West Papua, Indonesian Papua Barat formerly West Irian Jaya, Province, Indonesia. Area: 37,461 sq mi (97,024 sq km). Pop. (2020): 1,134,068. Capital: Manokwari. West Papua includes the Bomberai and Doberai (Vogelkop) peninsulas on the western end of New Guinea and, to the west, the Raja Ampat Islands. It lies within the Australian faunal region, which means its animal life is more similar to that of Australia and New Zealand rather than western Indonesia and the Southeast Asian mainland. Common mammals include marsupials, such as tree kangaroos and forest wallabies; egg-laying echidnas (monotremes); and assorted bats and rats. In the early 21st century, numerous indigenous ethnic groups constituted a shrinking two-thirds of West Papua’s population, as immigration from other areas, particularly the islands of Java and Celebes (Sulawesi), intensified. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, engaging more than half the workforce and accounting for a significant portion of West Papua’s revenue.
