Lingga Regency
The Lingga Regency is a group of 600 islands in Indonesia, located south of Singapore and along both sides of the equator, off the eastern coast of Riau Province on Sumatra island. They are due south of the populated Riau Archipelago, known for the industrial island of Batam and the tourist-frequented island of Bintan, although the Lingga Islands themselves are rarely visited due to the infrequent local transportation. The equator goes through the northern tip of Lingga Island, the main island in the archipelago.
Administratively they form a Regency of the Riau Islands Province with a land area of 2,250.45 km2 and a population of 86,244 people at the 2010 census and 98,633 at the 2020 census; the official estimate as at mid 2023 was 102,474. The regency seat lies at Daik on Lingga Island.
The population are mainly Malay, Bugis and Chinese.
Name
Lingga derives its name from the profile of which is shaped like the Hindu lingam, often interpreted as a phallic symbol. This mountain has three sharp teeth at its peak; one of them seems to have broken off at its base, and it was immortalised by Malay poets as the symbol of durability. The poem isPulau Pandan jauh ke tengah,
Gunung Daik bercabang tiga,
Hancur badan dikandung tanah,
Budi yang baik dikenang juga.
By nuar
Nearby are the remains of the fort of Benteng Bukit Cening, overlooking the sea. The cannons are still lined up, as if they were awaiting another enemy attack.
Islands
By size and population the most important islands in the archipelago are Lingga and Singkep, then Sebangka and Bakung.- Lingga with smaller Pulau Alut.
- Pulau Selayar of Riau Islands between Lingga and Singkep.
- Singkep with Pulau Posek to the west, Pulau Serak to the southwest, and Pulau Lalang to the south.
- Sebangka and Bakung to the northwest of Lingga, with town of Limas, and the islets Senayang, Kapas, Kentar and Mowang.
- Pulau Lobam and Cempah to the west of Sebangka.
- Temiang and Mesawak in the north.
Administrative districts
The thirteen districts are tabulated below with their areas and their populations at the 2010 census and the 2020 census, together with the official estimates as at mid 2023. The table also includes the location of the district administrative centres, the number of villages in each district, and their post codes. Altogether the archipelago contains 509some 600 islands.
| Kode Wilayah | Name of District | Area in km2 | Pop'n census 2010 | Pop'n census 2020 | Pop'n estimate mid 2023 | Admin centre | No. of villages | Post code |
| 24.04.04 | Singkep Barat | 406.25 | 14,552 | 13,802 | 14,216 | Raya | 12 | 29875 |
| 24.04.10 | Kepulauan Posek | 43.13 | 3,046 | 3,308 | Posek | 3 | 29876 | |
| 24.04.01 | Singkep | 130.80 | 26,647 | 23,201 | 23,493 | Dabo | 6 | 29871 |
| 24.04.09 | Singkep Selatan | 199.75 | 2,447 | 2,872 | Resang | 4 | 29878 | |
| 24.04.06 | Singkep Pesisir | 110.29 | 4,785 | 4,869 | Lanjut | 6 | 29870 | |
| 24.04.02 | Lingga | 363.67 | 16,651 | 12,171 | 12,546 | Daik | 11 | 29872 |
| 24.04.08 | Selayar | 41.85 | 3,422 | 3,544 | Penuba | 4 | 29877 | |
| 24.04.07 | Lingga Timur | 184.90 | 3,819 | 5,217 | Sungai Pinang | 6 | 29872 | |
| 24.04.05 | Lingga Utara | 305.25 | 9,701 | 10,843 | 10,370 | Pancur | 12 | 29874 |
| 24.04.03 | Senayang | 179.86 | 18,693 | 6,034 | 6,411 | Senayang | 5 | 29873 |
| 24.04.13 | Bakung Serumpun | 140.91 | 7,466 | 7,736 | Rejai | 6 | 29873 | |
| 24.04.12 | Temiang Pesisir | 104.21 | 3,594 | 3,717 | Tajur Biru | 3 | 29873 | |
| 24.04.11 | Katang Bidare | 39.58 | 4,003 | 4,175 | Benan | 5 | 29873 | |
| 24.04 | Totals | 2,250.45 | 86,244 | 98,633 | 102,474 | Lingga | 84 |
Notes: Singkep Barat District comprises 47 islands. including one kelurahan.
The 2010 population of the new Kepulauan Posek District is included with the figure for Singkep Barat District, from which it was cut out in 2018.
Singkep District comprises 32 islands. comprising 3 kelurahan and 3 desa.
The 2010 populations of the new Singkep Selatan District and Singkep Pesisir District are included with the figure for Singkep District, from which they were cut out in 2012.
including one kelurahan. Lingga District comprises 71 islands. including 2 kelurahan - Daik and Daik Sepincan.
The 2010 populations of the new Selayar District and Lingga Timur District are included with the figure for Lingga District, from which they were cut out in 2012.
Lingga Utara District comprises 12 islands. Senayang District comprises 324 islands.
The 2010 populations of the new Bakung Serumpun District, Tamiang Pesisir District and Katang Bidare District are included with the figure for Senayang District, from which they were cut out in 2019.
Demographics
Religion
Islam is the dominant religion in the Lingga Islands regency, with 91.40% of the total population identifying themselves as Muslim. Other religions are Buddhism, which forms 5.89% of the total population, Christianity, which forms 2.63% of the total population, Hinduism, which forms 0.02% of the total population and Confucianism, which forms 0.03% of the total population.Transport
Ferry services to the islands from outside the archipelago come from the provincial capital to the north, Tanjung Pinang on Bintan, including from Singapore. These days the main industry is fishing. There are a number of fine beaches with some coral around the Archipelago but there is very little tourism on account of the poor transport links with the outside world.- Singkep has two ports, Dabo near Dabosingkep and Jago near Sungaibuluh. Service to the port of Muntok on Bangka Island of Sumatera Selatan ceased operating regularly with the demise of the tin mining industry. However, a high-speed ferry continues to connect Tanjung Pinang to Singkep, from where local boats may be chartered to Lingga.
- For Lingga, Daik is the major town and port. It can be reached in a day from Singapore transferring at Tanjung Pinang.
Lingga Roads