At first glance, Bali, often perceived as a paradise surrounded by breathtaking nature, appears to visitors or those who have only heard about it as a magical world. But what if we look at the everyday life of Balinese people through the lens of statistics and some intriguing facts?
How educated are the locals, do they value the bonds of marriage, and how safe is life on the island? Bali’s long history takes us back in time, revealing the island’s development, the establishment of Balinese traditions, Hinduism, and cultural preservation. These three elements form the foundation of the Balinese way of life.
Regions
The capital of Bali, a popular tourist destination, is Denpasar. The island consists of 8 regencies, 1 municipality, 57 subdistricts, and 716 villages, covering a total area of 5,780.06 km².
Singaraja, the largest city in the northern part of the island, is known for its industrial activities.
Ubud, located amidst rice fields in the Gianyar Regency, and Kuta, in the southern Badung Regency, are among the most visited resort towns.
List of Subdistricts, Cities, Villages, and Islands on Bali with Their Areas
City | Capital | Area(m2) | Area percentage(%) | Number ofislands | City sub districts | Number ofvillages | Regional sun districts |
Buleleng | Singaraja | 1 322,68 | 23,66 | 2 | 9 | 129 | 19 |
Jembrana | Negara | 849,13 | 15,19 | 2 | 5 | 41 | 10 |
Tabanan | Tabanan | 849,31 | 15,19 | 0 | 10 | 133 | 0 |
Карангасем | Амлапура | 839,32 | 15,01 | 6 | 8 | 75 | 3 |
Bangli | Bangli | 526,76 | 9,42 | 0 | 4 | 69 | 4 |
Badung | Mangupura | 398,75 | 7,13 | 1 | 6 | 46 | 16 |
Gianyar | Gianyar | 364,36 | 6,52 | 0 | 7 | 64 | 6 |
Klungkung | Semarapura | 313,96 | 5,62 | 21 | 4 | 53 | 6 |
Denpasar | Denpasar | 125,87 | 2,25 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 16 |
Bali | 5590,15 | 100 | 34 | 57 | 637 | 80 |
Climate and Weather
Bali has a monsoon climate with only two seasons: wet and dry. The rainy season typically lasts from November to April, while the dry season runs from May to October, characterized by hot and sunny weather. The average annual temperature varies slightly depending on the season. The most pleasant time for a visit is from June to September, with temperatures around 27-29°C. During other months, it’s warmer, averaging 30-31°C.
Population, Development, and Education
According to the Civil Registry Office of Bali, the island’s population in 2024 is 4,433,300. Buleleng is the region with the largest population. The life expectancy of Balinese people ranges from 71 to 75 years.
The Human Development Index (HDI), which measures literacy, education, and life expectancy, is relatively consistent across all regions. As of 2023, Denpasar has the highest HDI at 84.73%, followed by Badung at 83.08%, with other areas ranging between 79 and 70%. The literacy rate in 2023 was 95.61%.
In 2023, Bali had 1,653 kindergartens with 75,969 preschoolers. The number of primary school students was 405,987, middle school students totaled 194,966, high school students 100,612, and vocational school students 89,129.
Some schools have a religious focus. For example, Muslim families often choose pesantren (Islamic schools) for their children.
Indonesia’s government has made significant strides in improving education, but challenges remain, such as funding, management, equity, and quality. Higher education institutions are either public or private, both supervised by the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education. On Bali, only a small percentage of the population has higher education.
City | Without education | Primary school | Lower secondar education | Secondary | Technical education | University |
Bali | 11,78 | 20,09 | 20,75 | 32,57 | 3,75 | 11,05 |
List of Public Universities and Colleges in Bali
1. Udayana University (medicine, veterinary, agronomy, agriculture, and more) in Denpasar.
2. Ganesha Education University or Undiksha (teacher training) in Singaraja.
3. Nusa Dua Bali Tourism Polytechnic (Badung).
4. Bali State Polytechnic (Badung).
5. Indonesian Institute of the Arts (Denpasar).
6. Ministry of Health Polytechnic (Denpasar).
List of Private Universities in Bali
1. Indonesian Hindu University (Denpasar).
2. Mahasaraswati University (agribusiness, accounting, law, English) in Denpasar.
3. Ngurah Rai University (architecture, administration, judiciary, management) in Denpasar.
4. Dwijendra University (law, education, agricultural engineering, communication) in Denpasar.
5. Warmadewa University (agriculture, social and political sciences, economics, and business) in Denpasar.
6. Mahendradatta University (postgraduate studies, law, economics, engineering) in Denpasar.
7. National Education University or Undiknas (accounting, law) in Denpasar.
8. Panji Sakti University (economics) in Singaraja.
9. Tabanan University (economics, entrepreneurship) in Tabanan.
Tourism
The question of tourism development in Bali was first raised in 1969. The project was funded by the United Nations under the guarantee of the World Bank, with a particular focus on the Bukit Badung area.
