Sabah Islands 2026 — 394 Islands, Banggi the Largest
We are working through the statistics in this section against their original sources. The headline figures above were re-checked on 17 August 2026. Detailed figures further down the page have not yet been individually verified, and some may be out of date or wrong.
If you spot something that looks wrong, please tell us — it genuinely helps.
Sabah has 394 gazetted islands (JUPEM, 2011). The largest is Banggi, off Kudat, at about 440 km² — not Labuan, which is a Federal Territory and not part of Sabah. Major island groups: Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (5 islands, day trips from Kota Kinabalu), Tun Sakaran Marine Park (8 islands, Semporna diving) and Turtle Islands Park (3 islands, sea turtle rookery). The most-visited is Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, with 546,383 visitors in 2025.
Banggi is Sabah's largest island by a wide margin. Sebatik is shared with Indonesia; only its northern half, about 187 km², lies in Sabah. Several other islands — Malawali, Sakar, Libaran, Tabawan and Boheydulang among them — are large but have no published area figure, so they are not shown. Labuan is excluded: it is a Federal Territory, not part of Sabah.
Source: Boutin (1994) for Banggi; published island areas. Definitive per-island areas are held by JUPEM.
Sabah’s 394-Island Archipelago
Sabah’s coastline extends 1,440 kilometers, studded with 394 gazetted islands of varying sizes, origins, and ecological importance. Island formations range from tiny rocky outcrops barely above water to substantial landmasses supporting permanent settlements. The islands represent fragments of Borneo’s geological and ecological diversity — granitic peaks, uplifted limestone, and volcanic remnants.
Island distribution reflects Sabah’s geography:
- Western cluster (Kota Kinabalu area): Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (5 islands), numerous small islands off the coast.
- Southeastern cluster (Semporna area): Tun Sakaran Marine Park (8 islands), Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai — world-class dive destinations.
- Northern islands: Banggi, Balambangan, Mantanani — remote, small populations, limited tourism. Banggi is the largest island in Sabah.
- East coast: Sebatik, off Tawau, shared with Indonesia — the northern half is in Sabah, the southern half in North Kalimantan.
Largest Islands by Area
Banggi Island, off Kudat, is Sabah’s largest at about 440 km² — and the largest island lying wholly within Malaysia. It is home to roughly 15,000 people according to the Banggi Sub-District Office, though official statements have quoted figures as high as 30,000.
A common error worth correcting: Labuan is often listed as Sabah’s largest island. It is not part of Sabah. Labuan was ceded to the federal government and became a Federal Territory on 16 April 1984, and is administered separately. It covers about 92 km² and had a population of roughly 100,900 in 2025. Its figures do not belong in Sabah island statistics, and are excluded throughout this page.
The largest islands in Sabah:
- Banggi (about 440 km²): Off Kudat, on the northern tip. Around 15,000 residents. Ferry from Kudat. Sabah’s largest island.
- Sebatik (Sabah half, about 187 km²): Off Tawau, in Tawau District. The island is split with Indonesia along the 4°10′N line; the southern half is in Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan.
- Timbun Mata (about 115 km²): Semporna district, east coast.
- Jambongan (about 113 km²): Beluran district, north-east coast.
- Balambangan: Remote, off Kudat. Seasonal fishing community, difficult access, limited tourism. Published area figures conflict, so none is stated here.
- Bum Bum (about 45 km²): Semporna district, the gateway island for the Semporna archipelago.
Beyond these, several islands — Malawali, Sakar, Batik, Libaran, Tabawan, Pababag and Boheydulang — are substantial but have no published area figure. The authoritative register of island names and areas is maintained by the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM); where its figures differ from those above, JUPEM should be taken as correct.
Sipadan is worth a note here because its fame is out of all proportion to its size: the island is only about 12 hectares — roughly 0.12 km² — with the gazetted land parcel recorded at 13.5 hectares. The surrounding protected reef covers 6,847 hectares, and Sipadan Island Park as a whole covers 16,860 hectares.
Tourist Island Destinations
Tunku Abdul Rahman Park dominates, helped by being 15 to 45 minutes by boat from Kota Kinabalu. Sipadan is not shown: no annual visitor figure is published for it, only a daily permit cap. Figures are full-year 2025 from Sabah Parks' public dashboard.
