View source for Bengkulu

{{Short description|Province in Sumatra, Indonesia}}
{{Redirect2|Bencoolen|Benkoelen|the city|Bengkulu (city)|other uses of "Benkulu", "Bencoolen" or "Benkoelen"|Bengkulu (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Bengkulu
| native_name             = 
| official_name           = Province of Bengkulu<br>{{lang|id|{{nobold|Provinsi Bengkulu}}}}
| translit_lang1     = Other
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[Rejang alphabet|Rejang]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = ꤷꥍꥏꤰꥈꤾꥈ
| translit_lang1_type2 = [[Jawi alphabet|Jawi]]
| translit_lang1_info2 = بڠكولو 
| type                    = [[Provinces of Indonesia|Province]]
| image_flag              = 
| image_shield            = Coat of arms of Bengkulu.svg
| shield_link = #Coat of arms
| shield_size             = 90
| flag_size               = 
| image_map               = Bengkulu in Indonesia.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = {{centre|{{Legend inline|#C41E3A|outline=red}} '''Bengkulu''' in {{Legend inline|#FFFDD0|outline=silver}} '''[[Indonesia]]'''}}
| established_title       = Established
| established_date        = 18 November 1968
| founder                 = 
| named_for               = 
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{flag|Indonesia}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[Regions of Indonesia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Sumatra]]
| seat_type               = Capital<br />{{nobold|and largest city}}
| seat                    = [[Bengkulu (city)|Bengkulu]]
| government_footnotes    = 
| governing_body          = Bengkulu Provincial Government
| leader_title            = [[List of current Indonesian governors|Governor]]
| leader_name             = [[Helmi Hasan]] ([[National Mandate Party|PAN]])
| leader_title2           = Vice Governor
| leader_name2            = [[:id:Mian|Mian]]
| leader_title3           = [[Regional House of Representatives|Legislature]]
| leader_name3            = [[:id:Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah Provinsi Bengkulu|Bengkulu Regional House of Representatives]] (DPRD)
| unit_pref               = Metric<!-- or US or UK -->
| area_footnotes          = 
| area_total_km2          = 20181.53
| area_rank               = [[Provinces of Indonesia|28th in Indonesia]]
| area_note               = 
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_max_m         = 2852
| elevation_max_point     = [[Mount Patah]]
| population_footnotes    = 
| population_total        = 2115631
| population_as_of        = mid 2024 estimate
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_note         = <ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2023">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2025, ''Provinsi Bengkulu Dalam Angka 2025'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.17)</ref>
| population_rank         = 26th in Indonesia
| demographics_type1      = Demographics
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1    = [[Ethnic groups in Indonesia|Ethnic groups]] {{nobold|(2009)}}<ref>{{cite book  | work=epaper.kompas.com  | title =Bengkulu Lumbung Nasionalis yang Cair  | date =February 11, 2009 }}</ref>
| demographics1_info1     = 60% [[Rejangese people|Rejangese]]<br/> 22% [[Javanese people|Javanese]]<br/> 18% [[Lembak people|Lembak/Serawai]] <br/> 5% [[Chinese Indonesians|Chinese]] <br/> 4.3% [[Minangkabau people|Minangkabau]] <br/> 13% [[Ethnic groups in Indonesia|other]]
| demographics1_title2    = [[Religion in Indonesia|Religion]]
| demographics1_info2     = 95% [[Islam]]<br/> 4% [[Christianity]]<br/> 1% [[Religion in Indonesia|other]]
| demographics1_title3    = [[Languages of Indonesia|Languages and dialects]]
| demographics1_info3     = [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] (official)<br/> [[Rejangese language|Rejangese]], [[Bengkulu Malay]], [[Serawai language|Serawai]], [[Lembak language|Lembak]], etc.
| timezone1               = [[Time in Indonesia|Indonesia Western Time]]
| utc_offset1             = +7
| blank_name_sec1         = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2024)
| blank_info_sec1         = {{increase}} 0.749<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bps.go.id/id/pressrelease/2024/11/15/2296/indeks-pembangunan-manusia--ipm--indonesia-tahun-2024-mencapai-75-02--meningkat-0-63-poin-atau-0-85-persen-dibandingkan-tahun-sebelumnya-yang-sebesar-74-39-.html|title=Indeks Pembangunan Manusia 2024|publisher=[[Statistics Indonesia]]|date=2024|language=id|access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref> ([[List of Indonesian provinces by Human Development Index|16th]]) – <span style=color:#090>high</span>
| website                 = {{URL|bengkuluprov.go.id}}
| footnotes               = 
| nickname                = {{lang|id|Bumi Rafflesia}} <br> "Land of [[Rafflesia]]"{{force singular}}
| motto                   = ''Sekundang Setungguan Seio Sekato'' ([[Bengkulu Malay]])<br />"Many Hands Make the Works Lighter"{{force singular}}
| image_map1              = {{hidden begin|title=OpenStreetMap|ta1=center}}{{Infobox mapframe
|frame-width=250
|zoom=8}}{{hidden end}}
}}
'''Bengkulu''' ({{IPA|id|bəŋˈkulu}}, {{langx|rej|ꤷꥍꥏꤰꥈꤾꥈ}}), historically known as '''Bencoolen''', is a [[Provinces of Indonesia|province]] of [[Indonesia]]. It is located on the southwest coast of [[Sumatra]]. It was formed on 18 November 1968 by separating out the area of the historic [[Bencoolen Residency]] from the province of [[South Sumatra]] under Law No. 9 of 1967 and was finalized by Government Regulation No. 20 of 1968. Spread over 20,181.53&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, its land area is comparable to the European country of [[Slovenia]] or the U.S. state of [[Massachusetts]] or [[Ivanovo Oblast]] and it is bordered by the provinces of [[West Sumatra]] to the north, [[Jambi]] to the northeast, [[Lampung]] to the southeast, and [[South Sumatra]] to the east, and by the [[Indian Ocean]] to the northwest, south, southwest, and west.

