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{{Short description|City and capital of Central Java, Indonesia}}
{{Redirect|Samarang|the 1933 American action film|Samarang (film)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Semarang
| official_name            = City of Semarang<br />{{nobold|{{lang|id|Kota Semarang}}}}
| settlement_type          = [[List of regencies and cities of Indonesia|City]]
| image_skyline            = {{multiple image
 |perrow      = 1/2/2
 |border      = infobox
 |total_width = 300
 |image1      = Lawang_Sewu_in_Semarang_City.jpg
 |caption1    = [[Lawang Sewu]] and [[Tugu Muda]]
 |image2      = Gereja Blenduk.JPG
 |caption2    = [[Blenduk Church]]
 |image3      = Gedung Batu Temple Semarang (little cropped).jpg
 |caption3    = [[Sam Poo Kong]]
 |image5      = Great Mosque of Central Java, aerial view.jpg
 |caption5    = [[Great Mosque of Central Java]]
 |image4      = Pagoda (8093127992).jpg
 |caption4    = [[Vihara Buddhagaya Watugong]]
 }}
| image_flag               = Flag of Semarang City.png
| image_shield             = Lambang Kota Semarang.png
| nickname                 = ''Venetië van Java'', [[Lumpia]] City
| motto                    = '''Kota ATLAS''' <br /> acronym of ''Aman, Tertib, Lancar, Asri, Sehat'' <br /> (Secure, Orderly, Swift, Beautiful, Healthy)
| image_map                = Locator kota semarang.png
| mapsize                  = 
| map_caption              = Location within [[Central Java]]
| pushpin_map              = Indonesia_Java#Indonesia
| pushpin_label_position   = right
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in [[Java]] and [[Indonesia]]
| coordinates              = {{Coord|06|59|24|S|110|25|21|E|region:ID-JT|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{INA}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Regions of Indonesia|Region]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[Provinces of Indonesia|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Java]]
| subdivision_name2        = {{flag|Central Java}}
| established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date         = 
| established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2        = 
| established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3        = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = {{Ill|Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti|lt=Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti|id}} ([[Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle|PDI-P]])
| leader_title2            = [[Vice Mayor]]
| leader_name2             = {{Ill|Iswar Aminuddin|lt=Iswar Aminuddin|id}}
| leader_title3      = [[Regional House of Representatives|Legislature]] 
| leader_name3       = [[Semarang City Regional House of Representatives]] (DPRD)
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 373.78
| area_total_sq_mi         = 
| area_land_km2            = 
| area_land_sq_mi          = 
| area_water_km2           = 
| area_water_sq_mi         = 
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_urban_km2           = 
| area_urban_sq_mi         = 
| area_metro_km2           = 5453.99
| area_metro_sq_mi         = 
| population_total         = 1694740
| population_as_of         = mid 2023 estimate<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2024">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, ''Kota Semarang Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3374)</ref>
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_urban         = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_metro         = 6760538
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_demonym       = Semarangan
| population_note          = <ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2023">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023, ''Kota Semarang Dalam Angka 2023'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3374)</ref>
| population_footnotes     = <ref>{{Cite web |title=Indonesia: Java Province (Regencies and Cities) - Population Statistics, Charts and Map |url=http://citypopulation.de/php/indonesia-jawatengah-reg-admin.php |access-date=2020-11-05 |website=citypopulation.de |archive-date=19 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619221704/https://www.citypopulation.de/php/indonesia-jawatengah-reg-admin.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
| demographics_type1       = Demographics
| demographics1_title1     = {{nowrap|Ethnic groups}}
| postal_code_type         = [[Postal codes in Indonesia|Postcodes]]
| postal_code              = 
| area_code                = (+62) 24
| area_code_type           = [[Telephone numbers in Indonesia|Area code]]
| registration_plate_type  = [[Vehicle registration plates of Indonesia|Vehicle registration]]
| registration_plate       = H
| website                  = {{URL|semarangkota.go.id}}
| blank_name = Nominal [[Gross domestic product|GDP]]<ref name="jateng">{{Cite web|title=Provinsi Jawa Tengah Dalam Angka 2023|author=[[Statistics Indonesia|Badan Pusat Statistik Jawa Tengah]]|publisher=Badan Pusat Statistik|year=2023|location=Semarang|url=https://jateng.bps.go.id/publication/2024/02/28/980d120f5be18d6400c48b16/provinsi-jawa-tengah-dalam-angka-2024.html|website=jateng.bps.go.id|access-date=2024-05-29}}</ref>
| blank_info                   = 2023
| blank1_name                  = &nbsp;- Total
| blank1_info                  = {{increase}}[[Indonesian rupiah|Rp]] 248.902 trillion ([[List of Indonesian cities by GDP|5th]])<br />{{increase}}[[US$]] 16.330 billion <br />{{increase}}[[US$]] 52.298 billion ([[Purchasing power parity|PPP]])
| blank2_name                  = &nbsp;- Per capita
| blank2_info                  = {{increase}}[[Indonesian rupiah|Rp]] 146,868 thousand ([[List of Indonesian cities by GDP|11th]])<br />{{increase}}[[US$]] 9,635 <br />{{increase}}[[US$]] 30,859 ([[Purchasing power parity|PPP]])
| blank3_name        = &nbsp;- Metro
| blank3_info        = {{Increase}}[[Indonesian rupiah|Rp]] 449.096 trillion<br>{{Increase}}[[USD|US$]] 29.464 billion<br>{{Increase}}[[Int$]] 94.362 billion ([[Purchasing power parity|PPP]])
| blank4_name                  = &nbsp;- Growth
| blank4_info                  = {{increase}} 6.0%
| blank5_name                  = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2024)
| blank5_info                  = {{increase}} 0.852 ([[List of Indonesian provinces by Human Development Index|6th]]) {{fontcolor|#007B00|very high}}
| demographics1_info1      = [[Javanese people|Javanese]] 94.24%<br /> [[Chinese Indonesian|Chinese]] 3.48%<br /> Others 2.28%
| demographics1_title2     = Religion (2024)
| demographics1_info2      = [[Islam]] 87,62%<br /> [[Christianity]] 11,74%<br /> - [[Protestant]] 6,81%<br /> - [[Roman Catholic]] 4,93%<br />[[Buddhism]] 0.58%<br />[[Hinduism]] 0.067%<br /> [[Confucianism]] and others 0.025%<ref name="ArcGIS Web Application">{{cite web | url=https://gis.dukcapil.kemendagri.go.id/peta/ | title=ArcGIS Web Application }}</ref>
| unemployment_rate        = 
| timezone                 = [[Time in Indonesia|IWST]]
| utc_offset               = +7
| translit_lang1           = Other
| translit_lang1_type1     = [[Javanese script|Javanese]]
| translit_lang1_info1     = {{lang|jv-Java|ꦏꦸꦛꦯꦼꦩꦫꦁ}}
}}

'''Semarang''' ([[Javanese script|Javanese]]: {{lang|jv-Java|ꦏꦸꦛꦯꦼꦩꦫꦁ}}, ''Kutha Semarang'') is the capital and largest city of [[Central Java]] province in [[Indonesia]]. It was a major port during the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[Dutch East Indies|colonial era]], and is still an important regional center and port today. The city has been named as the cleanest tourist destination in Southeast Asia by the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard (ACTCS) for 2020–2022.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/01/20/semarang-named-cleanest-tourist-destination-in-southeast-asia.html? |title=Semarang named cleanest tourist destination in Southeast Asia |newspaper=The Jakarta Post |access-date=20 January 2020 |archive-date=20 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120132420/https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/01/20/semarang-named-cleanest-tourist-destination-in-southeast-asia.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

It has an area of {{cvt|373.78|km2}} and had a population of 1,555,984 at the 2010 census<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011">Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.</ref> and 1,653,524 at the 2020 census,<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.</ref> making it Indonesia's ninth most populous city<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dispendukcapil.semarangkota.go.id/statistik/jumlah-penduduk-kota-semarang/2015-10-11 |title=Jumlah Penduduk Kota Semarang |trans-title=Population of Semarang |date=October 2015 |publisher=Dinas Kependudukan dan Pencatatan Sipil Kota Semarang |access-date=28 December 2016 |language=id |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807010808/http://dispendukcapil.semarangkota.go.id/statistik/jumlah-penduduk-kota-semarang/2015-10-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> after [[Jakarta]], [[Surabaya]], [[Bekasi]], [[Bandung]], [[Medan]], [[Depok]], [[Tangerang]] and [[Palembang]]; the official population estimate as at mid-2023 was 1,694,740, comprising 838,440 males and 856,310 females.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2024">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, ''Kota Semarang Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3374)</ref> The built-up [[urban area]] had 3,183,516 inhabitants at the 2010 census spread over two cities and 26 districts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/indonesia-jawa-admin.php |title=Indonesia: Java (Regencies, Cities and Districts) – Population Statistics, Charts and Map |website=www.citypopulation.de |access-date=12 January 2016 |archive-date=25 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025180528/http://www.citypopulation.de/php/indonesia-jawa-admin.php |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Semarang metropolitan area]] (a.k.a. ''Kedungsepur'') has a population of over 6 million in 2020 (''see Greater Semarang section''). The population of the city is predominantly [[Javanese people|Javanese]] with significant [[Chinese Indonesians|Chinese]] presence.

