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Majalengka Regency is the landlocked regencies (kabupaten) in West Java, Indonesia. It covers an area of and had a population of 1,166,473 at the 2010 Census and 1,305,476 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid 2025 was 1,374,601 (comprising 688,244 males and 686,357 females). The administrative capital is the town of Majalengka.

Sebagai wilayah yang didominasi oleh budaya Sunda & sedikit Cirebon, maka Kabupaten Majalengka memiliki keragaman seni budaya yaitu Sampyong Wayang Golek Wayang Kulit Pencak Silat Genjring Akrobat Kacapi Suling Pantun Sandiwara Gaok Jaipong, Degung dan Kliningan Sintren Tarling Tari topeng Beber Kuda Penca Rudat Pareresan Mapag Sri Ngalaksa Gembyung Tari Kedempling

A besluit (decree) number 23 issued on 5 January 1819 by the Commissioners-General of the Dutch East Indies formally created Maja Regency. This new regency incorporated the former Rajagaluh and Talaga Regencies. The first regent appointed was Raden Adipati Denda Negara. Initially, districts of Maja were Talaga, Sindangkasih, and Rajagaluh with total area of 625 pal. Maja bordered Sumedang Regency to the west, Cirebon Regency and Kuningan Regency to the east, Indramayu Regency to the north, and Galuh and Sukapura to the south. In 1830s, districts of Maja were expanded to six: Maja, Sindangkasih, Rajagaluh, Talaga, Palimanan, and Kadongdong.

On 11 February 1840, Governor-General D. J. de Eerens enacted besluit no. 2, officially renaming Maja Regency to Majalengka Regency. The government seat, formerly located in Sindangkasih, was likewise redesignated as Majalengka. In 1862, the colonial government revised the administrative boundaries once again. Through besluit no. 4 dated 24 May 1862, the Governor-General reassigned Palimanan District to Cirebon Regency, citing its closer proximity to Cirebon's government seat compared to Majalengka's.

In 1890, agricultural land covered 47,469 bau. Of this area, about 40,704 bau or 85.75% consisted of irrigated rice fields. Another 5,678 bau or 11.9% was tegalan (non-irrigated dry fields), while the remaining 2.29% was coffee plantations.

Jatiwangi had the largest share of rice fields at 36.19%, followed by Talaga (21.12%), Rajagaluh (18.30%), Majalengka (16.12%), and Maja (8.27%). Dry fields were most extensive in Talaga, accounting for 38.76% of the total tegalan, while Rajagaluh had the smallest portion, covering 263 bau or 4.63%. Coffee cultivation was concentrated mainly in Talaga and Maja, each respectively contributed 55.29% and 32.94% totaling 959 bau or 88.22% of the coffee-growing area.

In December 1896, coffee estates employed 164,113 workers across 165 villages. By 1900, the workforce had increased by 2.92% to 168,905 people, and the number of participating villages rose to 167. Within the Cirebon Residency, Majalengka's share of the coffee labor force rose from 26.56% in 1896 to 36.67% in 1900. Its share of villages involved in coffee cultivation also increased, from 24.77% to 34.58% of all coffee-producing villages in the residency.

Between 1890 and 1902, Majalengka produced a total of 8,094 pikul of coffee. During the same period, the Cirebon Residency produced 26,062 pikul, meaning Majalengka contributed 31.06% of the residency's total output. Majalengka's production was only second to Galuh Regency which produced 8,217 pikul. Majalengka's peak production occurred in 1892 reaching 2,105 pikul while the lowest output was recorded in 1902 at 52 pikul. The highest proportional contribution to the residency's production occurred in 1894 when Majalengka supplied 47.75% of the total, while the lowest was in 1902 at 6.88%.

Sugarcane cultivation in Majalengka began in Jatitujuh following the enactment of the 1870 Agrarian Law. In 1876, the colonial administration established a sugar factory in Kadipaten, operated by a company named Suiker Fabrick. The facility was expanded in 1896, along with an increase in production capacity. In the same year, another sugar factory was opened in Sutawangi, Jatiwangi District.