Bengkulu is the 28th largest province by area; it is divided into nine regencies and the city of [[Bengkulu (city)|Bengkulu]], the capital and the only independent city. Bengkulu is also the 26th largest province by population in Indonesia, with 1,715,518 inhabitants at the 2010 Census<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011">Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.</ref> and 2,010,670 at the 2020 Census;<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.</ref> the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 2,115,631 (comprising 1,065,992 males and 1,020,014 females in mid 2023).<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2023" /> According to a release by [[Badan Pusat Statistik]], it has the eleventh highest Human Development Index among the provinces, with a score of about 0.744 in 2013. By 2014, the province is positioned 28th highest in [[gross domestic product]] and 20th highest in life expectancy, 70.35 years.

Bengkulu also includes offshore Mega Island and [[Enggano Island]] in the Indian Ocean. Bengkulu has 525 kilometres of coastline along the Indian Ocean on its western side, from Dusun Baru Pelokan in Mukomuko Regency to Tebing Nasal in Kaur Regency. Bengkulu has many natural resources such as coal and gold, and has big and potential geothermal resources.<ref>{{Cite web |last=EJOLT |title=Bengkulu Coal-fired Power Plant, Indonesia {{!}} EJAtlas |url=https://ejatlas.org/conflict/bengkulu-coal-fired-power-plant-bengkulu-province-indonesia |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=[[Environmental Justice Atlas]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sari |first=Meri Maya |title=Kajian Efektivitas Pelaksanaan Amdal Bidang Energi Dan Sumber Daya Mineral Dalam Pelestarian Kawasan Lindung di Kabupaten Bengkulu Tengah |date=2017-04-21 |url=https://journal.ipb.ac.id/index.php/jpsl/article/view/13803 |journal=Jurnal Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Alam Dan Lingkungan (Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Management) |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=61–71 |doi=10.29244/jpsl.7.1.61-71 |issn=2086-4639|doi-access=free }}</ref> However, it is less developed than other provinces in Sumatra.