Source: Sabah Parks public dashboard (dashboard.sabahparks.org.my), 2025 full year
Major island tourism destinations:
- Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TAR Park) — 5 islands, 546,383 visitors in 2025: Closest to Kota Kinabalu (15–45 min by boat). Manukan, Sapi, Mamutik, Sulug and Gaya. Day trips are standard. Snorkelling, diving, beach lounging. Resort and eco-lodge accommodation available.
- Tun Sakaran Marine Park — 8 islands, 73,573 visitors in 2025: Semporna-based (about 2.5 hours from Kota Kinabalu). Dive-focused. Island camping permitted in designated zones. Liveaboards and day trips both available.
- Sipadan Island — no annual visitor figure is published: World-famous dive site. No accommodation on the island since 2004; day visits only. Access is capped at 252 permits a day for divers and snorkellers (Sabah Tourism Board), and permits sell out months ahead. Sabah Parks records over 300 species of fish. Accessible only through licensed dive operators.
- Pulau Tiga Park — 4,426 visitors in 2025: Remote island park. Volcanic island with mud volcanoes, jungle trails and sandy beaches. Basic island accommodation. Boat transfer from Kuala Penyu.
- Turtle Islands Park — 9,862 visitors in 2025: Sea turtle nesting site. Overnight stays on Selingan by Sabah Parks booking only, and places are strictly limited. Peak nesting June–August.
Island Ecosystems
Sabah’s islands support diverse habitats:
- Coral reefs: Nearly all islands are surrounded by living coral systems. Reef health varies widely — protected areas (Tun Sakaran, TAR Park, Sipadan) have high coral cover and fish biomass; remote islands show variable health.
- Seagrass beds: Shallow waters around larger islands (Gaya, Banggi) support extensive seagrass meadows. Critical nurseries for juvenile fish and feeding grounds for dugongs and sea turtles.
- Mangrove fringes: Larger islands have protected mangrove zones where rivers meet the sea. Fish breeding, mudskippers, crabs.
- Island forests: Larger islands (>5 km²) support lowland or montane forest. Gaya Island and Banggi have native forest patches. Forest areas host endemic bird species and small mammals.
- Sandy beaches: Turtle Islands, Tun Sakaran islands, and scattered smaller islands have pristine sandy beaches. Nesting sites for Green turtles, Hawksbill turtles, and occasionally Leatherback turtles.
Island ecosystems are interconnected with surrounding marine systems. Fish nurseries in mangrove and seagrass zones export juvenile fish to coral reefs. Reef nutrients support island productivity. Seabirds (frigatebirds, terns, herons) link marine and terrestrial food webs.
Island Conservation & Management
Island protection status varies:
- Gazetted marine parks: Tun Sakaran (35,000 ha), Tunku Abdul Rahman (about 50 km²), Turtle Islands (1,740 ha) — strictly managed, permits required, conservation-focused.
- Forest reserves: Some islands, Gaya among them, are designated forest reserves with logging restrictions.
- Private leases: Mabul and Kapalai islands are leased to resort operators. Management driven by eco-lodge interests.
- Unprotected islands: Many small islands lack formal protection. Vulnerable to illegal fishing, collection, and beach erosion.
Challenges to island conservation include invasive species, climate-driven sea-level rise (threat to low-lying islands), coral bleaching, and unsustainable tourism. Protected area designation and strict enforcement are critical to preserving island ecosystems and wildlife.
Frequently asked questions
Q How many islands does Sabah have?
Q What is the largest island in Sabah?
Q Which islands are good for tourists?
Q Are there inhabited islands in Sabah?
Q What ecosystems do Sabah's islands support?
Q What is special about Turtle Islands Park?
Q Are there uninhabited islands suitable for camping?
Q How do islands form in Sabah?
Sources & References 8 sources
Last verified: 17 August 2026
Government & Parks
- Sabah Parks — Island Parks Tun Sakaran, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Turtle Islands, Pulau Tiga park information
- Sabah State Government Island statistics, geographic data, administrative divisions
- Sabah Parks — public visitor dashboard Audited annual visitor counts for every Sabah park, 2020 onwards. Source of all visitor figures on this page.
- JUPEM — island naming and gazetting (reported 2011) Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia: 394 gazetted islands in Sabah.
- Federal Territory of Labuan Enactment 1984 The instrument transferring Labuan from Sabah to the federal government, 16 April 1984.
- Sabah government — Sipadan gazettement Sipadan land parcel, protected reef area and total park area.