== History ==
{{Quote box |width=23em |align=left |bgcolor=GhostWhite
|title=Historical affiliations
|fontsize=90% |quote={{flagicon|}} [[Demak Sultanate]] (1547–1554)<br />
{{flagicon|}} [[Kingdom of Pajang]] (1568–1587)<br />
{{flag|Mataram Sultanate}} (1587–1705)<br />
{{flag|Dutch East India Company}} (1705–1799)<br />
{{flag|Dutch East Indies}} (1800–1942)<br />
{{flag|Empire of Japan}} (1942–1945)<br />
{{flag|Dutch East Indies}} (1945–1949)<br />
{{flagicon image|Flag of Indonesia.svg}} [[United States of Indonesia]] (1949–1950)<br />
{{flag|Indonesia}} (1950–present)
}}

The history of Semarang goes back to the 9th century, when it was known as Bergota. At the end of the 15th century, appointed by the demak sultanate an islamic scholar named {{Interlanguage link|Ki Ageng Pandan Arang|lt=Ki Ageng Pandan Arang|id|Ki Ageng Pandan Arang}} founded a village and an Islamic school in this fishing village. On 2 May 1547, [[Joko Tingkir|Sultan Hadiwijaya]] of [[Kingdom of Pajang|Pajang]] declared Pandan Arang as the first bupati (mayor) of Semarang, thus creating Semarang administratively and politically.

In 1678, Sunan [[Amangkurat II]] promised to give control of Semarang to the [[Dutch East India Company]] (VOC) as a part of a debt payment.<ref name="EVNI 1919 740-4">{{cite book |editor1-last=Stibbe |editor1-first=D. G. |title=Encyclopaedie van Nederlandsch-Indië, Derde Deel N-Soema |date=1919 |publisher=Nijhoff |location=s'-Gravenhage |pages=740–4 |edition=2 |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=MMKB02:000117876 |language=nl |access-date=13 November 2021 |archive-date=29 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129083135/https://www.delpher.nl/nl/boeken/view?coll=boeken&identifier=MMKB02:000117876 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Cribb 2000 86-95">{{cite book |last1=Cribb |first1=R. B. |title=Historical atlas of Indonesia |date=2000 |publisher=University of Hawai'i Press |location=Honolulu |isbn=0-8248-2111-4 |pages=86–95}}</ref> In 1682, the Semarang state was founded by the Dutch colonial power. On 5 October 1705 after years of occupations, Semarang officially became a VOC city when Susuhunan [[Pakubuwono I]] made a deal to give extensive trade rights to the VOC in exchange of wiping out [[Mataram Sultanate|Mataram]]'s debt. The VOC, and later, the [[Dutch East Indies]] government, established [[tobacco]] plantations in the region and built roads and railroads, making Semarang an important colonial trading centre. {{citation needed|date=September 2014}}

The historic presence of a large Indo (Eurasian) community in the area of Semarang is also reflected by the fact a creole mix language called [[Javindo]] existed there.<ref>De Gruiter, Miel. "''Javindo, a contact language in pre-war Semarang''". (Peter Bakker & Maarten Mous. Mixed Languages: 15 Case Studies in Language Intertwining. Amsterdam: IFOTT. 1994.) pp. 151–159.</ref>
{{clear left}}

=== Classical Indische Town (1678–1870) ===
[[File:AMH-5587-NA Map of Samarang.jpg|thumb|left|The early VOC settlement of Semarang with its prominent pentagonal fortress.]]

Semarang was handed by the [[Mataram Sultanate|Sultan of Mataram]] to the Dutch East Indies in 1678.<ref name="EVNI 1919 740-4" /> The city was pictured as a small settlement with a pious Muslim area called ''Kauman'', a Chinese quarter, and a Dutch fortress. The fortress has a pentagonal form with only one gate in the south and five monitoring towers to protect the Dutch settlement from rebellion actions, segregating the spaces between Dutch settlement and other areas.<ref>Purwanto, L. M. F. (2005). Kota Kolonial Lama Semarang. Dimensi Teknik Arsitektur, 33(1), 27-33</ref> In fact, the city of Semarang was only referred to the Dutch quarter while the other ethnic settlement were considered as villages outside the city boundary. The city, known as de Europeesche Buurt, was built in classical European style with church located in the centre, wide boulevards, streets and villas.<ref name="Pratiwo. 2005">Pratiwo. (2005). The City Planning of Semarang 1900–1970. In F. Colombijn, M. Barwegen, P. Basundoro & J. A. Khusyairi (Eds.), Old City, New City: The History of the Indonesian City Before and After Independence. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Ombak.</ref> According to Purwanto (2005),<ref>Purwanto, L. M. F. (2005). Kota Kolonial Lama Semarang. Dimensi Teknik Arsitektur, 33(1), 27-33.</ref> the urban and architectural form of this settlement is very similar to the design principles applied in many Dutch cities.

Due to the long and costly Java War, there was not much funding from the Dutch East Indies government, and this affected Semarang's development. Most land in the area was used for rice cultivation and the only small improvement was the development of a surrounding fortress. Although less developed, Semarang is a fairly well organized city, in which urban activities were concentrated along the river and the settlement is linked to a market where different ethnic groups met to trade. The existence of the market, in the later years, become a primary element and a generator of urban economic growth.<ref name="Nas, P. J. M. 2002">Nas, P. J. M., & Pratiwo. (2002). Java and De Groote Postweg, La Grande Route, the Great Mail Road, Jalan Raya Pos’. Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land-en Volkenkunde, 158(4), 707–725.</ref>

After the departure of [[Herman Willem Daendels]], Napoleonic governor of Java, the Dutch reorganized Java into [[Residency (administrative division)|Residencies]], and Semarang became the seat of the new [[Semarang Residency]] in 1817. An important influence on urban growth was the Great Mail Road project in the 1847, which connected all the cities in the northern coast of Central and East Java and positioned Semarang as the trade centre of agricultural production.<ref name="Colombijn, F. 2002">Colombijn, F. (2002). Introduction; On the road. Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land-en Volkenkunde, 158(4), 595-617.</ref> The project was soon followed by the development of the [[Staatsspoorwegen|Staatsspoorwegen Railway]] and the connecting roads into the inner city of Semarang at the end of the 19th century.<ref name="Nas, P. J. M. 2002" /> Colombijn (2002)<ref name="Colombijn, F. 2002" /> marked the development as the shift of urban functions, from the former river orientation to all services facing the roads.

=== Modern city (1870–1922) ===
[[File:Coat of arms of Semarang (1827).svg|thumb|left|200px|Coat of Arms of Semarang during Dutch colonial era, granted in 1827.]]
The [[Dutch East Indies]]' mail and railway projects improved communication and transportation, bringing an economic boom to the city in the 1870s. Hospitals, churches, hotels, and mansions were built along the new main roads of Mataram Street, Bojongscheweg, and Pontjolscheweg.<ref name="Pratiwo. 2005" /> The Javanese quarters of town known as [[kampong]]s grew increasingly densely populated, reaching as many as 1000 inhabitants per [[hectare]] and degrading living conditions.<ref name="Cobban, J. L. 1993">{{citation |last=Cobban |first=J.L. |date=1993 |title=Public Housing in Colonial Indonesia, 1900–1940 |work=Modern Asian Studies |volume=27 |issue=4 |pages=871–896}}.</ref> Mortality remained high into the early 20th century, with newcomers, overcrowding, and poor hygiene triggering [[cholera]] and [[tuberculous]] outbreaks.<ref>{{citation |last=Silver |first=C. |date=2008 |title=Planning the Megacity: Jakarta in the Twentieth Century |publisher=Psychology Press}}.</ref> [[Dysentery]], [[typhoid]], and [[malaria]] were also rife.<ref name="schnee">{{citation |last=Snijders |first=Emilius Paulus |title=Hoofdartikelen: Dr. W. Th. de Vogel 90 Jaar Terugblik op een Rijk Leven |work=Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde |url=https://www.ntvg.nl/system/files/publications/1953107140001a.pdf |date=10 March 1953 |volume=97 |issue=12 |pages=714–717 |location= |publisher= |access-date=7 May 2022 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506161406/https://www.ntvg.nl/system/files/publications/1953107140001a.pdf |url-status=live }}. (Dutch)</ref> The city doctor [[Willem T. de Vogel]] advocated strenuously for reducing overcrowding and improving living conditions by extending Semarang into the less malarial hill country to its south;<ref name="schneye">{{citation |last=Van Roosmalen |first=Pauline Katherina Maria |contribution-url=https://www.academia.edu/34471083/Modern_lndisch_town_planning |contribution=Modern Indisch Town Planning |date=2017 |pages=265–303 |editor-last=Coté |editor-first=Joost |editor2-last=O'Neill |editor2-first=Hugh |editor3-last=Van Roosmalen |editor3-first=Pauline Katherina Maria |editor4-last=Jessup |editor4-first=Helen Ibbitson |display-editors=0 |title=The Life and Work of Thomas Karsten |location=Amsterdam |publisher=Architectura & Natura Press |access-date=7 May 2022 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506232927/https://www.academia.edu/34471083/Modern_lndisch_town_planning |url-status=live }}.</ref> his fellow councilman [[Hendrik Freerk Tillema|Hendrik Tillema]] had campaigned on a platform of combatting malaria and joined De Vogel's scheme, broadening it into a "village improvement" ({{langx|nl|kampongverbetering}}) movement.<ref name="Cobban, J. L. 1993" /> Purchasing land in the heights with their own money, the two men and some friends passed it on to the city with an initial zoning plan by [[Karel Petrus Cornelis de Bazel|KPC de Bazel]] in 1907 but could never convince a majority of the council to support its development.<ref name="schnee"/><ref name="schneye"/> Changing tack, Tillema then worked to improve the existing kampongs in the city's malarial districts by improving drainage and providing more sanitary public toilets and public housing.<ref name="Cobban, J. L. 1993" />

