Lesser Sunda Islands
Native name:
Kapuloan Sunda Cenik (Balinese) Jejeq Gili-gili Sunda Kodéq (Sasak) Gili-gili Sunda Odek (Sumbawa) Nisa Doho Sunda To'i (Bima) Pah-pah Sunda Ana' (Atoni) Nuca-nuca Sunda Koé (Manggarai) Kapoloan Sunda Kenik (Kangean) | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Southeast Asia |
| Coordinates | 9°00′S 120°00′E / 9.000°S 120.000°E |
| Archipelago | Sunda Islands |
| Total islands | 975 |
| Major islands | Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, Timor |
| Highest elevation | 3,726 m (12224 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Rinjani |
| Administration | |
| Provinces | |
| Largest settlement | Denpasar (pop. 670,210) |
| Districts | |
| Largest settlement | Dili (pop. 277,488) |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 17,507,462 (projection for 2024 since 2020) |
| Ethnic groups | Balinese, Sasak, Tetum, Atoni, Manggaraian, Sumbese, Bimanese, Sumbawan, Li'o, Sikka, Mambai, Lamaholot, Savu, Kangean, Rotenese, Bunak, Kemak, Moluccans, Tanimbarese, Bali Aga, Alfur, Javanese, Buginese and others |
The Lesser Sunda Islands, now known as Nusa Tenggara Islands in Indonesia, is an archipelago in the Indonesian archipelago and Timor Leste. Most of the Lesser Sunda Islands are located within the Wallacea region, except for the Bali province which is west of the Wallace Line and is within the Sunda Shelf. Together with the Greater Sunda Islands to the west, they make up the Sunda Islands. The islands are part of a volcanic arc, the Sunda Arc, formed by subduction along the Sunda Trench in the Java Sea. In 1930 the population was 3,460,059; today over 17 million people live on the islands. Etymologically, the name Nusa Tenggara means 'Southeast Islands' from the words nusa meaning 'island' and tenggara meaning 'southeast'.
The main Lesser Sunda Islands are, from west to east: Bali, Kangean Islands, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Savu, Rote, Timor, Atauro, Alor archipelago, Barat Daya Islands, and Tanimbar Islands. Apart from the eastern half of Timor island and Atauro island which constitute the nation of Timor Leste, all the other islands are part of Indonesia.