Sandakan is a city located on the Sandakan Peninsula on the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia. It serves as the capital of the Sandakan District and is the administrative center of the Sandakan Division. Historically, the city was known by various names, including Elopura, and served as the former capital of British North Borneo.
As the second largest city in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan has experienced significant population growth. In 2010, the municipal area had a total population of 396,290, which increased to 439,050 by the 2020 Census.