==Etymology==
[[File:Bengkulu Maps.jpg|thumb|left|Map of Bengkulu]]
Traditional sources suggest that the name Bengkulu or Bangkahulu derived from the word ''bangkai'' and ''hulu'' which means 'carcasses located in a stream'. According to the story, there was once a war between small kingdoms in Bengkulu, resulting in many casualties from both sides in the streams of Bengkulu. These casualties soon rotted as they were not buried, lying in river streams. This etymology is similar to the story of a war between the [[Majapahit Empire]] and the [[Pagaruyung Kingdom]] in Padang Sibusuk, an area once ruled by the [[Dharmasraya]] empire, which also derives the name Padang Sibusuk from casualties rotting on the battlefield. During the European colonial era, the region was known as '''Bencoolen''' or '''[[British Bencoolen]]'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wftw.nl/bencoolen/bencoolen.html |access-date=May 10, 2016|title= A History on the Honourable East India Company's Garrison on the West Coast of Sumatra 1685–1825}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Indonesia.htm#Bencoolen |access-date=May 10, 2016|title= Bencoolen (Bengkulen)}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Een drietal Europese vrouwen gekleed in sarongs met op de achtergrond Fort Marlborough te Benkoelen TMnr 60042951.jpg|thumb|left|European women dressed in sarongs in front of [[Fort Marlborough]] (early 20th century)]]

The region was subject to the Buddhist Srivijaya empire in the 8th century. The Shailendra Kingdom and Singosari Kingdom succeeded the Srivijaya but it is unclear whether they spread their influence over Bengkulu. The Majapahit also had little influence over Bengkulu.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=International Dictionary of Historic Places, Volume 5: Asia and Oceania|publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers|year=1996|isbn=1-884964-04-4|editor-last=Schellinger|editor-first=Paul|location=Chicago|pages=113|editor-last2=Salkin|editor-first2=Robert}}</ref> There were only few smalls 'kedatuan' based on ethnicity such as in  Sungai Serut,  Selebar,  Pat Petulai, Balai Buntar, Sungai Lemau, Sekiris, Gedung Agung and Marau Riang.  It became a vassal region of the Banten Sultanate (from Western Java) in the early 15th century<ref name=":0" /> and since the 17th century was ruled by Minangkabau's Inderapura Sultanate (today's in Pesisir Selatan, West Sumatra Province).

[[File:Front gate of Fort Marlborough, Bengkulu 2015-04-19 02.jpg|thumb|Historical Site of [[UNESCO]], [[Fort Marlborough]] located in [[Bengkulu (city)|Bengkulu City]].]]

The first European visitors to the area were the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch in 1596.  The British [[East India Company]] established a [[black pepper|pepper]]-trading center and garrison at Bengkulu (Bencoolen) in 1685.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bencoolen, Fort Marlborough of the East India Company |url=http://wftw.nl/bencoolen/bencoolen.html |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=wftw.nl}}</ref> In 1714 the [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] built [[Fort Marlborough]], which still stands. The trading post was never profitable for the British, being hampered by a location which Europeans found unpleasant, and by an inability to find sufficient pepper to buy.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} It became an occasional [[List of ports of call of the British East India Company|port of call]] for the EIC's [[East Indiamen]].