In 1978, the governor of Bali encouraged stakeholders to focus on the island’s rich culture. Since then, music, dance, religious festivals, sculpture, and painting have played a vital role in the tourism industry, alongside the continuous improvement of Bali’s infrastructure. Initially, affordable accommodations and simple leisure options were established, but over time, luxury tourism emerged with high-end hotels, entertainment centers, and beautiful beach areas.
Employment, Unemployment Rate, and Economy
• Workforce size in 2024: 2,660,000 people.
• Education and employment: As of February 2024, the majority of workers have a primary school education (798,530 people). Approximately 1.32 million people are officially employed.
• Minimum wage:
• 2023: IDR 2,713,672
• 2024: IDR 2,813,672
One of the most common occupations among Indonesians and Balinese is in food and beverage sales. Bali is home to around 4,429 restaurants and street stalls, primarily in Gianyar and Denpasar.
The unemployment rate in Bali, as reported by the Central Statistics Agency in February 2024, was 1.87%, meaning only 1-2 people out of every 100 are unemployed. This marks a decrease compared to the previous year.
Due to a lack of desirable job opportunities, women, and sometimes men, are often compelled to work as domestic helpers or nannies for meager wages of 50,000–60,000 IDR per day. However, wages are significantly higher when working for expatriates.
Agriculture and fishing play an essential role in Bali’s economic growth. The island also boasts many artisans skilled in crafting, fabric production (batik and ikat), wood and stone carving, and silverwork.
In the highland region of Kintamani near Mount Batur, Arabica coffee production is a significant activity.
• Highest growth sectors:
• Electricity and gas procurement: 15.94%
• Financial services and insurance: 15.66%
By the end of 2023, Bali’s economy grew by 3.6% compared to the beginning of the same year, with a Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of IDR 72.28 trillion.
Despite economic growth, Bali still has a considerable number of people living in poverty with low income levels. However, the number of individuals in this category has noticeably decreased.
Comparative Data Table Over Two Years
[Details of the comparative data table would follow here, showing trends in employment, wages, economic growth, and poverty reduction.]
City | 2022 год | 2023 год |
Jembrana | 15000 | 14120 |
Tabanan | 23460 | 21420 |
Badung | 18280 | 17010 |
Gianyar | 24740 | 23760 |
Klungkung | 10890 | 10220 |
Bangli | 12170 | 12240 |
Karangasem | 29450 | 27830 |
Buleleng | 41680 | 39520 |
Denpasar | 30020 | 27690 |
Bali | 205680 | 193680 |
Approximately 3,600 foreigners are officially registered as employed in Bali, with many working as teachers or marketers, though the majority are involved in the tourism industry. However, the government closely monitors foreigners working illegally on the island. A special task force (Satgas) has been established for this purpose, coordinated by Bali’s National and Political Unity Agency (Kesbangpol) and the Foreigner Monitoring Team (Timpora). It is crucial for foreign business owners to follow Indonesian laws and regulations to avoid any complications.
Religion
In Bali, 83.5% of the population practices a local form of Hinduism known as Agama Hindu Dharma. However, the island is home to six recognized religions:
City | Islam | Catholic | Protestants | Hindu | Buddhism | Konghucu | Others | Unsurveyed | Total |
Jembrana | 69608 | 2890 | 1865 | 186319 | 756 | 2 | 0 | 198 | 261638 |
Tabanan | 26070 | 2691 | 1195 | 389125 | 1533 | 14 | 2 | 283 | 420913 |
Bendung | 96166 | 18396 | 10234 | 414863 | 2475 | 32 | 125 | 1040 | 543332 |
Gianyar | 18834 | 1692 | 667 | 447225 | 799 | 28 | 41 | 491 | 469777 |
Klungkung | 7794 | 372 | 138 | 161589 | 430 | 0 | 0 | 220 | 170543 |
Bangli | 2185 | 197 | 56 | 212325 | 113 | 1 | 0 | 476 | 215353 |
Karangasem | 16221 | 398 | 197 | 379113 | 334 | 1 | 4 | 219 | 396487 |
Buleleng | 57467 | 3132 | 916 | 557532 | 3127 | 97 | 15 | 1839 | 624125 |
Denpasar | 225899 | 34686 | 16129 | 499192 | 11589 | 252 | 95 | 747 | 788589 |
Bali | 520244 | 64454 | 31397 | 3247283 | 21156 | 427 | 282 |
• Islam: 765 places of worship, including 535 prayer rooms (musolla) and 250 mosques (masjid).