By 1901, sugarcane estates were operating in three districts: Rajagaluh with 615 bau, Majalengka with 1,091 bau, and Jatiwangi with 1,163 bau. With the factories in Kadipaten and Jatiwangi, and the additional plant in Parungjaya, total sugar output reached 200,466 pikul consisting of 153,233 pikul of top-grade sugar and 47,243 pikul of second-grade ones.

In 1904, the Governor-General granted erfpacht rights over 229 bau of land in Kadipaten to J. F. Vogel, Wilemine de Vogel, and Julius Charlotte de Vogel for sugarcane plantation. In 1906, these rights were sold to NV Cultuur Maatschappij Kadipaten.

In 1885, tea plantations in Majalengka covered 368 bau, concentrated in two areas: Carenang and Pasir Buntu.

In the commerce sector, the colonial administration recorded a total salt trading volume of 53,425 pikul from 1894 to 1899. The highest sales were reported in 1894, reaching 9,202 pikul, while the lowest occurred in 1897, amounting to 8,761 pikul.

In 1900, the colonial government constructed the Jatitujuh Dam to regulate the Cimanuk River. In 1911, work began on another structure, a manually operated movable dam called Gerak Dam (gerak means move) located about 500 meters away. It entered operation in 1916.

In the industrial sector, roof-tile production emerged in 1905 in Cikarokok, Burujul Wetan Village, Jatiwangi District. The industry initially grew slowly due to local taboos against using clay tiles. It began to expand around 1930 following the construction of colonial government housing that adopted clay roofing.

A livestock report submitted by Resident C. J. A. E. T. Hiljee on 3 June 1930 described the condition of animal husbandry in Majalengka Regency for the year 1926. The livestock raised consisted of horses, cattle, buffalo, pigs, sheep, and goats. Nearly all onderdistriks kept every type of livestock. Exceptions were noted: pigs were only raised in Liangjulang, Talaga, Cikijing, Jatiwangi, and Jatitujuh onderdistriks, while cattle were not raised in Sukahaji, Cikijing, and Leuwimunding onderdistriks.

The district with the largest number of livestock was Majalengka District recording 32,100 animals (approx. 32.17% of the total), while Rajagaluh District had the lowest count with 12,840 animals (approx. 12.87%). The most common animals raised were sheep, buffalo, and goats, which together accounted for 97,627 head (approx. 97.83%). Cattle were the least numerous with only 138 head (approx. 0.14%). Pigs, numbering 490 (approx. 0.49%), were more prevalent than cattle by comparison and were concentrated primarily in Jatiwangi and Talaga to meet demand from non-pribumi residents.

Secara geografis Kabupaten Majalengka terletak di bagian timur Provinsi Jawa Barat. Kabupaten Majalengka terletak pada titik koordinat yaitu Sebelah Barat 108° 03'–108° 19 Bujur Timur, Sebelah Timur 108° 12'–108° 25 Bujur Timur, Sebelah Utara 6° 36'–5°58 Lintang Selatan dan Sebelah Selatan 6° 43'–7°44.

Bagian utara wilayah kabupaten ini, khususnya yang berbatasan dengan Kabupaten Indramayu merupakan dataran rendah yang luas, sementara wilayah tengah dan timur, khususnya yang berbatasan dengan Kabupaten Kuningan merupakan wilayah yang berbukit-bukit dan pegunungan dengan puncaknya Gunung Ceremai yang berbatasan dengan Kabupaten Kuningan serta wilayah selatan dan barat, khususnya yang berbatasan dengan Kabupaten Tasikmalaya dan Kabupaten Sumedang juga merupakan wilayah yang berbukit-bukit dan pegunungan dengan puncaknya Gunung Cakrabuana yang berbatasan dengan Kabupaten Tasikmalaya dan Kabupaten Sumedang.