A decade later, the town approved [[Thomas Karsten]]'s revised plan for the area, using it to build larger villas for the Dutch and wealthy Chinese and Javanese rather than allowing its use by the poor.<ref name="schnee"/><ref name="schneye"/><ref name="schnappi">{{citation |last=Winckel |first=Charles Willem Frederik |title=Personalia: In Memoriam Dr. W. Th. de Vogel |url=https://www.ntvg.nl/system/files/publications/1955108990001a.pdf |work=Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde |date=19 March 1955 |volume=99 |issue=12 |pages=899–900 |location= |publisher= |access-date=7 May 2022 |archive-date=6 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506161408/https://www.ntvg.nl/system/files/publications/1955108990001a.pdf |url-status=live }}. (Dutch)</ref> This area became known as Candi Baru ({{langx|nl|Nieuw Tjandi}}) and forms the core of the present-day Candisari District. Although it remained highly stratified by class,<ref name="Pratiwo. 2005" /> Candi Baru had less ethnic segregation than the older area of town and incorporated public squares, athletic facilities, and places for public bathing and washing that could be used communally.<ref name="Cote, J. 2004">Cote, J. (2004). Colonial designs: Thomas Karsten and the planning of urban Indonesia. Imprint, 2004, 01-01.</ref> With most work remaining in the lower city and transportation slow or expensive, few of the lower classes were interested in moving to the district<ref name="schneye"/> but it set a pattern that was followed with three more successful housing plans between 1916 and 1919. The population grew by 55%, adding 45,000 Javanese, 8500 Chinese, and 7000 Europeans. Karsten's approach to town planning emphasized its aesthetic, practical, and social requirements articulated in economic terms rather than purely racial ones.<ref name="Cote, J. 2004" />

Driven by economic growth and spatial city planning, the city had doubled in size and expanded to the south by the 1920s, creating a nucleus of a metropolis where multi-ethnic groups lived and traded in the city. The villages in the suburbs such as Jomblang and Jatingaleh steadily became the satellite towns of Semarang, more populated with a bigger market area. Before the invasion of Japan in 1942, Semarang had already become the capital of [[Central Java]] province, as the result of trade and industrial success and spatial planning.<ref name="Pratiwo. 2005" />

<gallery widths="190px" heights="180px">
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Het hoofdkantoor van de Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij (NIS) in Semarang TMnr 10032316.jpg|[[Nederlandsch-Indische Spoorweg Maatschappij|NIS]] company head office (Gedung [[Lawang Sewu]]), Semarang, [[Dutch East Indies]].
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Chinees huis in Semarang TMnr 60022048.jpg|A Chinese house in Semarang at the turn of the 20th century.
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Luchtfoto van Semarang rechtsboven N.I.S. station TMnr 10014760.jpg|Aerial picture of Old Semarang area in the 1920s.
File:Locomotive and Teak Table in front of Lawang Sewu building, Semarang.jpg|Old [[0-6-0]] locomotive next to the [[Lawang Sewu]] building.
</gallery>

=== Japanese occupation and early independence ===
The [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] military occupied the city, along with the rest of Java, in 1942, during the [[Pacific War]] of [[World War II]]. During that time, Semarang was headed by a military governor called a Shiko, and two vice governors known as Fuku Shiko. One of the vice governors was appointed from [[Japan]], and the other was "chosen" from the local population. {{citation needed|date=April 2014}}

After [[Indonesian independence]] in 1945, Semarang became the capital of [[Central Java]] on 18 August 1945,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tidak Langsung 34, Ada 8 Provinsi yang Baru Dibentuk pada Awal Kemerdekaan - Semua Halaman - Bobo |url=https://bobo.grid.id/read/082180909/tidak-langsung-34-ada-8-provinsi-yang-baru-dibentuk-pada-awal-kemerdekaan |access-date=2020-08-14 |website=bobo.grid.id |language=id |archive-date=31 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031133718/https://bobo.grid.id/read/082180909/tidak-langsung-34-ada-8-provinsi-yang-baru-dibentuk-pada-awal-kemerdekaan |url-status=live }}</ref> headed by Mr. Moch.Ichsan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-05-05 |title=Daftar Walikota Semarang Sejak 1945 Hingga Sekarang |url=http://seputarsemarang.com/daftar-walikota-semarang-sejak-1945-sekarang-8660/ |access-date=2020-08-14 |website=Seputar Semarang |language=id |archive-date=17 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717195955/http://seputarsemarang.com/daftar-walikota-semarang-sejak-1945-sekarang-8660/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Military history===
It also became the site of a [[Battle of Semarang|battle]] (Five days battle, ''Pertempuran lima hari'') between the new Indonesian military and Japanese soldiers in October 1945.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mukhti |first1=M. F. |title=Orang Semarang Melawan Jepang |url=https://historia.id/politik/articles/orang-semarang-melawan-jepang-vxGqJ |access-date=10 June 2019 |work=Historia |date=19 October 2017 |language=id |archive-date=24 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524172653/https://historia.id/politik/articles/orang-semarang-melawan-jepang-vxGqJ |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after that, what had been the Indonesia-conducted [[Ambarawa]], [[Magelang]], and [[Battle of Ambarawa|Ungaran offensive]]s reached Semarang city on 15 December 1945, causing an 87-day battle that swept away the [[UK|British]] and [[Dutch military]] completely.

