MAPPI NATION

South Papua, officially the South Papua Province (Indonesian: Provinsi Papua Selatan), is an Indonesian province located in the southern portion of Papua, following the borders of the Papuan customary region of Anim Ha. Formally established on 25 July 2022 and including the four most southern regencies that were previously part of the province of Papua and before 11 December 2002 had been a single larger Merauke Regency, it covers a land area of 117,849.16 km2, about the same area as Pennsylvania or Kirov Oblast (or 90% of that of England). This area had a population of 513,617 at the 2020 Census, while the official estimate as at mid 2025 was 549,650 (285,040 males and 264,610 females), making it the least populous province in Indonesia. It shares land borders with the separate nation of Papua New Guinea to the east, as well as the Indonesian provinces of Highland Papua and Central Papua to the north and northwest, respectively. South Papua also faces the Arafura Sea in the west and south, which is a maritime border with Australia. Merauke is the economic centre of South Papua, while its administrative centre is the town of Salor located in Kurik District of Merauke Regency, around 60 km northwest of Merauke town. South Papua's landscape predominantly consists of lowland areas characterized by extensive swamps and massive rivers such as the Digul and Maro. Indigenous ethnic groups inhabit this region, such as the Asmat, Marind, Muyu, and Korowai. They rely on sago and fish as staple dietary sources. Certain tribes like the Asmat were recognized for their wood carving and boating culture. There is also a massive amount of migrants such as Javanese people because of the transmigration program sponsored by the government to convert vast amounts of swamps into rice paddies and increase this region's population. South Papua is also home to the renowned Wasur National Park, an expansive wetland area with rich biodiversity including the agile wallaby, mound-building termites or musamus, and the bird of paradise.