Gili Trawangan — The Biggest & Busiest
Size & Shape
Roughly ~3 km long by ~2 km wide — the largest of the three.
Population
Estimates vary, but most figures put it in the neighborhood of 1,500–2,000+ locals permanently living there.
Hotels & Stays
A wide range of accommodations — from backpacker hostels to boutique resorts — with well over a hundred+ hotels listed on travel booking sites.
In broader industry data, the Gili Islands overall had around 364 hotel establishments with ~4,150 rooms, and Gili Trawangan accounts for the majority of that supply.
Businesses & Visitors
Some academic and tourism industry sources suggest Gili Trawangan has 700+ local businesses (shops, cafés, dive centres, etc.), reflecting its role as the main hub of the group.
It’s also the most visited — with estimates of hundreds of thousands of visitors a year passing through.
Crowd Vibe Snapshot
More social energy, more food options, more marine activity providers — a very active island statistically and experientially.
Gili Air — The Balanced Middle
Size & Scale
Around ~1.7–1.8 km² — the second largest.
Population
Around 1,800 permanent residents, making it the most “local community-heavy” of the three.
Accommodation – Count & Variety
While exact numbers are hard to pin down centrally, travel platforms list hundreds of hotels and guesthouses — from boutique villas to budget stays.
Businesses & Services
You’ll find a wide but more modest collection of shops, cafés, dive schools, yoga studios, and bars compared to Gili T — but still plenty to keep you busy without feeling overwhelmed.
Demographic Feel
A good mix: locals, expats, travellers of all ages — and from a social photographer’s view, the people you see in cafés and beaches genuinely reflect that balance.
Gili Meno — The Tiny, Peaceful One
Size
The smallest of the trio, around ~1.8–2 km² of land.
Population
A small, close-knit community of around 400–500 locals.
Accommodation & Businesses
Much fewer than its neighbours — only a handful of boutique lodges, beachfront bungalows, and a small cluster of cafés or bars. It’s quiet by design.
Business Count (Very Rough)
Maybe only a few dozen tourism-related businesses if you include guesthouses, a few dive/snorkel operators, and the odd shop or warung — far fewer than the other islands.
Social Snapshot
Gili Meno feels like a tiny village on a postcard — perfect if you’re after solitude or romantic peace. That’s exactly why the visitor numbers here are the lowest of the three.