Pontianak, kota (city) and capital, West Kalimantan propinsi (or provinsi; province), Indonesia. It lies on the island of Borneo, just inland from the west-central coast, on the Kapuas River. The city was founded in 1771 and was formerly the capital of the sultanate of Pontianak, a trading station that later became the chief gold city of Borneo. Houses in some parts of Pontianak are built on piles to avoid the regular flooding of the river; the hinterland is tropical forest and swampland.
People of Chinese descent and Malays together constitute more than half of the city’s population, with the Chinese being the slightly larger of the two groups. Significant minorities include Bugis, Javanese, and Madurese peoples. Pontianak is also home to a small but salient Dayak community. The dominant religion, Islam, is followed by nearly three-fourths of the population. Christians account for more than one-tenth of the city’s residents. Most of the remainder of the population adheres to Buddhism, Hinduism, or one of various local religions..
Manufacturing forms a significant portion of the city’s economy, with shipbuilding, food processing, printing, production of wooden and rattan goods (including furniture), and rubber processing among the principal industries. Other important sectors of the economy include construction, trade, and hospitality. Notable agricultural products of the region are rice, corn (maize), cassava, jackfruit, bananas, pineapples, and leafy vegetables such as mustard greens and spinach.
A nearby airport offers flights to domestic destinations as well as limited service to Malaysia. Tanjungpura University and several other major public postsecondary schools are located in the city. Pop. (2010) 554,764.