Rupat (Indonesian: Pulau Rupat) is an island in the Strait of Malacca, and forms part of Bengkalis Regency within Riau, Indonesia. It lies just off the eastern coast of Sumatra, across from Dumai city, from which it is separated by the Rupat Strait (Indonesian: Selat Rupat). Its area is 1,704.98 km2 (658.30 sq mi). The island is sparsely populated (61,238 in mid-2023), with a population density of 36 per km2.[1] Rupat was one of thousands of abandoned islands, but its population is growing yearly, which has made the government expand the area for the settlement.
The island is administratively divided into two districts (kecamatan) of Bengkalis Regency. Rupat District comprises the southern 78.4% of the island, covering 1,336.30 km2, with 30,550 inhabitants at the 2010 Census and 34,719 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate in mid 2023 was 44,225 (comprising 20,618 males and 23,607 females);[2] it is sub-divided into four urban communities (kelurahan) and twelve rural villages (desa), all sharing the postcode of 28781. The main town is at Batu Panjang on the south coast of the island, which faces Dumai city across the Rupat Strait. North Rupat District (Rupat Utara) covers the northern 21.6% of the island, with an area of 368.68 km2 and with 13,020 inhabitants at the 2010 Census and 14,117 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate in mid 2023 was 17,013 (comprising 8,695 males and 8,318 females);[3] it is sub-divided into eight villages (all rural desa), all sharing the postcode of 28782, with the village of Tanjung Medang being home to the district administration.
Communities
The two districts comprise four urban communities (kelurahan, listed first in the table below) and twenty rural villages (desa), listed below with their areas and their populations as officially estimated for mid 2023.[2][3]
Kode Wilayah
Name of kelurahan or desa
Area in km2
Pop'n Estimate mid 2023
14.03.10.1001
Batu Panjang
138.18
5,038
14.03.10.1002
Pergam
98.58
3,192
14.03.10.1003
Terkul
101.17
4,616
14.03.10.1004
Tanjung Kapal
264.64
4,137
14.03.10.2005
Sei Cingam
48.87
2,565
14.03.10.2006
Teluk Lecah
70.56
2,507
14.03.10.2007
Makeruh
24.08
1,554
14.03.10.2008
Hutan Panjang
39.24
2,311
14.03.10.2009
Pangkalan Nyirih
14.38
2,941
14.03.10.2010
Sukarjo Mesin
38.68
2,060
14.03.10.2011
Darul Aman
101.55
2,108
14.03.10.2012
Parit Kebumen
9.20
2,493
14.03.10.2013
Sri Tanjung
41.32
2,519
14.03.10.2014
Pancur Jaya
12.95
2,354
14.03.10.2015
Pangkalan Pinang
11.54
1,553
14.03.10.2016
Dungun Baru
121.36
2,277
14.03.10
Totals Rupat District
1,336.30
44,225
Kode Wilayah
Name of desa
Area in km2
Pop'n Estimate mid 2023
14.03.11.2001
Tanjung Medan
33.86
3,018
14.03.11.2002
Teluk Rhu
18.42
2,612
14.03.11.2003
Tanjung Punak
13.63
1,330
14.03.11.2004
Kador
20.05
2,139
14.03.11.2005
Titi Akar
208.12
4,162
14.03.11.2006
Hutan Ayu
35.77
1,107
14.03.11.2007
Sukadamai
25.12
914
14.03.11.2008
Putri Sembilan
13.71
1,731
14.03.11
Totals Rupat Utara District
368.68
17,013
Proposed Malacca Strait Bridge
There is a proposal by the Malaysian government with Chinese financial backing to build a bridge from Melaka to Rupat and thence to Dumai, to be called the Malacca Strait Bridge, though Jakarta seems to prefer to build the Sunda Strait Bridge first.
Raptor bird migration
Together with the Sangihe Islands, Rupat is located in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, a corridor used by bird of prey for migration. 24 of the 56 kinds of Asian raptors can be found in both locations. From September to November, up to 2,000 raptors migrate to Rupat every day, while migration out happens from February to April.[4]
