Mahakam Ulu Regency

Mahakam Ulu Regency
Kabupaten Mahakam Ulu
A cliff above the Mahakam river
Location within East Kalimantan
Mahakam Ulu Regency
Location in Kalimantan and Indonesia
Mahakam Ulu Regency
Mahakam Ulu Regency (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 0°30′N 115°17′E / 0.5°N 115.28°E / 0.5; 115.28
CountryIndonesia
ProvinceEast Kalimantan
CapitalUjoh Bilang
Government
  RegentBonifasius Belawan Geh
  Vice RegentYohanes Avun
Area
  Total
7,115.02 sq mi (18,427.81 km2)
Population
 (mid 2024 estimate)
  Total
39,319
  Density5.5/sq mi (2.1/km2)
 
Time zoneUTC+8 (ICST)
Area code(+62) 545
HDI (2022) 0.687 (Medium)
Websitemahakamulukab.go.id

Mahakam Ulu Regency (Indonesian pronunciation: [maˈhakam ˈulu], lit. 'Upper Mahakam') is a regency (kabupaten) in the province of East Kalimantan, Indonesia. As the name implies, it comprises the upper valley of the Mahakam River. It covers an area of 18,427.81 km2. The regency was established on 14 December 2012, formed from the former northern districts of West Kutai Regency. The districts now forming the regency held a combined population of 24,994 at the 2010 Census; the population for the new regency at the 2020 Census was 32,513; the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 39,319. The administrative capital is at Ujoh Bilang, which had 5,218 inhabitants as at mid 2023.

Mahakam Ulu shares borders with Kapuas Hulu (West Kalimantan) to the west; Murung Raya, North Barito (Central Kalimantan), and West Kutai to the south, Kutai Kartanegara to the east, and Malinau to the north. It is also the only regency in East Kalimantan to share an international land border with the Malaysian state of Sarawak (Kapit), to the north. Mahakam Ulu is also notorious for being geographically isolated from the rest of East Kalimantan. As a result, the public services and transportation access are still minimal.