What is an are?

What is an Are: Unit of Land Measurement in Indonesia and its History

When it comes to understanding land measurement systems in different countries, many are familiar with the imperial or metric systems. However, in some regions, unique units of measurement have evolved over centuries.

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One such example is the “are,” a traditional unit of land measurement used primarily in Indonesia. In this blog post, we willexplore what an are is, its historical background, and its current usage in Indonesian land measurement practices.

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What is an Are?

An are (sometimes spelled areh) is a unit of land area used predominantly in Indonesia, equivalent to 100square meters. It is part of a system of measurements that originated from local agricultural practices and was integrated into the modern system of land measurement. An are is most commonly used to measure smaller plots of land, particularly those used for agriculture, real estate, and residential purposes.

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One are equals 100 square meters (10meters by 10 meters). In comparison, a hectare, which is another land measurement unit, is equal to 100 ares or 10,000 square meters. For those familiar with the metric system, an are can be considered as one-tenth of a decare (a unit of measurement equal to 1,000 square meters), although it is not commonly used in that context.

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History of Are in Indonesia

To understand the full significance of the are, it’s important to look at its historical origins and development within Indonesia's measurement systems.

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Indigenous Measurement Systems

Before the introduction of the metric system, various local measurement systems were used throughout Indonesia. These were based on traditional units of measurement tied to everyday life, agriculture, and trade. The are can be seen as one such example of how practical land management influenced the evolution of land area measurements.

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Indigenous measurement systems were often not standardized across the archipelago. Different regions had their own units based on local customs, and these units were used by farmers, traders, and landowners to measure land. Because agricultural land was central to Indonesia's economy and daily life, there was a strong emphasis on developing practical units for measuring the amount of cultivable land.

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The Dutch-Colonial Era

The introduction of the are as an official unit of measurement can be traced back to the Dutch colonial period. The Dutch-colonized Indonesia from the early 1600s until Indonesia's independence in1945. During this time, they sought to standardize measurements across thearchipelago for both taxation purposes and trade.

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The Dutch colonial administration adopted a system of land measurement that incorporated the use of both the are and the hectare. This allowed for more consistency in land transactions, agricultural practices, and taxation across the vast islands of Indonesia. The use of these units became widely recognized as more land was developed for agriculture and urbanization increased in regions such as Java and Bali.

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Though the Dutch introduced the are as a formal unit of measurement, it was still influenced by traditional local systems, such as the Balinese measurement system. As a result, even today, some areas continue to use the are in conjunction with other traditional units of measurement.

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Post-Independence and the Metric System

After Indonesia gained independence in 1945,the newly established government sought to unify and modernize the country’s measurement systems. In 1961, Indonesia officially adopted the metric system as part of its national standards, aligning with international norms. However, the are remained an important unit of land measurement, particularly for smaller plots, and continues to be used today.

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The metric system’s introduction did not completely replace the indigenous measurement systems but rather integrated them into a more formalized framework. This allowed the are to coexist alongside other units like the square meter (m²), hectare, and decare, ensuring that both traditional and modern systems were available for land transactions.

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The Are Today

In contemporary Indonesia, the use of the are is still widespread, particularly in rural and agricultural areas. It remains one of the most common units for measuring land, especially for residential plots, small farms, and estates. This is particularly true in Java, Bali, and other islands where traditional agricultural practices continue to thrive.

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For example, in urban real estate markets, an are is often used to define the size of residential plots, such as in suburban areas or smaller housing developments. The value of land can be expressed in terms of per are, and land sales often use this unit for easy calculation.

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In addition to its role in land transactions, the are also serves as an important part of the language and culture of Indonesian people. Many property owners, farmers, and developers still reference the are when describing land areas, keeping the connection between the past and present alive.

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However, as Indonesia has become more integrated into the global economy, larger land measurements such as the hectare are also increasingly common, particularly in industrial agriculture and large-scale real estate development. Despite this, the are remains deeply embedded in the daily practices of landowners and those involved in smaller-scale land use.

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Are vs. Other Units of Land Measurement

To put the are in perspective, let’s compare it to other well-known units of land measurement used both globally and locally in Indonesia.

• Square Meter (m²): As the base unit in the International System of Units (SI), the square meter is widely used in Indonesia and globally. One are is equivalent to 100 square meters, so land measured in ares can easily be converted to square meters.
• Hectare: A hectare is a unit of land measurement used internationally, primarily in agriculture and land planning. One hectare equals 100 ares or 10,000 square meters. While the hectare is more commonly used for larger properties or farmland, the are is often used for smaller areas of land in Indonesia.
• Acres: Commonly used in countries like the United States and the UK, an acre is approximately 4046.86 square meters, or about 40.47 ares. While acres are used in some Indonesian property dealings, the are remains more popular for smaller land parcels.