Central Halmahera Regency is a regency of North Maluku Province, Indonesia. The regency was originally formed on 15 August 1990 from part of the former North Maluku Regency, but on 25 February 2003 parts of the new regency were split off to form a separate East Halmahera Regency and the city of Kota Tidore Kepulauan. It now comprises just the southern half of the southeastern peninsula of Halmahera Island, together with part (the northeastern corner) of the southern peninsula of that island. The regency covers a land area of 2,485.76 km2, together with a related sea area of 6,104.65 km2. It had a population of 42,815 at the 2010 Census and 56,802 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as at mid 2022 was 59,096, but the official estimate for mid 2023 produced a massive and unexplained rise to 96,977 persons (comprising 59,884 males and 37,093 females). The capital lies at the town of Weda.

Economy

The regency is site of the Weda Bay Industrial Park, a nickel mining and processing site.

Administration

The regency was divided at 2010 into eight districts (kecamatan), but subsequently two further kecamatan have been created (Weda Timur and Patani Timur). The 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 2022 and at mid 2023. The table also includes the locations of the district administrative centres, the number of administrative villages (all classed as rural desa) in each district, and its postal code. Notes: (a) the reported figures for mid 2022 and for mid 2023 are plainly incompatable, but those given here are simply the figures printed in the published reports by the Indonesian Statistics Board (Badan Pusat Statistik). (b) includes 24 small offshore islands. (c) includes 2 offshore islands (Pulau Mintu, Pulau Tete). (d) the 2010 population for East Weda District is included with the figure for North Weda District, from which it was cut out. (e) the 2010 population for East Patani District is included with the figure for North Patani District, from which it was cut out. (f) includes 4 offshore islands (Pulau Jiu, Pulau Liwo, Pulau Mailiyet, Pulau Sayafi). (g) includes 3 offshore islands (Pulau Moor, Pulau Weilon, Pulau Witimdi). (h) comprises 9 islands (Pulau Fau, Pulau Gebe, Pulau Kiyas, Pulau Piyai, Pulau Sain, Pulau Tapau Kali, Pulau Tapau Piai, Pulau Uta, Pulau Yoi) lying southeast of the Patani Peninsula.