Purbalingga Regency (, ; ) is an inland regency () in the southwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Purbalingga Regency has an area of 805.76 km2 and a population of 848,952 at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and 998,561 at the 2020 census;Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 1,057,643 (comprising 534,876 male and 522,767 female inhabitants).Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Purbalingga Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3303) The administrative capital is the town of Purbalingga.
Etymology The term Purbalinga comes from the Sanskrit root words of Hindu origin, purba (east) and linga (an abstract representation of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva), thus meaning the Lord Shiva of East. This reflects the historical origin of the place that the Srivijaya-era or earlier founders of the place had built a Hindu temple of Lord Shiva here in whose honor the place was named by the founder ruling dynasty.
History Purbalingga is steeped in the ancient history of the Hindu empires of the Srivijaya and Majapahit eras, with several extant ancient Hindu temples scattered in and around the regency:2004, "Raditya, Issues 79-83", Manikgeni Dharma Sastra Foundation, p. 21. in Tegal Regency Pura Caraka Dewa, Margo Padang, Tarub, Tegal. Pura Segara Suci, Jalan Timor Timur, Martologo, Tegal. Nearby in Cirebon Regency Pura Agung Jati Permana, Jalan Bali, No. 4, Cirebon. Pura Jati Permana, Desa Larangan, Rt 3/4, Harjomukti, Cirebon. Pura Jati Pramana, Jalan Ciremai Raya, Cirebon.
Administrative districts Purbalingga Regency comprises eighteen districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 censusBiro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011. and the 2020 census,Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021. together with the official estimates as of mid 2025.Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 27 February 2026, Kabupaten Purbalingga Dalam Angka 2026 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3303) The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages in each district (a total of 224 rural desa and 15 urban kelurahan - the latter consists of 11 villages in Purlalingga (town) District, 3 in Kalimanah District and 1 in Padamara District), together with its postcode.
Kode Wilayah Name ofDistrict(kecamatan) Area in km2 Pop'n 2010census Pop'n 2020census Pop'n mid 2025estimate Admincentre No. of VillagesPostcode 33.03.01 Kemangkon 48.46 52,260 63,622 68,486Panican 1953381 33.03.02 Bukateja 44.96 65,381 78,114 83,323Bukateja 1453382 33.03.03 Kejobong 40.14 42,237 50,738 54,265Kejobong 1353392 (a) 33.03.16 Pengadegan 41.25 35,249 41,046 43,243Pengadegan 953393 33.03.04 Kaligondang 51.44 55,343 65,548 69,626Kaligondang 1853391 (b) 33.03.05 Purbalingga (capital town) 15.66 55,615 57,580 57,308Penambongan 13 (c) 53311-53319 33.03.06 Kalimanah 23.24 49,347 57,667 60,859Selabaya 17 (d) 53371 (e) 33.03.15 Padamara 17.90 38,698 46,533 49,792Padamara 14 (f) 53372 33.03.07 Kutasari 37.81 54,278 65,235 69,787Kutasari 1453361 33.03.14 Bojongsari 44.99 54,874 64,147 66,067Bojongsari 1353362 33.03.08 Mrebet 51.43 65,042 77,869 83,146Mangunegara 1953352 33.03.09 Bobotsari 35.54 46,593 53,319 55,702Bobotsari 1653353 33.03.10 Karangreja 62.01 39,092 46,640 49,717Karangreja 753358 33.03.17 Karangjambu 48.95 23,422 28,078 30,000Karangjambu 653357 33.03.11 Karanganyar 35.21 34,171 40,091 42,391Karanganyar 1353354 33.03.18 Kertanegara 36.01 30,177 36,926 39,847Kertanegara 1153351 33.03.12 Karangmoncol 71.98 49,790 58,543 61,967Pekiringan 1153355 33.03.13 Rembang 98.79 57,385 67,917 72,117Bantarbarang 1253356 Totals 805.76 848,952 998,561 1,057,643Purbalingga 239
Notes: (a) except the village of Timbang, which has a post code of 53314. (b) except the village of Penaruban, which has a post code of 53331. (c) comprises 11 classed as kelurahan (Bancar, Bojong, Kandang Gampang, Kedung Menjangan, Kembaran Kulon, Penambongan, Purbalingga Kidul, Purbalingga Kulon, Purbalingga Lor, Purbalingga Wetan and Wirasana) and 2 as desa. (d) comprises 3 kelurihan (Kalikabong, Karangmanyar and Mewek) and 14 desa. (e) except the village of Kalikabong, which has a post code of 53321. (f) includes one kelurahan (Karangsentul).
Gallery
Climate Purbalingga Regency has a tropical rainforest climate (Af) with moderate rainfall from July to September and heavy to very heavy rainfall from October to June. The following climate data is for the town of Purbalingga.
Famous people Sudirman, General of the Army and the first commander-in-chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces - one of the most prominent national heroes of Indonesia - was born in Bodas Karangjati village, in the district of Rembang, Purbalingga Regency, on 24 January 1916. Indro (Warkop), (born 1958), Indonesian comedian and a member of the Indonesian legendary comedy group Warkop.
References
External links
Official site of Local Government of Purbalingga Regency