In 1785, the area was integrated into [[British Empire]] as [[British Bencoolen|Bencoolen]], while the rest of Sumatra and most of the [[List of islands of Indonesia|Indonesian archipelago]] was part of the [[Dutch East Indies]]. [[Sir Stamford Raffles]] was stationed as  [[Governors of Bencoolen|Lieutenant-Governor of Bencoolen]] (the colony was subordinate at the time to the [[Bengal Presidency]]) from 1818 to 1824, enacting a number of reforms including the abolition of slavery, and the British presence left a number of monuments and forts in the area. Despite the difficulties of keeping control of the area while Dutch colonial power dominated the rest of Sumatra, the British persisted, maintaining their presence for roughly 140 years before ceding Bengkulu to the [[Dutch East Indies|Dutch]] as part of the [[Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824]] in exchange for [[Malacca]].<ref name=Roberts1>{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Edmund|title=Embassy to the Eastern Courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat|year=1837|publisher=Harper & Brothers|location=New York|page=34|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/7317/view/1/34/}}</ref> Bengkulu then remained part of the [[Dutch East Indies]] until the [[Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies|Japanese occupation]] in World War 2.

[[File:Exile house of Sukarno, Bengkulu 2015-04-19 06.jpg|thumb|Sukarno's exile house in Bengkulu|left]]

During the early 1930s, [[Sukarno]], the future first president of Indonesia, was imprisoned by the Dutch and briefly resided in Bengkulu,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indonesia - Toward independence {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Indonesia/Toward-independence |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> where he met his wife, [[Fatmawati]]. The couple had several children, including [[Megawati Sukarnoputri]], who later became Indonesia's first female President.

After independence, Bengkulu was initially part of the '[[South Sumatra]]' Province, which also included [[Lampung]], the [[Bangka Belitung Islands|Bangka-Belitung Islands]], and what is now South Sumatra itself, as a Residency. In 1968, Bengkulu gained provincial status, becoming the 26th province of Indonesia, preceding [[East Timor]].

[[File:KITLV A210 - Zwaardvechters te Benkoelen, KITLV 85426.tiff|thumb|Swordsmen at ''Benkoelen'' (Circa 1916–1919).]]

Bengkulu lies near the Sunda Fault and is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. The June [[2000 Enggano earthquake]] killed at least 100 people. A recent report predicts that Bengkulu is "at risk of inundation over the next few decades from undersea earthquakes predicted along the coast of Sumatra"<ref>{{cite news | title=Indonesian Cities Lie in Shadow Of Cyclical Tsunami | author=Andrew C. Revkin | work=[[The New York Times]] (Late Edition (East Coast)) p. A.5| date=2006-12-05}}</ref> [[September 2007 Sumatra earthquakes|A series of earthquakes]] struck Bengkulu during September 2007, killing 13 people.<ref>{{cite web |title=With Every Rumble, Indonesians Fear Additional Ruin (Published 2007) |website=[[The New York Times]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823175903/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/15/world/asia/15quake.html?ex=1347508800 |archive-date=2019-08-23 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/15/world/asia/15quake.html?ex=1347508800&en=e8aad74057996e2a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
[[File:Rafflesia arnoldii Bengkulu 01.jpg|thumb|upright|Blooming [[Indonesia]]'s national flower, [[Rafflesia arnoldii]] the biggest flower in the world at [[Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park]].]]

The western part of Bengkulu province, bordering the Indian Ocean coast, is about 576&nbsp;km along, and the eastern part of the condition is hilly with a plateau that is prone to erosion. Bengkulu Province is on the west side of the Bukit Barisan mountains. The province's area is about 20,130.21 square kilometres,or slightly smaller than the [[Europe]]an country,[[Slovenia]].The province extends from the border province of West Sumatra to the border province of Lampung; the distance is about 567 kilometres. Bengkulu Province lies between 2° 16' S and 03° 31' S latitude and 101° 01'-103° 41'E longitude.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bengkulu {{!}} province, Indonesia {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Bengkulu-province-Indonesia |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> Bengkulu province in the north borders the province of West Sumatra, in the southern the Indian Ocean and Lampung province, in the west it borders the Indian Ocean and in the east the provinces of Jambi and South Sumatra. Bengkulu province is also bordered by the Indian Ocean coastline of approximately 525 kilometres to the west. Its western part is hilly with fertile plateaus, while the western part is lowland relatively narrow, elongated from north to south and punctuated bumpy areas.