== Administration ==
Semarang city administration is headed by mayor, with a legislative assembly. Both mayor and the 50 members of [[Semarang City Regional House of Representatives|legislative assembly]] are elected by direct vote. The government of Semarang City had implemented the smart city concept since 2013.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://economy.okezone.com/read/2018/09/14/20/1950453/ketimpangan-kota-semarang-membaik-meski-ekonomi-lesu |title=Ketimpangan Kota Semarang Membaik meski Ekonomi Lesu |newspaper=Okezone |access-date=8 July 2019 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708123014/https://economy.okezone.com/read/2018/09/14/20/1950453/ketimpangan-kota-semarang-membaik-meski-ekonomi-lesu |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/12/31/semarang-residents-may-pay-property-tax-through-go-pay.html |title=Semarang residents may pay property tax through Go-Pay |newspaper=The Jakarta Post |access-date=8 July 2019 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708123329/https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/12/31/semarang-residents-may-pay-property-tax-through-go-pay.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Juridically, Semarang City is a municipality (second level area) consisting of 16 [[Districts of Indonesia|districts]] (''kecamatan''), which are again divided into 177 [[Villages of Indonesia|urban villages]] (''kelurahan''). The districts are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011"/> and 2020 census,<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021"/> together with the official estimates as at mid 2023.<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2024">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, ''Kota Semarang Dalam Angka 2024'' (Katalog-BPS 1102001.3374)</ref> The table also includes the number and names of the urban [[administrative village]]s in each district.
{|class="wikitable"
! Kode <br>Wilayah|| District <br />(''kecamatan'')||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 2023||No.<br />of<br />villages||Administrative villages (''kelurahan'')
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.14 || Mijen
({{Langx|jv|ꦩꦶꦗꦺꦤ꧀|translit=Mijèn}})
| align="right" |56.52||align="right"|55,708||align="right"|80,906||align="right"|89,950||align="center"|14||[[Cangkiran, Mijen, Semarang|Cangkiran]], Bubakan, Jatibarang, Jatisari, Karangmalang, Kedungpane, Mijen, <br>Ngadirgo, Pesantren, Polaman, Purwosari, Tambangan, Wonolopo, Wonoplumbon,
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.12 || Gunungpati
({{Langx|jv|ꦒꦸꦤꦸꦁꦥꦛꦶ|translit=Gunungpathi}})
| align="right" |58.27||align="right"|88,444||align="right"|98,023||align="right"|100,750||align="center"|16||Cepoko, Gunungpati, Jatirejo, Kalisegoro, Kandri, Mangunsari, Ngijo, Nongkosawit, <br>Pakintelan, Patemon, Plalangan, Pongangan, Sadeng, Sekaran, Sukorejo, Sumurejo
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.11 || Banyumanik
({{Langx|jv|ꦧꦚꦸꦩꦤꦶꦏ꧀|translit=Banyumanik}})
| align="right" |29.74||align="right"|136,368||align="right"|142,076||align="right"|143,430||align="center"|11||[[Pudakpayung, Banyumanik, Semarang|Pudakpayung]], [[Gedawang, Banyumanik, Semarang|Gedawang]], [[Jabungan, Banyumanik, Semarang|Jabungan]], [[Padangsari, Banyumanik, Semarang|Padangsari]], [[Banyumanik, Banyumanik, Semarang|Banyumanik]], [[Srondol Wetan, Banyumanik, Semarang|Srondol Wetan]], <br>[[Pedalangan, Banyumanik, Semarang|Pedalangan]], [[Sumurboto, Banyumanik, Semarang|Sumurboto]], [[Srondol Kulon, Banyumanik, Semarang|Srondol Kulon]], [[Tinjomoyo, Banyumanik, Semarang|Tinjomoyo]], [[Ngesrep, Banyumanik, Semarang|Ngesrep]]
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.09 || Gajah Mungkur
({{Langx|jv|ꦒꦗꦃꦩꦸꦁꦏꦸꦂ|translit=Gajah Mungkur}})
| align="right" |9.34||align="right"|59,911||align="right"|56,232||align="right"|56,350||align="center"|8||[[Bendanduwur, Gajahmungkur, Semarang|Bendanduwur]], [[Bendanngisor, Gajahmungkur, Semarang|Bendanngisor]], [[Bendungan, Gajahmungkur, Semarang|Bendungan]], [[Gajahmungkur, Gajahmungkur, Semarang|Gajahmungkur]], [[Karangrejo, Gajah Mungkur, Semarang|Karangrejo]], <br>[[Lempongsari, Gajahmungkur, Semarang|Lempongsari]], [[Petompon, Gajahmungkur, Semarang|Petompon]], [[Sampangan, Gajahmungkur, Semarang|Sampangan]]
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.07 || Semarang Selatan <br />(South Semarang)
({{Langx|jv|ꦱꦼꦩꦫꦁꦏꦶꦢꦸꦭ꧀|translit=Sěmarang Kidul}}
| align="right" |5.95||align="right"|69,617||align="right"|62,030||align="right"|62,180||align="center"|10||Barusari, Bulustalan, Lamper Kidul, Lamper Lor, Lamper Tengah, Mugassari, <br>Peterongan, Pleburan, Randusari, Wonodri
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.08 || Candisari
({{Langx|jv|ꦕꦤ꧀ꦝꦶꦱꦫꦶ|translit=Candhisari}})
| align="right" |6.40||align="right"|75,879||align="right"|75,456||align="right"|75,610||align="center"|7||[[Candi, Candisari, Semarang|Candi]], [[Jatingaleh]], [[Jomblang, Candisari, Semarang|Jomblang]], [[Kaliwiru, Candisari, Semarang|Kaliwiru]], [[Karanganyargunung, Candisari, Semarang|Karanganyargunung]], [[Tegalsari, Candisari, Semarang|Tegalsari]], [[Wonotingal, Candisari, Semarang|Wonotingal]]
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.10 || Tembalang
({{Langx|jv|ꦠꦼꦩ꧀ꦧꦭꦁ|translit=Tĕmbalang}})
| align="right" |39.47||align="right"|159,849||align="right"|189,680||align="right"|198,860||align="center"|12||Bulusan, Jangli, Kedungmundu, Kramas, Mangunharjo, Meteseh, Rowosari, <br>Sambiroto, Sendangguwo, Sendangmulyo, Tandang, Tembalang
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.06 || Pedurungan
({{Langx|jv|ꦥꦼꦢꦸꦫꦸꦔꦤ꧀|translit=Pědurungan}})
| align="right" |21.11||align="right"|180,468||align="right"|193,151||align="right"|196,530||align="center"|12||Gemah, Kalicari, Muktiharjo Kidul, Palebon, Pedurungan Kidul, Pedurungan Lor, <br>Pedurungan Tengah, Penggaron Kidul, Plamongan Sari, Tlogomulyo, <br>Tlogosari Kulon, Tlogosari Wetan,
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.05 || Genuk
({{Langx|jv|ꦒꦼꦤꦸꦏ꧀|translit=Genuk}})
| align="right" |25.98||align="right"|92,314||align="right"|123,310||align="right"|132,470||align="center"|13||Bangetayu Kulon, Bangetayu Wetan, Banjardowo, Gebangsari, Genuksari, <br>Karangroto, Kudu, Muktiharjo Lor, Penggaron Lor, Sembungharjo, Terboyo Kulon, <br>Terboyo Wetan, Trimulyo
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.04 || Gayamsari
({{Langx|jv|ꦒꦪꦩ꧀ꦱꦫꦶ|translit=Gayamsari}})
| align="right" |6.22||align="right"|71,767||align="right"|70,261||align="right"|70,410||align="center"|7||[[Gayamsari, Gayamsari, Semarang|Gayamsari]], [[Kaligawe, Gayamsari, Semarang|Kaligawe]], [[Pandean Lamper, Gayamsari, Semarang|Pandean Lamper]], [[Sambirejo, Gayamsari, Semarang|Sambirejo]], [[Sawahbesar, Gayamsari, Semarang|Sawah Besar]], [[Siwalan, Gayamsari, Semarang|Siwalan]], [[Tambakrejo, Gayamsari, Semarang|Tambakrejo]]
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.03 || Semarang Timur <br />(East Semarang)
({{Langx|jv|ꦱꦼꦩꦫꦁꦮꦺꦠꦤ꧀|translit=Sěmarang Wétan}})
| align="right" |5.42||align="right"|74,782||align="right"|66,302||align="right"|66,480||align="center"|10||Bugangan, Karangtempel, Karangturi, Kebonagung, Kemijen, Mlatibaru, Mlatiharjo, <br>Rejomulyo, Rejosari, Sarirejo, Bandarharjo
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.02 || Semarang Utara <br />(North Semarang)
({{Langx|jv|ꦱꦼꦩꦫꦁꦭꦺꦴꦂ|translit=Sěmarang Lor}})
| align="right" |11.39||align="right"|117,836||align="right"|117,605||align="right"|117,890||align="center"|9||Bulu Lor, Dadapsari, Kuningan, Panggung Kidul, Panggung Lor, Plombokan, <br>Purwosari, Tanjungmas
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.01 || Semarang Tengah <br />(Central Semarang)
({{Langx|jv|ꦱꦼꦩꦫꦁꦩꦢꦾ|translit=Sěmarang Madyå}})
| align="right" |5.17||align="right"|60,312||align="right"|55,064||align="right"|55,210||align="center"|15||Bangunharjo, Brumbungan, Gabahan, Jagalan, Karangkidul, Kauman, Kembangsari, <br>Kranggan, Miroto, Pandansari, Pekunden, Pendrikan Kidul, Pendrikan Lor, <br>Purwodinatan, Sekayu
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.13 || Semarang Barat <br />(West Semarang)
({{Langx|jv|ꦱꦼꦩꦫꦁꦏꦸꦭꦺꦴꦤ꧀|translit=Sěmarang Kulon}})
| align="right" |21.68||align="right"|154,878||align="right"|148,879||align="right"|149,330||align="center"|16||Bojongsalaman, Bongsari, Cabean, Gisikdrono, Kalibanteng Kidul, Kalibanteng Kulon, <br>Karangayu, Kembangarum, Krapyak, Krobokan, Manyaran, Ngemplaksimongan, <br>Salamanmloyo, Tambakharjo, Tawangmas, Tawangsari
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.16 || Tugu
({{Langx|jv|ꦠꦸꦒꦸ|translit=Tugu}})
| align="right" |28.13||align="right"|29,436||align="right"|32,822||align="right"|33,800||align="center"|7||Jerakan, Karanganyar, Mangkang Kulon, Mangkang Wetan, Mangunharjo, <br>Randu Garut, Tugurejo
|- valign="top"
| 33.74.15 || Ngaliyan
({{Langx|jv|ꦔꦭꦶꦪꦤ꧀|translit=Ngaliyan}})
| align="right" |42.99||align="right"|128,415||align="right"|141,727||align="right"|145,500||align="center"|10||Bambankerep, Beringin, Gondoriyo, Kalipancur, Ngaliyan, Podorejo, Purwoyoso, <br>Tambak Aji, Wonosari
|}

== Geography ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2025}}
{{wide image|Semarang_Simpang_Lima_panorama.jpg|1000px|The view of downtown Semarang.}}
Semarang is located on the northern [[coast]] of Java. The city of Semarang is one of the most important cities located on the north coast of Java and is the main hub connecting [[Jakarta]] and [[Surabaya]], and cities in the southern interior of Java [[Surakarta]] and [[Yogyakarta]]. Semarang City has a height ranging from {{cvt|2|m|feet}} below sea level up to {{cvt|340|m|feet}} above sea level with a slope of 0%–45%. Semarang City is a city that has a unique topographic condition in the form of a narrow lowland area and hilly areas extending from the west side to the east side of Semarang City. The city is located about {{cvt|558|km|mile}} east of Jakarta and {{cvt|312|km|mile}} west of Surabaya.

Lowland areas in Semarang City are very narrow. The lowland area in western Semarang only has a width of {{cvt|4|km|mile}} from the coastline, while in the eastern Semarang, the low-lying area has a width of {{cvt|11|km|mile}} from the coastline. This lowland area is a flood plain from the large rivers that flow in Semarang City, such as Kali Garang (West Flood Canal), Pengkol River, and Bringin River. This low-lying area stretches on the northern side of Semarang and covers almost 40% of the total area of Semarang. This lowland area is known as the lower town (Semarang Ngisor), as well as the center of the city's economic activity. Under these conditions, the lower city area is often hit by annual flooding and its peak during the rainy season. In a number of regions, especially North Semarang, floods are sometimes also caused by overflowing sea tides (tidal floods). The hilly area in Semarang stretches on the south side. These hills are part of a series of northern Java mountain ranges that stretch from Banten to East Java. The hilly area in the city of Semarang is known as the upper city (Semarang Dhuwur). This hilly region is also the upstream area of the big rivers that flow in the city of Semarang. The upper city area is also near [[Mount Ungaran]].

