from 1,223 (Tugu) to 12,266 (Semarang Timur).
Life expectancy at birth
78.72
2025
HDI component (SP2020 long-form basis); 78.23 years in 2024.
Mean years of schooling (age 25+)
11.11
2025
HDI component (Susenas, March); 11.05 years in 2024. Expected years of schooling: 15.58.
Districts (kecamatan)
16
2025
Urban villages (kelurahan)
177
2025
14 of them on the coast, in Tugu, Semarang Barat, Semarang Utara and Genuk (Podes).
Age structure
Share of residents by age group, 2025.
Men and women
5 areas, 16 districts
| Area | Districts (kecamatan) |
|---|---|
| Pusat Kota (Central) The lower-city core around Simpang Lima, Tugu Muda, Lawang Sewu, Pasar Johar and the Pecinan, climbing south into the hillside neighbourhoods of Candisari and Gajahmungkur. An informal Metroloka grouping of kecamatan; the city's own spatial plan uses ten BWK planning areas. | Semarang Tengah, Semarang Timur, Semarang Selatan, Candisari, Gajah Mungkur |
| Pesisir Utara (North coast) The flat coastal strip from Kota Lama, Stasiun Tawang and the Tanjung Emas port west past Ahmad Yani airport to the Mangkang bus terminal in Tugu, the part of the city most exposed to rob (tidal flooding). An informal grouping; the city's own spatial plan uses ten BWK planning areas. | Semarang Utara, Semarang Barat, Tugu |
| Sisi Timur (East) Low-lying eastern suburbs of housing estates, markets and factories along the roads toward Demak and Purwodadi, with the Terboyo industrial area in Genuk near the coast. An informal grouping; the city's own spatial plan uses ten BWK planning areas. | Gayamsari, Genuk, Pedurungan |
| Semarang Atas (Southern uplands) The hilly upper city, home to the Universitas Diponegoro campus in Tembalang, the Banyumanik residential belt on the road and toll road to Solo, and greener, semi-rural Gunungpati with the UNNES campus. An informal grouping; the city's own spatial plan uses ten BWK planning areas. | Tembalang, Banyumanik, Gunungpati |
| Sisi Barat (West) Western hills and suburbs with the UIN Walisongo campus and the Candi industrial estate in Ngaliyan and the BSB City township in Mijen, the city's fastest-growing kecamatan (3.75% a year, 2020–2025). An informal grouping; the city's own spatial plan uses ten BWK planning areas. | Ngaliyan, Mijen |