The 2nd Most Crowded Island in the World – The Indonesian island of Bali, long regarded as a global tourism magnet, is now facing mounting pressure from overpopulation, largely driven by overtourism.
Based on recent data published by Visual Capitalist and reported by the South China Morning Post, Bali is now the second most crowded island / densely populated island in the world, following Java.
With a total land area of around 5,780 square kilometres, the island is home to approximately 4.2 million residents. As reported by CNBC, Bali receives more than 60,000 daily visitors, resulting in a population density of approximately 731 people per square kilometre.
Lihat postingan ini di Instagram
This level of density places significant strain on living space, infrastructure, and environmental quality.
Last year alone, Bali welcomed over 6.3 million international visitors, earning it the title of the “most beautiful island in the world” in a 2025 study by travel agency Travelbag. While tourism accounts for nearly half of the island’s economy, many locals report a decline in their quality of life due to the excessive number of visitors.
Bali’s administrative structure includes eight regencies and one city, Denpasar encompassing 57 sub-districts, 80 urban villages, and 636 rural villages.
The most recent census data from bali.gps.go.id shows that Bali’s population stands at 4,317,404. Buleleng Regency has the highest population at 791,813, followed by Denpasar City with 725,314, and Badung Regency with 548,191. The regency with the lowest population is Klungkung with 206,925 residents.
However, when it comes to population density, Denpasar City ranks highest, with 5,676 people per square kilometre. Gianyar follows with 1,400, and Badung with 1,310.
The combination of high density and limited urban space is particularly visible in these areas, which are also central to Bali’s tourism industry.
Denpasar, Badung, and Gianyar are frequently cited as the busiest areas on the island, with popular destinations such as Kuta and Ubud located within these regions.
Infrastructure and Traffic Challenges in Bali as the 2nd Most Crowded Island in the World
In addition to the sharp rise in short-term visitors, Bali is experiencing a trend of long-term tourism. Many foreign nationals are reportedly taking sabbaticals or remote work periods and choosing to stay in Bali for extended durations.
This has been identified as a contributing factor to the worsening traffic congestion across the island, a concern that has gone viral on social media platforms in recent months.
In response to these developments, Bali’s Governor I Wayan Koster has announced plans to improve road infrastructure, particularly in the areas of Denpasar City and Badung Regency.
“For the infrastructure sector on the island of Bali, both land, sea and air infrastructure and transportation [need development] in order to realise the capacity and quality of infrastructure,” said Governor Koster.
The government intends to integrate more environmentally sustainable transportation methods, alongside a programme to enhance road connectivity between cities and regencies.
In Denpasar City, a number of new projects have been outlined. These include the construction of a new road connecting Sunset Road in Kuta to Mahendradatta Road and West Gatot Subroto Road in Denpasar, extending to the Canggu area in North Kuta, Badung.
Additional plans involve building underpasses to ease congestion. Among them are underpasses on Jalan Ahmad Yani and Jalan Tohpati, as well as from the Akasia Intersection to the Padang Galak Intersection, all located within Denpasar.