=== Climate ===
Semarang features a [[tropical monsoon climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Am''). The city celebrates Christmas and New Year in summer (due to the location in Southern Hemisphere), however summer months (December to February) are the rainiest, coldest and wettest months. The city features distinctly wetter and drier months, with winter (June through August) being the driest months and hotter than summer. Spring and autumn are the transitions between wet and dry seasons and hotter than both summer and winter. However, the average monthly rainfall does not fall below {{cvt|60|mm|inch}}, hence the tropical rainforest categorization. Semarang on average sees approximately {{cvt|2800|mm|inch}} of rain annually. Average temperatures in the city are relatively consistent, hovering around {{cvt|28|C}}. [[Diurnal temperature variation]] slightly increases in the dry season. 

{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y 
|collapsed = Y
|location =  Semarang ([[Jenderal Ahmad Yani Airport]]) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1999–2023)
|Jan record high C = 35.4
|Feb record high C = 34.4
|Mar record high C = 34.4
|Apr record high C = 35.2
|May record high C = 35.2
|Jun record high C = 35.6
|Jul record high C = 35.4
|Aug record high C = 36.7
|Sep record high C = 37.9
|Oct record high C = 39.5
|Nov record high C = 38.2
|Dec record high C = 36.0
|Jan record low C = 21.8
|Feb record low C = 20.2
|Mar record low C = 22.5
|Apr record low C = 20.2
|May record low C = 21.9
|Jun record low C = 20.2
|Jul record low C = 19.2
|Aug record low C = 19.2
|Sep record low C = 19.8
|Oct record low C = 21.6
|Nov record low C = 21.8
|Dec record low C = 21.0
|Jan high C = 31.2
|Feb high C = 30.9
|Mar high C = 31.5
|Apr high C = 32.2
|May high C = 32.9
|Jun high C = 32.9
|Jul high C = 32.9
|Aug high C = 33.4
|Sep high C = 34.2
|Oct high C = 33.8
|Nov high C = 32.7
|Dec high C = 31.5
| year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 27.2
|Feb mean C = 27.0
|Mar mean C = 27.6
|Apr mean C = 28.2
|May mean C = 28.5
|Jun mean C = 28.1
|Jul mean C = 27.9
|Aug mean C = 28.1
|Sep mean C = 28.4
|Oct mean C = 28.7
|Nov mean C = 28.0
|Dec mean C = 27.4
| year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 24.6
|Feb low C = 24.4
|Mar low C = 24.7
|Apr low C = 25.1
|May low C = 25.3
|Jun low C = 24.2
|Jul low C = 23.6
|Aug low C = 23.3
|Sep low C = 24.0
|Oct low C = 24.8
|Nov low C = 24.9
|Dec low C = 24.6
| year low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 356.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 379.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 192.8
|Apr precipitation mm = 192.9
|May precipitation mm = 136.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 100.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 46.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 45.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 85.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 153.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 235.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 289.5
|year precipitation mm = 
| Jan precipitation days = 17.3
| Feb precipitation days = 16.6
| Mar precipitation days = 13.0
| Apr precipitation days = 13.0
| May precipitation days = 8.9
| Jun precipitation days = 6.1
| Jul precipitation days = 3.7
| Aug precipitation days = 3.1
| Sep precipitation days = 4.8
| Oct precipitation days = 9.8
| Nov precipitation days = 14.5
| Dec precipitation days = 17.2
| year precipitation days =
|Jan sun = 160.6
|Feb sun = 142.1
|Mar sun = 177.4
|Apr sun = 202.1
|May sun = 243.3
|Jun sun = 235.3
|Jul sun = 269.1
|Aug sun = 283.8
|Sep sun = 267.8
|Oct sun = 251.1
|Nov sun = 201.6
|Dec sun = 152.9
|year sun = 
|Jan humidity=82
|Feb humidity=82
|Mar humidity=80
|Apr humidity=79
|May humidity=75
|Jun humidity=72
|Jul humidity=68
|Aug humidity=67
|Sep humidity=66
|Oct humidity=69
|Nov humidity=76
|Dec humidity=81
| Jan dew point F = 74
| Feb dew point F = 74
| Mar dew point F = 75
| Apr dew point F = 74
| May dew point F = 74
| Jun dew point F = 72
| Jul dew point F = 71
| Aug dew point F = 70
| Sep dew point F = 71
| Oct dew point F = 72
| Nov dew point F = 74
| Dec dew point F = 74
| Jan light = 12.5
| Feb light = 12.3
| Mar light = 12.1
| Apr light = 12
| May light = 11.8
| Jun light = 11.7
| Jul light = 11.8
| Aug light = 11.9
| Sep light = 12.1
| Oct light = 12.3
| Nov light = 12.4
| Dec light = 12.5
| year light= 
| Jan uv = 12
| Feb uv = 12
| Mar uv = 12
| Apr uv = 12
| May uv = 11
| Jun uv = 10
| Jul uv = 10
| Aug uv = 12
| Sep uv = 12
| Oct uv = 12
| Nov uv = 12
| Dec uv = 12
| year uv =
|source 1 = Starlings Roost Weather<ref>{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/worldclimate/graphs.php?climate=9120&code=96839
|title= SEMARANG/AHMAD YANI Climate: 1991–2020
|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather
|access-date= 25 December 2024}}</ref>
|source 2 = Weather Atlas<ref name="Weather Atlas">{{cite web |title=Monthly weather forecast and climate = Semarang, Indonesia |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/indonesia/semarang-climate |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725213519/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/indonesia/semarang-climate |archive-date=25 July 2020 |access-date=25 July 2020 |publisher=Weather Atlas}}</ref> and Time and Date<ref name="Time and Date">{{Cite web |title=Climate & Weather Averages in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia |url=https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/indonesia/semarang/climate |access-date=2020-10-18 |website=www.timeanddate.com |language=en |archive-date=19 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019135403/https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/indonesia/semarang/climate |url-status=live }}</ref> (humidity only)}}

=== Semarang River and flood control ===
Like Singapore River, Semarang is constructing Semarang River at Banjir Kanal Barat (Garang River) near Karangayu Bridge. In the middle of July 2011, gardens in river banks and some traditional boats are available to use. The project will be finished in 2013 with river gardens, trotoars, garden lighting, water activities, art sites, sport sites and balconies and stairs for sightseeing.<ref>{{cite news |last=Isti |first=Bambang |url=http://suaramerdeka.com/v1/index.php/read/layar/2011/07/16/834/-Eloknya-Singapore-River-di-Banjirkanal-Barat |title=Eloknya Singapore River di Banjirkanal Barat |date=16 July 2011 |work=Suara Merdeka |access-date=28 December 2016 |language=id |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228195536/http://suaramerdeka.com/v1/index.php/read/layar/2011/07/16/834/-Eloknya-Singapore-River-di-Banjirkanal-Barat |archive-date=28 December 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
In August 2011, a {{cvt|421|m|sigfig=3}} tunnel dodger at Kreo river has been finished and Jatibarang Dam construction can begin, with completion targeted for July 2013. The dam is planned to release {{cvt|230|m3/s}} of flood water and will generate 1.5 MW of electricity, provide a drinking water resource and a boost to tourism.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wijaya |first=Royce |url=http://m.suaramerdeka.com/index.php/read/news/2011/08/13/93573 |title=Bendungan Utama Waduk Jatibarang Dikerjakan |date=13 August 2011 |work=[[Suara Merdeka]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510093202/http://m.suaramerdeka.com/index.php/read/news/2011/08/13/93573 |archive-date=10 May 2013}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations|1950|17=1990|32=1,659,975|31=2022|30=1,653,524|29=2020|28=1,698,777|27=2015|26=1,555,984|25=2010|24=1,438,733|23=2005|22=1,427,341|21=2000|20=1,333,157|19=1995|18=1,242,737|16=1,125,836|371,000|15=1985|14=1,009,460|13=1980|12=782,967|11=1975|10=626,703|9=1970|8=552,128|7=1965|6=485,444|5=1960|4=424,374|1955|footnote=source:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/semarang-population/ |title=Semarang Population 2020 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs) |access-date=26 September 2020 |archive-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201124358/https://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/semarang-population |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bps2023">Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2023.</ref>}} The largest ethnic group in Semarang is the [[Javanese people|Javanese]], followed by minorities of Chinese, [[Arab Indonesians|Arabs]], [[Indian Indonesians|Indian]], and others (including local ethnicities such as [[Sundanese people|Sundanese]], [[Batak]], [[Madurese people|Madura]], [[Malay Indonesians|Malay]], [[Balinese people|Balinese]] etc.). The dominant religion is [[Islam]] with a significant [[Christianity|Christian]] minority.
Semarang has a large Chinese community. As in other regions of Java, especially in Central Java, they have mingled closely with the local population and use Javanese in communication for hundreds of years. About 3.5% of the city's population is ethnic Chinese, many residing in a [[Chinatown]] in the vicinity of Gang Pinggir. The Chinatown is called "Kampong Pecinan Semawis" and expresses many aspects of traditional Chinese culture including foods, rituals, and houses of worship.
{{See also|Javanese people}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Ethnic groups in Semarang<ref name=census2010>{{Cite web |url=http://demografi.bps.go.id/phpfiletree/bahan/kumpulan_tugas_mobilitas_pak_chotib/Kelompok_1/Referensi/BPS_kewarganegaraan_sukubangsa_agama_bahasa_2010.pdf |title=Kewarganegaraan, Suku Bangsa, Agama, Bahasa, 2010 (PDF) |access-date=15 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712140438/http://demografi.bps.go.id/phpfiletree/bahan/kumpulan_tugas_mobilitas_pak_chotib/Kelompok_1/Referensi/BPS_kewarganegaraan_sukubangsa_agama_bahasa_2010.pdf |archive-date=12 July 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Javanese people|Javanese]]
|value1 = 94.24
|color1 = Violet
|label2 = [[Chinese Indonesians|Chinese]]
|value2 = 3.48
|color2 = Lime
|label3 = Others
|value3 = 2.28
|color3 = Brown