Bengkulu's climate is classified as tropical. Bengkulu has a large amount of rainfall throughout the year, even in the driest month. The climate here is classified as Af by the Köppen-Geiger system. The annual average temperature is 26.8&nbsp;°C. The average annual rainfall is 3360&nbsp;mm.

The total area of Bengkulu province is 20,181.53&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. For administrative purposes, the province is divided into nine regencies and one city, together sub-divided into 93 districts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SEKILAS BENGKULU |url=https://bengkuluprov.go.id/sekilas-bengkulu/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=PEMERINTAH PROVINSI BENGKULU |language=id}}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|location = Bengkulu ([[Fatmawati Soekarno Airport]], 1991–2020 normals)
| Jan record high C = 33.7
| Feb record high C = 35.2
| Mar record high C = 34.4
| Apr record high C = 34.8
| May record high C = 35.4
| Jun record high C = 34.9
| Jul record high C = 35.0
| Aug record high C = 33.9
| Sep record high C = 34.0
| Oct record high C = 33.9
| Nov record high C = 33.8
| Dec record high C = 34.0
| year record high C = 
| Jan record low C = 20.5
| Feb record low C = 20.2
| Mar record low C = 20.4
| Apr record low C = 20.5
| May record low C = 20.3
| Jun record low C = 20.5
| Jul record low C = 19.8
| Aug record low C = 19.5
| Sep record low C = 18.1
| Oct record low C = 20.5
| Nov record low C = 20.3
| Dec record low C = 20.8
| year record low C =

|Jan high C = 	31.0
|Feb high C = 	31.3
|Mar high C = 	31.5
|Apr high C = 	31.5
|May high C = 	31.8
|Jun high C = 	31.6
|Jul high C = 	31.3
|Aug high C = 	31.2
|Sep high C = 	31.2
|Oct high C = 	31.1
|Nov high C = 	30.9
|Dec high C = 	30.6
| year high C = 	31.2
|Jan mean C = 	25.6
|Feb mean C = 	25.8
|Mar mean C = 	26.0
|Apr mean C = 	26.3
|May mean C = 	26.3
|Jun mean C = 	26.0
|Jul mean C = 	25.6
|Aug mean C = 	25.5
|Sep mean C = 	25.6
|Oct mean C = 	25.6
|Nov mean C = 	25.6
|Dec mean C = 	25.4
| year mean C = 	25.8
|Jan low C = 	22.3
|Feb low C = 	22.3
|Mar low C = 	22.3
|Apr low C = 	22.5
|May low C = 	22.5
|Jun low C = 	22.3
|Jul low C = 	22.0
|Aug low C = 	22.0
|Sep low C = 	22.1
|Oct low C = 	22.3
|Nov low C = 	22.3
|Dec low C = 	22.3
| year low C = 	22.3
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 	287.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 	222.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 	259.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 	241.1
|May precipitation mm = 	171.7
|Jun precipitation mm = 	133.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 	146.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 	155.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 	147.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 	210.7
|Nov precipitation mm = 	328.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 	359.9
| year precipitation mm = 	2666.3
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 	16.5
|Feb precipitation days = 	13.7
|Mar precipitation days = 	15.4
|Apr precipitation days = 	13.9
|May precipitation days = 	10.7
|Jun precipitation days = 	9.2
|Jul precipitation days = 	8.6
|Aug precipitation days = 	9.1
|Sep precipitation days = 	9.3
|Oct precipitation days = 	13.1
|Nov precipitation days = 	17.0
|Dec precipitation days = 	19.3
|year precipitation days = 	155.8
|Jan sun = 127.0
|Feb sun = 133.9
|Mar sun = 153.8
|Apr sun = 163.8
|May sun = 179.7
|Jun sun = 175.7
|Jul sun = 182.9
|Aug sun = 185.3
|Sep sun = 155.0
|Oct sun = 136.7
|Nov sun = 120.3
|Dec sun = 111.4
|year sun = 
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-5-WMO-Normals-9120/Indonesia/CSV/StasiunMeteorologiFatmawatiSoekarno_96253.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 19 October 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Population==
{{Historical populations
| type     = 
| footnote = Source: [[Badan Pusat Statistik]]<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2023" /> 2019-2024
|1971 |519316
|1980 |768064
|1990 |1179122
|1995 |1409117
|2000 |1567436
|2010 |1715518
|2015 |1872136
|2020 |2010670
|2024 |2115631}}

