Kendari

About Kendari

Kendari is the capital city of the Indonesian province of Southeast Sulawesi. It had a population of 289,966 at the 2010 Census and 345,107 at the 2020 census, making it the most populous city in the province, and the fourth most on Sulawesi. The official estimate as at mid 2025 was 375,829 (comprising 188,853 males and 186,976 females). The city covers an area of 270.14 square kilometers (104.30 sq mi), or about 0.7 percent of Southeast Sulawesi's land area.

Located on Kendari Bay, it continues to be an important trade center, with the province's main port and airport. It is the economic and educational center of the province, home to various universities and colleges. Kendari has the highest Human Development Index (HDI) in Sulawesi.

The word "Kendari" is thought to come from a version of the word "Kandai", meaning a tool made of bamboo and wooden planks to push boats away from a dock. Over time, the pronunciation changed, and the city is now officially known as Kendari.

The Bay of Kendari has been known since the 15th century and appears on Portuguese chartered maps, marked with the name "Citta dela Baia" ("City of the Bay"). The...

Overview adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA. Photography via Wikimedia Commons.