}}

== Economy ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2025}}
As the capital city of Central Java, and fifth largest city of Indonesia, the economy of Semarang is quite large. Semarang has transformed and changed dynamically towards a better direction. In a period of less than 10 years, Semarang Metropolitan continues to build a vital financial contribution to Indonesia due to the growing trade and industry and services. As a consequence, people's purchasing power increased, capital inflows, consumer confidence, and doing business indexes were relatively conducive to the development of several [[Central business district|CBDs]] such as ''Simpang Lima City Center (SLCC)'', ''Pemuda Central Business District (PCBD)'', and ''Gajahmada Golden Triangle (GGT)''. Major Indonesian and international financial and banking sectors alikes such as [[Bank Mandiri]], [[Bank Central Asia|BCA]], [[Bank Negara Indonesia|BNI]], [[Bank Rakyat Indonesia|BRI]], [[Panin Bank]], [[HSBC]], [[Bank Permata]], [[Standard Chartered]], [[Rabobank|RaboBank]], Citibank, [[DBS Bank|DBS]], UOB, [[Bank OCBC NISP|OCBC NISP]], [[KEB Hana Bank]], [[CIMB Niaga]], and [[Maybank]] have regional offices in Semarang.

The western part of the city has many industrial parks and factories. Like other metropolitan cities within Indonesia, due to a developing economy and increasing income, Semarang has many shopping malls.

== Transportation ==
=== Road ===
Semarang is on the [[Indonesian National Route 1]] road, which connects it to [[Merak, Banten|Merak]] and Ketapang ([[Banyuwangi]]). [[Indonesian National Route 14]] toward [[Bawen]] starts here. Semarang has a toll road, the [[Semarang Toll Road]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Semarang |url=http://www.jasamarga.com/layanan-jalan-tol/semarang.html |publisher=Jasa Marga |access-date=28 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204215949/http://www.jasamarga.com/layanan-jalan-tol/semarang.html |archive-date=4 December 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The city is connected to [[Surakarta|Solo]] by [[Semarang–Solo Toll Road]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Munir |first1=Syahrul |editor1-last=Alexander |editor1-first=Hilda B |title=Tol Bawen-Salatiga Dijadwalkan Beroperasi Maret 2017 |url=http://properti.kompas.com/read/2016/12/06/180000621/tol.bawen-salatiga.dijadwalkan.beroperasi.maret.2017 |access-date=28 December 2016 |work=[[Kompas]] |date=6 December 2016 |archive-date=28 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228202344/http://properti.kompas.com/read/2016/12/06/180000621/tol.bawen-salatiga.dijadwalkan.beroperasi.maret.2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Semarang's largest bus terminals are Mangkang and Terboyo.<ref>{{cite news |title=Terminal Terboyo Rusak Parah, Terminal Mangkang Sepi |url=http://radarsemarang.jawapos.com/read/2016/06/13/1932/terminal-terboyo-rusak-parah-terminal-mangkang-sepi |access-date=28 December 2016 |work=[[Jawa Pos]] |date=13 June 2016 |language=id |archive-date=28 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228195422/http://radarsemarang.jawapos.com/read/2016/06/13/1932/terminal-terboyo-rusak-parah-terminal-mangkang-sepi |url-status=live }}</ref> The primary means of public transportation is by minibus, called "''bis''". ''Ojek'' ([[motorcycle taxi]]s), ''Angkot'' ([[Share taxi|share-taxi]]) micro-buses, taxi-cabs plays vital role in public transportation of the city. [[Go-Jek]] and [[Grab (company)|Grab]] have online taxi and ''Ojek'' services.

Semarang is served by [[bus rapid transit]] called ''Trans Semarang'', which operates in six routes.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Purbaya |first1=Angling Adhitya |title=Pengguna Angkutan Umum Meningkat, Kota Semarang Diganjar Penghargaan |url=https://news.detik.com/berita/d-3365809/pengguna-angkutan-umum-meningkat-kota-semarang-diganjar-penghargaan |access-date=28 December 2016 |work=detikNews |date=8 December 2016 |language=id |archive-date=28 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228215508/https://news.detik.com/berita/d-3365809/pengguna-angkutan-umum-meningkat-kota-semarang-diganjar-penghargaan |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Perum DAMRI]] also serves in six designated routes in the city.

=== Rail ===
[[File:Semarang Old Town 2008.jpg|thumb|Semarang Old Town seen from [[Semarang Tawang railway station]].]]
Semarang was connected to [[Surakarta]] (Solo) by a rail line in 1870.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cohen |first=Matthew Isaac |title=The Komedie Stamboel: Popular Theater in Colonial Indonesia, 1891–1903 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-fbw-06ovVIC&q=semarang+rail&pg=PA90 |publisher=Ohio University Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-89680-246-9 |page=90 |access-date=4 November 2020 |archive-date=29 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129083118/https://books.google.com/books?id=-fbw-06ovVIC&q=semarang+rail&pg=PA90#v=snippet&q=semarang%20rail&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> At present there are two large train stations in Semarang: [[Semarang Poncol railway station|Semarang Poncol]] and [[Semarang Tawang railway station|Semarang Tawang]]. Semarang is connected to [[Bandung]], [[Jakarta]], and [[Surabaya]] by inter-city train services. ''[[Kedungsepur (train)|Kedungsepur]]'' commuter rail connects Semarang Poncol Station eastward to [[Ngrombo railway station|Ngrombo Station]] in [[Grobogan Regency]].

=== Air ===
[[File:SemarangAirportTerminal.jpg|thumb|Ahmad Yani International Airport.]]
Semarang's [[Ahmad Yani International Airport]] is served by a number of operators.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/indonesia/semarang/transport/getting-there-away/flights |title=Flights |work=Semarang |publisher=Lonely Planet |access-date=3 December 2015 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208081843/http://www.lonelyplanet.com/indonesia/semarang/transport/getting-there-away/flights |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, the airport terminal was relocated to a new and much larger site; the old terminal continues to be used for government and military flights.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://regional.kompas.com/read/2018/05/30/09242381/begini-penampakan-bandara-baru-ahmad-yani-semarang-menjelang-pengoperasian |title=Begini Penampakan Bandara Baru Ahmad Yani Semarang Menjelang Pengoperasian Halaman all |website=kompas.com |date=30 May 2018 |language=id |access-date=2019-11-14 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213095449/https://regional.kompas.com/read/2018/05/30/09242381/begini-penampakan-bandara-baru-ahmad-yani-semarang-menjelang-pengoperasian |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Sea ===
{{See also|Port of Tanjung Emas}}
The main seaport is the [[Port of Tanjung Emas|Tanjung Mas]] seaport.

== Landmarks and places of interest ==
{{Further|Dutch architecture in Semarang}}{{Multiple image
| align       = center
| direction   = 
| total_width = 
| image1      = 
| alt1        = 
| caption1    = The [[Great Mosque of Central Java]], the largest [[mosque]] in the city.
| image2      = Exterior of Blenduk Church, Semarang, 2014-06-18.jpg
| caption2    = [[Blenduk Church]], the oldest church in Central Java.
| width       = 290
| image3      = Sam Po Kong Temple Semarang Indonesia.jpg
| caption3    = [[Sam Poo Kong]], the oldest Chinese temple in the city.
}}