The 2010 census reported a population of 1,715,518<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011"/> including 875,663 males and 837,730 females;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://beritasore.com/2010/08/18/jumlah-penduduk-bengkulu-17-juta-jiwa/ |title=Jumlah Penduduk Bengkulu 1,7 Juta Jiwa {{!}} Harian Berita Sore<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2010-08-31 |archive-date=2011-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707234542/http://beritasore.com/2010/08/18/jumlah-penduduk-bengkulu-17-juta-jiwa/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref> by the 2020 Census this had risen to 2,010,670,<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021"/> and the official estimate for mid 2024 was 2,115,631.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2023" />

===Ethnic groups===
[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Oud krijgskostuum van Engganezen Enggano Benkoelen TMnr 10001783.jpg|thumb|250px|Bengkulu traditional warriors at [[Enggano Island]].]]
Bengkulu is home to various indigenous ethnic groups. The [[Rejangese people|Rejangs]] form the majority of the province with 60.4% of the population. The second largest ethnic group is the [[Javanese people|Javanese]] forming around 24%. Other minority indigenous ethnic groups includes [[Lembak people|Lembak]], [[Serawai people|Serawai]], [[Pekal people|Pekal]], [[Enggano people|Enggano]], [[Pasemah people|Pasemah]], [[Minangkabau people|Minangkabau]] and [[Bengkulu Malays]]. There is also non-indigenous ethnic groups that mostly came from other parts of Indonesia such as [[Sundanese people|Sundanese]], Javanese, [[Acehnese people|Acehnese]], [[Madurese people|Madurese]], [[Batak people|Batak]], [[Chinese Indonesian|Chinese]] and others.

===Religion===
[[File:Masjid Agung.jpg|thumb|left|[[Akbar At-Taqwa Grand Mosque]] in [[Bengkulu City]]]]
The 2022 data of Ministry of Religious Affairs found 97.69% of the population as adherents to [[Islam]] and 2% as [[Christians|Christian]]. The remainder includes [[Hinduism|Hindus]] (0.20%) who are mostly [[Balinese people|Balinese]] migrants, [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (0.1%), and "other" including traditional beliefs (0.004%).<ref name="RELIGION">{{cite web|url=https://satudata.kemenag.go.id/dataset/detail/jumlah-penduduk-menurut-agama|title=Jumlah Penduduk Menurut Agama|publisher=[[Ministry of Religious Affairs (Indonesia)|Ministry of Religious Affairs]]|date=31 August 2022|access-date=29 October 2023|language=id|archive-date=9 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709113430/https://satudata.kemenag.go.id/dataset/detail/jumlah-penduduk-menurut-agama|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Languages===
Like the rest of Indonesia, [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] is the official language for formal occasions, institutions, and government affairs while local languages are widely used in daily life.

Most indigenous languages in Bengkulu belong to the [[Malayan languages|Malayan]] group of [[Austronesian languages]], such as [[Bengkulu language|Bengkulu Malay]], [[Col language|Lembak]], [[Pekal language|Pekal]] and [[Minangkabau language|Minangkabau varieties]]. The most widely spoken language in the province, [[Rejangese language|Rejang]], is the only [[Bornean languages|Bornean language]] to be spoken in [[Sumatra]] (and one of three outside of Borneo other than [[Malagasy language|Malagasy]] in [[Madagascar]] and [[Yakan language|Yakan]] in [[Basilan province|Basilan]]).