Secara administratif, Kabupaten Majalengka berbatasan dengan wilayah-wilayah berikut:

Bagian utara wilayah kabupaten ini adalah dataran rendah, sedang di bagian selatan berupa pegunungan. Gunung Ciremai (3.076 m) berada di bagian timur, yakni di perbatasan dengan Kabupaten Kuningan. Gunung ini adalah gunung tertinggi di Provinsi Jawa Barat, dan merupakan taman nasional, dengan nama Taman Nasional Gunung Ciremai

Keadaan geografi khususnya morfologi dan fisiografi wilayah Kabupaten Majalengka sangat bervariasi dan dipengaruhi oleh perbedaan ketinggian suatu daerah dengan daerah lainnya, dengan distribusi sebagai berikut:

Morfologi dataran rendah yang meliputi Kecamatan Kadipaten, Kasokandel, Panyingkiran, Dawuan, Jatiwangi, Sumberjaya, Ligung, Jatitujuh, Kertajati, Cigasong, Majalengka, Leuwimunding dan Palasah. Kemiringan tanah di daerah ini antara 5%-8% dengan ketinggian antara 20–100 m di atas permukaan laut (dpl), kecuali di Kecamatan Majalengka tersebar beberapa perbukitan rendah dengan kemiringan antara 15%-25%.

Morfologi berbukit dan bergelombang meliputi Kecamatan Rajagaluh dan Sukahaji sebelah Selatan, Kecamatan Maja, sebagian Kecamatan Majalengka. Kemiringan tanah di daerah ini berkisar antara 15-40%, dengan ketinggian 300–700 m dpl.

Morfologi perbukitan terjal meliputi daerah sekitar Gunung Ciremai, sebagian kecil Kecamatan Rajagaluh, Argapura, Sindang, Talaga, sebagian Kecamatan Sindangwangi, Cingambul, Banjaran, Bantarujeg, Malausma dan Lemahsugih dan Kecamatan Cikijing bagian Utara. Kemiringan di daerah ini berkisar 25%-40% dengan ketinggian antara 400–2000 m di atas permukaan laut.

Menurut keadaan geologi yang meliputi sebaran dan struktur batuan, terdapat beberapa batuan dan formasi batuan yaitu Aluvium seluas 17.162 Ha (14,25%), Pleistocene Sedimentary Facies seluas 13.716 Ha (13,39%), Miocene Sedimentary Facies seluas 23,48 Ha (19,50%), Undiferentionet Vulcanic Product seluas 51.650 Ha (42,89%), Pliocene Sedimentary Facies, seluas 3.870 Ha (3,22%), Liparite Dacite seluas 179 Ha (0,15%), Eosene seluas 78 Ha (0,006%), Old Quartenary Volkanik Product seluas 10.283 Ha (8,54%). Jenis-jenis tanah di Kabupaten Majalengka ada beberapa macam, secara umum jenis tanah terdiri atas Latosol, Podsolik, Grumosol, Aluvial, Regosol, Mediteran, dan asosianya. Jenis-jenis tanah tersebut memegang peranan penting dalam menentukan tingkat kesuburan tanah dalam menunjang keberhasilan sektor pertanian.

Dari aspek hidrologis di Kabupaten Majalengka mempunyai beberapa jenis potensi sumber daya air yang dapat digunakan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan masyarakat. Potensi sumber daya air tersebut meliputi:

Air permukaan, seperti mata air, sungai, danau, waduk lapangan atau rawa, Air tanah, seperti sumur bor dan pompa pantek dan air hujan. Sungai yang besar di antaranya adalah Cilutung, Cijurey, Cideres, Cikeruh, Ciherang, Cikadondong, Ciwaringin, Cilongkrang, Ciawi dan Cimanuk.

Curah hujan tahunan rata-rata di Kabupaten Majalengka berkisar antara 2.400 mm-3.800 mmbulan. Angin pada umumnya bertiup dari arah Selatan dan tenggara, kecuali pada bulan April sampai dengan Juli bertiup dari arah Barat Laut dengan kecepatan antara 3-6 knot (1 knot =1.285 m/jam).