*[[Dutch architecture in Semarang|Semarang old town]] (Kota Lama), which is sometimes referred to by locals as "Little Netherlands." It was established in the 18th century when Indonesia was a Dutch colony. There are more than 50 well-maintained colonial buildings in Kota Lama, displaying 18th, 19th, and 20th century European-influenced architecture.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2017/04/10/the-return-of-semarangs-old-town.html |title=The return of Semarang's Old Town |newspaper=The Jakarta Post |access-date=8 July 2019 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708125605/https://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2017/04/10/the-return-of-semarangs-old-town.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*China Town: [[Chinatown]] in Semarang has a night market known as 'Pasar Semawis', which is known for its cuisine and Chinese new year celebration.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2019/02/04/thousands-flock-to-semarang-night-market-to-celebrate-chinese-new-year.html |title=Thousands flock to Semarang night market to celebrate Chinese New Year |newspaper=The Jakarta Post |access-date=8 July 2019 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708132050/https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2019/02/04/thousands-flock-to-semarang-night-market-to-celebrate-chinese-new-year.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Tugu Muda]] (Youth Monument) is a monument built to commemorate the services of the heroes who have fallen in the [[:id:Pertempuran Lima Hari|Battle of Five Days in Semarang]]. The height of Tugu Muda is 53 meters. Tugu Muda is located in front of [[Lawang Sewu]] at Pemuda street. It depicts the Tugu Muda fighting spirit and patriotism of Semarang residents, especially the youth who are persistent, self-sacrificing in high spirits maintaining the independence of Indonesia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2017/12/03/13-must-visit-places-in-semarang.html |title=13 must-visit places in Semarang |newspaper=The Jakarta Post |access-date=3 December 2017 |archive-date=3 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203140703/http://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2017/12/03/13-must-visit-places-in-semarang.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Lawang Sewu]] ([[Javanese language|Javanese]] for "A Thousand Doors") was built as the headquarters of the [[Dutch East Indies Railway Company]]. The colonial era building is reputedly a haunted house.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}
*Blenduk Church (Nederlandsch Indische Kerk) was built in 1753, the church is one of the oldest building in Kota Lama.
*The [[Sam Poo Kong]] temple is the oldest Chinese temple in the city.<ref>{{cite news |author=Suherdjoko |url=https://lokerjateng.id/chinese-new-year/ |title=It's Chinese New Year for all in Semarang |date=8 February 2016 |work=Loker Jateng |access-date=8 February 2016 |archive-date=26 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126155812/https://lokerjateng.id/chinese-new-year/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Tay Kak Sie Temple]] was established in 1746, it is dedicated to [[Guanyin]] Bodhisattva and various Taoist Deities.
*[[Great Mosque of Central Java|Central Java Grand Mosque]]: This mosque has a Muslim museum, located at Jl. Gajah Raya. The architecture of the mosque is inspired by the mosques in Mecca and Medina.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2017/12/03/13-must-visit-places-in-semarang.html |title=13 must-visit places in Semarang |newspaper=The Jakarta Post |access-date=8 July 2019 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708132556/https://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2017/12/03/13-must-visit-places-in-semarang.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Vihara Buddhagaya Watugong]]: The {{cvt|45|m|feet}} Buddhist temple has been named by MURI as the highest pagoda in Indonesia. It's located at Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Watugong, about 45 minutes drive from the center.
* Pancasila Square: Located within the heart of Simpang Lima City Center (SLCC) CBD; is an infamous public arena at the town center. It has tourist pedicabs, cars, bicycles, chairs, pedestrian track, public toilet, roller skates, traditional games, grass field and others.

== Culture ==
[[File:Javanese batik ca. 1871.png|thumb|Semarang (?) batik made prior to 1867, in the workshop owned by batik pioneer Carolina Josephina von Franquemont (1817–1867). Photo courtesy of the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, [[Bangkok]] ]]

=== Education ===
[[File:Widya puraya undip.jpg|thumb|[[Diponegoro University]]]]
[[FIle:Unnes.jpg|thumb|[[Semarang State University]] campus gate]]
There are 593 elementary schools, 220 junior high schools, 106 senior high schools, and 88 vocational high schools, both public and private in Semarang.<ref>{{cite web |title=Data Referensi Pendidikan |url=http://referensi.data.kemdikbud.go.id/index11.php?kode=036300&level=2 |publisher=Ministry of Education |access-date=18 March 2017 |language=id |archive-date=29 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329155940/http://referensi.data.kemdikbud.go.id/index11.php?kode=036300&level=2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are 20 universities in Semarang, 12 of them private and 8 public. The most renowned universities of Semarang are [[Diponegoro University]] and [[Soegijapranata Catholic University|Soegijapranata]] University.

*[[Diponegoro University]] (UNDIP): It is one of national or [[Public university|state-owned universities]] in Semarang, founded in 1957. The university has 11 faculties and 2 schools: Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Fishery and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Animal Agriculture, Faculty of Psychology, Vocational School, and Postgraduate School. The university also offers a postgraduate program. Diponegoro University is one of the best universities in Indonesia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) Semarang - Info 2020 & Jurusan {{!}} Quipper Campus |url=https://campus.quipper.com/ |access-date=2020-09-30 |website=campus.quipper.com |language=id-ID |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011113737/https://campus.quipper.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Semarang State University]] in [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES): It is one of national or [[Public university|state-owned universities]] in Semarang, founded in 1965. The university has 8 faculties and Postgraduate School: Faculty of Science Education, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Language and Art, Faculty of Sport Science, Faculty of Social Science, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of mathematics and science. [[Semarang State University]] is one of the best university in Indonesia.
*[[Soegijapranata Catholic University]] (UNIKA): It is one of the [[Private university|private universities]] in Semarang, founded in 1982. There are 8 faculties in UNIKA: Faculty of Architecture and Design, Faculty of Law and Communication, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Language and Arts, Faculty of Economics and Business, Faculty of Agricultural and Technology, Faculty of Psychology, and Faculty of Computer Science.
*[[Muhammadiyah University of Semarang]] (UNIMUS): It is one of the [[Private university|private universities]] in Semarang, founded in 1996. On 4 August 1999 the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia issued an Operational Permit for the University of Muhammadiyah Semarang with number: 139/D/O/1999. 14 study programs that obtained operational permits at the beginning of the opening in 1999 including: Public Health Study Program (Bachelor's degree), Statistics Study Program (Bachelor's degree), Mechanical [[Engineering]] Study Program (Bachelor and Diploma degree), Electrical Engineering Study Program (Bachelor and Diploma degree), Food Technology Study Program (Bachelor's degree), Agricultural Technology Study Program (Bachelor's degree), Management Study Program (Bachelor's degree), Company Administration Study Program (Diploma degree), Accounting Study Program (Diploma degree), English Language Study Program (Bachelor's degree), English Language Study Program (Diploma degree) and Japanese Language Study Program (Diploma degree).
* In Semarang, there is also a public university providing education through distance learning or [[distance education]] at Universitas Terbuka ([[Indonesia Open University]]).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://semarang.ut.ac.id/ |title=Universitas Terbuka Semarang |access-date=29 November 2023 |archive-date=12 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612081508/https://semarang.ut.ac.id/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Sports ===
There are several sport centres in Semarang. Jatidiri sport centre or [[Jatidiri Stadium]] is one of the biggest sport centres in Semarang, located in Karangrejo, Gajahmungkur. The centre comprises a soccer field, in line skate track, tennis filed, climbing wall, swimming pool, and many others. The capacity of the centre is about 21,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://seputarsemarang.com/gor-jati-diri-semarang-4041/ |title=GOR Jatidiri |work=Seputar Semarang |date=25 May 2011 |access-date=18 March 2017 |archive-date=7 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407235513/http://seputarsemarang.com/gor-jati-diri-semarang-4041/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Knight Stadium is a futsal and basketball centre in Semarang, located in Grand Marina complex. There is a café and fitness centre in Knight Stadium.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://seputarsemarang.com/knight-stadium-futsal/ |title=Knight Stadium Futsal |work=Seputar Semarang |date=4 May 2011 |access-date=18 March 2017 |archive-date=1 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201234900/http://seputarsemarang.com/knight-stadium-futsal/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
[[File:Loenpia Semarang.JPG|thumb|right|[[Lumpia]] Semarang.]]
Semarang is widely known for its [[bandeng presto]] (pressure-cooked milkfish), [[Lumpia]], [[Wingko]], [[Tahu Gimbal]], and [[Roti gambang|Ganjel Rel]]. Semarang has also been called 'The city of Jamu' because it is an important centre for the production of ''jamu'' which are a range of Indonesian herbal medicines that are popular across Indonesia<ref>{{cite news |last=Kamah |first=Wahyuni |url=http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/archive/semarang-indonesias-city-of-jamu/507253 |title=Semarang: Indonesia's City of Jamu |work=[[The Jakarta Globe]] |date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621202252/http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/archive/semarang-indonesias-city-of-jamu/507253/ |archive-date=21 June 2013}}</ref> Semawis Market, also known as Pecinan Semarang (Semarang's Chinatown), hosts a plethora of street food vendors, offering a wide varieties of dishes.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2017/06/24/a-guide-to-visiting-semarang.html |title=A guide to visiting Semarang |newspaper=The Jakarta Post |access-date=8 July 2019 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708125552/https://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2017/06/24/a-guide-to-visiting-semarang.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Festivals ===
{{ill|Dugderan|id}} is an annual festival in Semarang desecrated to welcome the Ramadan month (a fasting month for Moslems). The word "dug" describes the sound of bedug (traditional Indonesian musical instrument). The word "der" describes the sound of fireworks.

The icon of the festival is a special puppet dragon-like animal called Warak Ngendog. The word "warak" stands for "holy" and the word "ngendog" expresses a reward for Muslims. Warak Ngendog's feet are chained, representing people's desire that should be postponed during this holy month. As Dugderan is a festival unique for Semarang, it represents an important attraction for both local people and visitors.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.matasejarah.com/2016/07/tradisi-dugderan-di-kota-semarang.html |title=Tradisi Dugderan di Kota Semarang |work=Mata Sejarah |access-date=18 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412143319/http://www.matasejarah.com/2016/07/tradisi-dugderan-di-kota-semarang.html |archive-date=12 April 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Media ===
''[[Suara Merdeka]]'' is the major local newspaper in Semarang, as well as Central Java. Other major newspapers include ''Tribun Jateng'' and ''Wawasan''.

