Indonesia’s Bali named world’s second most crowded island as overtourism gripes rise

With more than 60,000 daily visitors arriving on the island, residents have complained about overcrowding and a housing shortage

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Visitors to Bali watching a Kecak dance performance. Photo: Anadolu via Getty Images

Published: 4:09pm, 9 Jul 2025

Indonesia’s Bali is now officially the second most crowded island in the world after neighbouring Java, as residents feel squeezed out by the influx of tourists and even their compatriots in their backyard.

Measuring 5,780 sq km (2,230 square miles) in size, Bali is home to 731 people per sq km, excluding tourists, according to national newspaper Kompas citing data from online market researcher Visual Capitalist.

More than 60,000 daily visitors arrive on the island with a population of 4.2 million on average. Last year, Indonesia’s most visited island welcomed over 6.3 million foreigners.

Bali was also named the world’s most beautiful island in 2025 in a study by travel agency Travelbag, Tempo news magazine reported.

While this popularity is a boon for businesses – over half of Bali’s economy relies on tourists, according to The Jakarta Post newspaper – it is proving a bane for locals, who feel that their quality of life is being adversely affected by overtourism.

Denpasar native Wahyuni said he felt suffocated in his hometown. “The population density in Bali is a big challenge for me as a villager wanting to feel comfortable in my own environment,” the 41-year-old said on Friday, as quoted by Kompas.

Tourists at Kuta Beach in Bali. More residents are complaining about overtourism on the island. Photo: EPA-EFE

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