[[Enggano language|Engganese]] is classified as a highly divergent branch of [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian]], however, this is still  debated.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}{{who|date=April 2020}}. A less-studied language is [[Nasal language]], which may be related to Rejang or form its own branch of Malayo-Polynesian. Non-indigenous ethnic groups also speak their own language/dialects.

==Government and administrative divisions==
[[File:Bengkulu Governor Office.jpg|thumb|Bengkulu governor office in Bengkulu City]]
When it was formed in 1967 from the western parts of South Sumatra province, Bengkulu Province consisted of three [[Regencies of Indonesia|regencies]] - '''Bengkulu Selatan''', '''Bengkulu Utara''' and '''Rejang Lebong''' - together with the independent city of Bengkulu, which lies outside any regency. Five additional regencies were established on 25 February 2003 - '''Kaur Regency''' and '''Seluma Regency''' from parts of Bengkulu Selatan, '''Kepahiang Regency''' and '''Lebong Regency''' from parts of Rejand Lrbong Regency, and '''Mukomuko Regency''' from part of Bengkulu Utara. A ninth regency ('''Bengkulu Tengah''') was formed on 24 June 2008 from another part of Bengkulu Utara. The regencies and city are listed below with their areas and their populations at the 2010<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011"/> and 2020<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021"/> Censuses, together with the official estimates as at mid 2024.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2023" />
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Kode<br>Wilayah || Name of<br>City or<br>Regency || 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 2024 || Capital || [[Human Development Index|HDI]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bappenas.go.id/download.php?id=8975 |title=Indeks-Pembangunan-Manusia-2014 |access-date=2017-02-13 |archive-date=2016-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110235217/http://bappenas.go.id/download.php?id=8975 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br>2014 Estimates
|-
| 17.71 || [[Bengkulu (city)|Bengkulu City]]||align="right"|151.70||align="right"|308,544||align="right"|373,591||align="right"|397,321|| Bengkulu || 0.764 ({{fontcolor|green|High}})
|-
| 17.09 || [[Central Bengkulu Regency]] <br>(Bengkulu Tengah)||align="right"| 1,223.94||align="right"| 98,333||align="right"|116,706||align="right"|122,673|| [[Karang Tinggi]]|| 0.641 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}}) 
|-
| 17.04 || [[Kaur Regency]]||align="right"|2,608.85||align="right"|107,899||align="right"|126,551||align="right"|132,659|| [[Bintuhan]]|| 0.637 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}}) 
|-
| 17.08 || [[Kepahiang Regency]]||align="right"|710.11||align="right"|124,865||align="right"|149,737||align="right"|156,353|| [[Kepahiang (city)|Kepahiang]]|| 0.652 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}}) 
|-
| 17.07 || [[Lebong Regency]]||align="right"|1,666.28||align="right"|99,215||align="right"|106,293||align="right"|111,750|| [[Tubei]]|| 0.639 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}}) 
|-
| 17.06 || [[Mukomuko Regency]]||align="right"|4,146.52||align="right"|155,753||align="right"|190,498||align="right"|201,700|| [[Mukomuko city|Mukomuko]]|| 0.653 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}}) 
|-
| 17.03 || [[North Bengkulu Regency]] <sup>(a)</sup> <br>(Bengkulu Utara)||align="right"|4,424.60||align="right"|257,675||align="right"|296,523||align="right"|313,521|| [[Arga Makmur]]|| 0.672 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}}) 
|-
| 17.02 || [[Rejang Lebong Regency]]||align="right"|1,550.26||align="right"|246,787||align="right"|276,645||align="right"|288,832|| [[Curup]]|| 0.665 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}}) 
|-
| 17.05 || [[Seluma Regency]]||align="right"|2,479.36||align="right"|173,507||align="right"|207,877||align="right"|217,507|| [[Pasar Tais]]|| 0.629 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}}) 
|-
| 17.01 || [[South Bengkulu Regency]] <br>(Bengkulu Selatan)||align="right"|1,219.91||align="right"|142,940||align="right"|166,249||align="right"|173,315|| |[[Manna (city)|Kota Manna]]|| 0.682 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}}) 
|-
| || '''''Totals''''' ||align="right"|''20,181.53'' ||align="right"|''1,715,518''||align="right"|''2,010,670''||align="right"|''2,115,631''|||| 0.680 ({{fontcolor|#fc0|Medium}}) 
|}

