While Indonesia’s economy remains heavily centered on Java, a number of provinces beyond the island are steadily carving out their own growth stories. Central Papua, Lampung, and South Kalimantan, in particular, have emerged as consistent engines of expansion over the past five years.

Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) show the national economy grew 5.12% in the second quarter of 2025. Java, which accounts for 56.94% of GDP, expanded 5.24%. Growth elsewhere was more modest: Sumatra (4.96%), Bali–Nusa Tenggara (3.73%), Kalimantan (4.95%), Sulawesi (5.83%), and Maluku–Papua (3.33%).

Yet beyond the headline numbers, the provinces recording the steepest gains are outside Java. Since 2020, North Maluku and Central Sulawesi have stood out for rapid growth, though their momentum has softened since 2021. By contrast, Central Papua, Lampung, and South Kalimantan have shown steadier progress, consistently ranking in the top five provinces for annual GRDP growth.

From Q1 to Q2 2025, Central Papua, Lampung, and South Kalimantan grew 14.15%, 9.33%, and 8.10%, respectively. Over the past five years, these three provinces have shown consistently rising growth. Other provinces—such as North Maluku, Central Sulawesi, and Papua—experienced a surge in 2021 but declines through 2024.

The high GRDP growth in these provinces is supported by different sectors. In Lampung, regional growth is underpinned by agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, as well as manufacturing. South Kalimantan is more driven by the mining sector.

This pattern shows that the strength of emerging regions is backed by varied potentials. Such diversity will help sustain national growth and distribute economic growth centers more evenly.