== Awards ==
Semarang has received the Adipura Award 6 times in a row since 2012. The Adipura Award is given for achievement in cleanliness and greenery at parks, streets, markets, shop buildings, premises, schools, even cleanliness of water ways and rivers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.detik.com/berita/d-3585466/pemkot-semarang-raih-adipura-6-kali-berturut-turut |title=Pemkot Semarang Raih Adipura 6 Kali Berturut-turut |first=Niken Widya |last=Yunita |date=3 August 2017 |access-date=5 October 2018 |publisher=Detik News |archive-date=3 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803214618/https://news.detik.com/berita/d-3585466/pemkot-semarang-raih-adipura-6-kali-berturut-turut |url-status=live }}</ref> Semarang City received the title of Best Smart Living and Best Smart Economy City in the Indonesia Smart Nation Award 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tribunnews.com/regional/2018/05/04/pemkot-semarang-raih-predikat-best-smart-living-city |title=Pemkot Semarang Raih Predikat Best Smart Living City |newspaper=Tribun News |access-date=8 July 2019 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708124028/https://www.tribunnews.com/regional/2018/05/04/pemkot-semarang-raih-predikat-best-smart-living-city |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Greater Semarang ==
Greater Semarang (known as ''Kedungsepur'') was initially defined by the government as Semarang city, [[Semarang Regency]], [[Salatiga]] city, [[Kendal Regency]], and [[Demak Regency]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Soetomo |first=Sugiono |url=http://www.isocarp.net/Data/case_studies/478.pdf |title=Urban Development as the interface of Regional Development from Below in central Java – Indonesia: the Case of Semarang Metropolitan |work=40th ISoCaRP Congress |publisher=[[International Society of City and Regional Planners]] |date=2004 |access-date=28 December 2016 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220551/http://www.isocarp.net/Data/case_studies/478.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It was later extended to include the western part (12 districts only) of [[Grobogan Regency]]. Despite the definition, rural and urban cores remain distinct and have not amalgamated into a continuous urban sprawl as is the case in [[Jakarta metropolitan area|Greater Jakarta]].

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Delineation of Semarang metropolitan area<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sitarunas.atrbpn.go.id/rtrksn/profil?id=25 |title=Sitarunas |website=sitarunas.atrbpn.go.id |access-date=3 September 2021 |archive-date=3 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203173509/https://sitarunas.atrbpn.go.id/rtrksn/profil?id=25 |url-status=live }}</ref>
!Administrative division
!Area <br />in<br />km<sup>2</sup>
!Pop'n<br />2010<br />census<ref name="Biro Pusat Statistik 2011"/>
!Pop'n<br />2020<br />census<ref name="Badan Pusat Statistik 2021"/>
!No.<br /> of <br />[[List of districts of Central Java|districts]]
!No.<br /> of <br />[[Villages of Indonesia|villages]]
|-
|align=left| City of Semarang
| align="right" |373.78
| align="right" |1,555,984
| align="right" |1,653,524
| align="center" |16
| align="center" |177
|-
|align=left| [[Salatiga|City of Salatiga]]
| align="right" |57.36
| align="right" |170,332
| align="right" |192,322
| align="center" |4
| align="center" |23
|-
|align=left| [[Demak Regency]]
| align="right" |900.12
| align="right" |1,055,579
| align="right" |1,203,956
| align="center" |14
| align="center" |249
|-
|align=left| [[Grobogan Regency]] (part)<ref>Only the western part of Grobogan Regency is included in the metropolitan area; the eastern part (7 districts covering 89 villages) is outside the area.</ref>
| align="right" |1,396.32
| align="right" |797,160
| align="right" |888,581
| align="center" |12
| align="center" |191
|-
|align=left| [[Kendal Regency]]
| align="right" |1,118.13
| align="right" |900,313
| align="right" |1,018,505
| align="center" |20
| align="center" |286
|-
|align=left| [[Semarang Regency]]
| align="right" |950.21
| align="right" |930,727
| align="right" |1,053,094
| align="center" |19
| align="center" |235
|-
|-
|align=left| '''Total ''Kedungsepur'''''
| align="right" |4,795.92
| align="right" |5,410,095
| align="right" |6,009,982
| align="center" |85
| align="center" |1,161
|-
|}
Sources: BPS Jateng<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jateng.bps.go.id/website/pdf_publikasi/Profil-Penduduk--Jawa-Tengah-Hasil-Supas-2015.pdf |title=Profil Penduduk Jawa Tengah |website=jateng.bps.go.id |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427193532/https://jateng.bps.go.id/website/pdf_publikasi/Profil-Penduduk--Jawa-Tengah-Hasil-Supas-2015.pdf |archive-date=27 April 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
* [[Agung Laksono]], politician and former chairman of the House of Representatives.
* [[Jihane Almira Chedid]], beauty queen.
* [[Anindya Kusuma Putri]], [[Puteri Indonesia 2015]] and Top 15 of [[Miss Universe 2015]].
* [[Anne Avantie]], fashion designer.
* [[Aries Susanti Rahayu]], speed climbing world champion.
* [[Be Biauw Tjoan]], Majoor-titulair der Chinezen, magnate, [[Revenue Farm|revenue farmer]] and bureaucrat
* [[Conrad Emil Lambert Helfrich]], Dutch admiral.
* [[Daniel Sahuleka]], Dutch musician.
* [[F. H. van Naerssen]], Dutch professor of Indonesian and Malay and expert on Javanese epigraphy
* [[Fuad Hassan]], politician, former Minister of Education and Culture.
* [[Hubertus van Mook]], Dutch politician.
* [[Jaya Suprana]], musician, writer, TV talkshow host, founder of MURI
* [[Lee Chin Koon]], the father of [[Lee Kuan Yew]], the founding father of modern day [[Singapore]].
* [[Liem Bwan Tjie]], architect.
* [[Max van Egmond]], bass and baritone singer of Baroque and Renaissance music.
* [[Oei Hui-lan]], [[First Lady of the Republic of China]], international socialite and fashion icon.
* [[Oei Tiong Ham]], Majoor-titulair der Chinezen, Chinese Indonesian tycoon.
* [[P. F. Dahler]], politician, member of [[Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence]] (BPUPK).
* [[Purnomo Yusgiantoro]], politician and former Minister of Defence.
* [[Raden Saleh]], painter.
* [[Rob Nieuwenhuys]], literary historian and author.
* [[Sri Oetari Ratna Dewi]], politician
* [[Stella Cornelia]], singer and actress, ex-member of [[JKT48]]
* [[Sutiyoso]], chief of Indonesian Intelligence Bureau (BIN).
* [[Tukul Arwana]], comedian and television personality.
* [[Willem Einthoven]], medical doctor, invented [[electrocardiography]] (ECG), [[Nobel Prize]] winner.
* [[Robert Lansdorp]], Dutch-American professional tennis coach

== Sister cities ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Indonesia}}
Semarang is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
* {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/economic-development/international-relations-sister-cities/list-of-sister-cities/semarang-indonesia/index.htm |title=Semarang – Indonesia |publisher=Brisbane City Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110315000430/http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/economic-development/international-relations-sister-cities/list-of-sister-cities/semarang-indonesia/index.htm |archive-date=15 March 2011}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Vietnam}} [[Da Nang]], [[Vietnam]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Mardiani |first=Dewi |url=http://www.republika.co.id/berita/internasional/global/12/09/06/m9wg7g-kerja-sama-sister-city-semarangda-nang-akan-ditingkatkan |title=Kerja Sama Sister City Semarang-Da Nang Akan Ditingkatkan |work=[[Republika (Indonesian newspaper)|Republika]] |date=6 September 2012 |access-date=28 December 2016 |archive-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630125035/http://www.republika.co.id/berita/internasional/global/12/09/06/m9wg7g-kerja-sama-sister-city-semarangda-nang-akan-ditingkatkan |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://id.berita.yahoo.com/marzuki-hubungan-indonesia-vietnam-harus-ditingkatkan-162007217.html |title=Marzuki: Hubungan Indonesia-Vietnam Harus Ditingkatkan |date=5 September 2012 |agency=[[Antara (news agency)|Antara]] |via=[[Yahoo News]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306223823/http://id.berita.yahoo.com/marzuki-hubungan-indonesia-vietnam-harus-ditingkatkan-162007217.html |archive-date=6 March 2014 |language=id}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Fuzhou]], [[China]]<ref>{{cite web |title=福州国际友好城市一览表|url=http://fzwb.fuzhou.gov.cn/zz/ycgz/yhcs/201909/t20190929_3051140.htm|publisher=Fuzhou|language=zh|access-date=2021-07-21}}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Indonesia}}
* [[Semarang metropolitan area]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
* Graaf, H. J. de (Hermanus Johannes), 1899-(?), "Chinese Muslims in Java in the 15th and 16th centuries : the Malay Annals of Semarang and [[Cirebon|Cerbon]]" / translated and provided with comments by H.J. de Graaf and Th.G.Th. Pigeaud; edited by M.C. Ricklefs. Publisher: [Melbourne] : Monash University, 1984. Description: xiii, 221 p. : folded map; 21&nbsp;cm. {{ISBN|0-86746-419-4}} : Series: Monash papers on Southeast Asia; no. 12
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite report |last=Fleming |first=Tom |date=25 April 2021 |title=Indonesia: Semarang |url=https://www.britishcouncil.id/sites/default/files/d3_cultural_cities_indonesia_semarang_.pdf |series=Cultural Cities Profile East Asia |location=Jakarta |publisher=[[British Council|British Council Indonesia]] |docket= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515094651/https://www.britishcouncil.id/sites/default/files/d3_cultural_cities_indonesia_semarang_.pdf |archive-date=15 May 2024 |access-date=7 April 2025}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline}}

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[[Category:Semarang| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Central Java]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Indonesia]]
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