Bengkulu is a province located on the southwest coast of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Historically known as Bencoolen, the region was officially established as a separate province on November 18, 1968. This administrative separation occurred by carving out the area of the historic Bencoolen Residency from the province of South Sumatra under Law No. 9 of 1967 and Government Regulation No. 20 of 1968.
The province covers a land area of approximately 20,181.53 km2, which is comparable in size to the European country of Slovenia or the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the northwest, south, southwest, and west, while its land boundaries are shared with the provinces of West Sumatra to the north, Jambi to the northeast, Lampung to the southeast, and South Sumatra to the east.