Maumere

The population of Maumere is mainly made up of the native Sikka people,^[5] but there are also some of Portuguese descent who are called the mestiços.^[6] Apart from that, there are also the Lio, Palue,^[7] Bajau, Bugis, and the Javanese who migrated here. The population speaks Indonesian and Maumere Malay, a local Malay-based creole, as a lingua franca. The most widely spoken regional language is Sikka, then Lio, and others.^[8] A Portuguese-based creole form was spoken until the late 20th century, before being replaced by Indonesian and local Malay.^[9]

In 1992, Maumere had a total population of about 70,000,^[10] but the town suffered considerable damage in the 1992 Flores earthquake and tsunami, with 90 percent of all buildings being destroyed.^[10] The Census population of the three districts (Alak Barat, Alak, and Alak Timur) in 2010 was 82,039^[11] and 87,720 in 2020;^[12] the official estimate as at mid 2024 was 92,095; however this included 10,875 inhabitants of offshore islands, so that the 2024 figure for the town itself was 79,515.^[13]

In 2005, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maumere was established in the town.

The reefs in areas surrounding Maumere (the Maumere Gulf) were once considered some of the finest diving in the world. However, a 2007 report found that 75% of the coral reefs had been significantly damaged or destroyed by the practice of bomb fishing, the use of toxic chemicals in fishing, and due to earthquakes.^[14] One priority of the local community and government is the promotion of tourism. An annual cultural event, Maumere in Love, has been initiated as a step towards fostering both local and wider interest in the region around Maumere.^[15]

The three districts (kecamatan) are sub-divided into 13 urban village (kelurahan) and 8 rural villages (desa):^{[16][circular reference]}

• Alok Barat (West Alok), consists of the four kelurahan of Hewuli, Wailiti, Wolomarang, and Wuring, with 24,548 inhabitants in mid 2024.^[17]
• Alok, consists of the four kelurahan of Kabor, Kota Uneng, Madawat, and Nangalimang, with 26,957 inhabitants in mid 2024; plus the three desa of Gunung Sari, Pemana (together comprising Pemana Island offshore, with 4,956 inhabitants in 2024), and Samparong (comprising Samparong Island, further north in the Flores Sea, with 1,049 inhabitants in 2024).^[18]
• Alok Timur (East Alok), consists of the five kelurahan of Beru, Kota Baru, Nangameting, Waioti, and Wairotang, with 24,096 inhabitants in mid 2024; plus the six desa, of which Lepolima (2,441), Watugong (1,473), and Gong Bekor (1,415) are all also on Flores Island but are situated immediately south of the 5 kelurahan, while Kojadoi (1,558) and Kojagete (1,585) together compose Koja Island (or Pulau Besar), while Perumaan (2,007) consists of nearly Perumaan Island and similar small islands, all closer to the northwest coast of Talibura district.^[19]

Thus the population of the urban town itself in 2024 was 79,515 (including 5,329 in the villages of Lepolima, Watugong, and Gong Bekor) while the other 12,570 inhabitants were on the various offshore islands.

Mother of All Nations (Indonesian: Bunda Segala Bangsa) is a statue of Mother Mary in Nilo Hill, 5 kilometres or 3.1 miles south-west from Maumere. The statue stands 18 metres or 59 feet tall, but with its pedestal and foundation it is 28 metres or 92 feet tall. The 6-ton copper-clad statue was constructed in 2005, located at the peak of the 500 metres or 1,640 feet Keli hill, Nilo village, and has become the tallest statue raised in Sikka Regency.

The city is served by Frans Xavier Seda Airport or Maumere Airport.

Maumere has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) with a long dry season and short wet season.