• Hinduism: 5,059 temples.
• Confucianism: 5 worship sites.
• Buddhism: 90 places of worship, including Tri Dharma temples and monasteries.
• Protestant Christianity: 274 churches.
• Catholic Christianity: 43 churches.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses: 2 Kingdom Halls, offering free weekly Bible study programs for everyone.
Marital Status
Marriage rates are on the rise in Bali, with 2,912 marriages recorded in 2021, 3,047 in 2022, and 3,056 in 2023. According to civil registry statistics, 51.07% of Bali’s population is married, 43.0% is single, 1.27% is divorced, and 4.66% are widowed. The low divorce rate may reflect the strong influence of traditions, religion, and cultural norms that discourage divorce.
Healthcare
In 2024, Bali’s healthcare sector is focusing on implementing strategic plans to improve medical services for the local population.
• Healthcare facilities (2023):
• Public hospitals: 63
• Specialized hospitals: 12
• Inpatient health centers: 31
• Outpatient clinics: 89
• Primary healthcare centers: 208
• Integrated health service posts: 4,848
These numbers have increased compared to previous years. A major development is the construction of the Bali International Hospital in Sanur, scheduled to open in September 2024. Located near the Grand Inna Bali Beach, the hospital spans 41.6 hectares and aims to position Bali as a world-class wellness and tourism destination.
Health Insurance
The Indonesian government provides its citizens with health insurance programs like BPJS or KISS, allowing them access to free treatment in high-end hospitals. BPJS health insurance is divided into three classes:
• Class 1: IDR 150,000 monthly premium.
• Class 2: IDR 100,000 monthly premium.
• Class 3: IDR 42,000 monthly premium, reduced to IDR 35,000 with a government subsidy of IDR 7,000.
The services and treatments are the same for all classes, including doctor consultations, laboratory tests, radiology, and medications. The difference lies in room facilities: Class 1 offers private rooms, Class 2 accommodates two patients per room, and Class 3 has multiple occupants per room. Notably, some individuals without insurance still receive quality medical care.
Currently, 82.88% of Bali’s population is enrolled in BPJS insurance. Given the unpredictability of new illnesses, it’s essential to prioritize health by exercising, eating well, and being cautious.
Dengue Fever Outbreak
Recently, hundreds of Denpasar residents contracted Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DBD), with some fatalities. From January to May 2024, 683 cases were reported in Denpasar, resulting in five deaths.
Accidents and Traffic Incidents (2022–2023)
Due to carelessness and irresponsibility on the roads, accidents and incidents are unfortunately increasing every year.
Accidents | 2022 год | 2023 год |
Incidents | 3620 | 7467 |
Fatalities | 502 | 274 |
Severe injuries | 59 | 62 |
Minor injuries | 5083 | 5901 |
Crime Rates in 2022 and 2023
At the beginning of 2024, Bali Regional Police (Polda) and its officers reviewed 509 theft cases. This number includes vehicle theft, armed robberies, and thefts involving violence. According to statistics, 80% of the 509 cases were resolved. Theft is the most prevalent type of crime.
When looking at regions/cities, in 2021, Karangasem was the area with the lowest risk of criminal activity, at 24.95% per 100,000 residents. In contrast, Denpasar had the highest crime rate, at 89.83% per 100,000 residents, as shown in the photo above.
Crime | 2022 год | 2023 год |
Armed thieves | 344 | 371 |
Fraud | 220 | 381 |
Petty theft | 577 | 739 |
Embezzlement | 244 | 375 |
Assault without bodily harm | 368 | 503 |
Assault with heavy bodily harm | 5 | 9 |
Drugs | 718 | 811 |
Gambling | 80 | 39 |
Robbery withviolence | 68 | 31 |
Others | 1321 | 1190 |
Total | 3945 | 4449 |
The percentage of crimes solved in 2021 varies by region, with Klungkung Regency showing the highest clearance rate at 110.78%, followed by Karangasem at 109.52% and Jembrana at 97.73%. Gianyar had the lowest clearance rate for crimes, at 81.37%.
Detailed statistics can be accessed on the Pusat Statistik Provinsi Bali website. Such data and information about Bali can help individuals adapt to local living conditions and feel more comfortable.
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