In the Sambas riots in 1999, Malays and Dayaks joined to massacre the Madurese during the conflict.

Madurese were mutilated, raped, and killed by the Malays and Dayaks; 3,000 of them died in the massacres, with the Indonesian government doing little to stop the violence.

By mid 2022, the population was estimated at 648,181 (consisting of 330,813 males and 317,368 females), with an average density of 101.36 people per km2.

When Sambas Regency was originally created, it consists into the districts of Bengkayang, Ledo, Pemangkat, Sambas, Samalantan, Sanggau Ledo, Singkawang, Sungai Raya, Seluas and Teluk Keramat.

On 12 December 1981, when Singkawang became administrative city within the regency, it was split into three separate districts, namely Roban, Pasiran and Tujuhbelas.