Note: (a) includes [[Enggano Island]] and neighbouring small islands in the Indian Ocean.

The province forms one of Indonesia's 84 national electoral districts to elect members to the [[Indonesian Parliament|People's Representative Council]]. The '''Bengkulu Electoral District''' consists of all of the 9 regencies in the province, together with the city of Bengkulu, and elects 4 members to the People's Representative Council.<ref>Law No. 7/2017 (''UU No. 7 Tahun 2017'') as amended by Government Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 1/2022 and Regulation of General Elections Commission No. 6/2023.</ref>

==Economy==
Three active coal mining companies produce between 200,000 and 400,000 [[ton]]s of [[coal]] per year, which is exported to Malaysia, Singapore, South Asia, and East Asia.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} Fishing, particularly tuna and mackerel, is an important activity.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}} Agricultural products exported by the province include ginger, bamboo shoots, and rubber.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

==Coat of arms==

The coat of arms of Bengkulu is in the shape of a shield inscribed with the word "Bengkulu". Inside the shield are a star, a ''cerana'' (traditional container), a ''rudus'' (traditional weapon), a ''Rafflesia arnoldii'' flower, and stalks of rice and coffee.

The star symbolizes belief in God Almighty. The ''cerana'' represents high culture, while the rudus signifies heroism. The ''Rafflesia arnoldii'' reflects Bengkulu’s natural uniqueness. Rice and coffee symbolize prosperity. The emblem also contains waves with 18 lines, 11 coffee leaves, six coffee flowers on each stalk, and eight stalks in total — together symbolizing 18 November 1968, the date of Bengkulu’s establishment as a province.<ref name="Lambang Bengkulu" />
[[File:Stamps of Indonesia, 055-10.jpg|thumb|Coat of arms of Bengkulu on a 2010 Indonesian stamp]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Indonesia}}
* [[List of people from Bengkulu]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*Reid, Anthony (ed.). 1995. ''Witnesses to Sumatra: A traveller's anthology''. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press. pp.&nbsp;125–133.
**''Reprints of British-era [[primary source]] material''
*Wilkinson, R.J. 1938. Bencoolen. ''Journal of the Malayan Branch Royal Asiatic Society''. 16(1): 127–133.
**''Overview of the British experience in Bencoolen''

{{Geographic location
| Centre    = {{flag|Bengkulu}}
| North     = {{flag|West Sumatra}}
| Northeast = {{flag|Jambi}}
| East      = {{flag|South Sumatra}}
| Southeast = {{flag|Lampung}}
| South     = ''[[Indian Ocean]]''
| Southwest = ''[[Indian Ocean]]''<br>{{flag|Cocos (Keeling) Islands}}, {{flag|Australia}}
| West      = ''[[Indian Ocean]]''<br>{{flag|British Indian Ocean Territory}}, {{flag|United Kingdom}}<br>[[Addu Atoll]], {{flag|Maldives}}
| Northwest = ''[[Mentawai Strait]]''
}}

{{Bengkulu}}
{{Provinces of Indonesia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bengkulu| ]]
[[Category:Former British colonies and protectorates in Asia]]
[[Category:Provinces of Indonesia]]
[[Category:1685 in the British Empire]]
[[Category:Indonesia–United Kingdom relations]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1967]]