Objective. Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) has several intratyp ic varian ts, and some are associated with enhanced oncogenic potential. For risk determin ation aswell as for future vaccine development, knowledge about variants is impo rtant. Regarding the geographical distribution of HPV variants and the lack of d ata from Indonesia and Suriname, we studied the prevalence of HPV 16 variants in cervical cancer in these high incidence countries. Data were compared with The Netherlands, a low-risk country. Methods. DNA samples from 74 formalin-fixed p araffin-embedded HPV 16-positive cervical carcinomas from Indonesia (Java, N = 22), Suriname (N = 25), and The Netherlands (N = 27) were amplified using prime rs specific for the E6, E7, and part of the L1 regions. Products were sequenced and analyzed. Results. A specific Javanese variant, with mutations 666A in E7 an d 6826T in L1, was found in 73%of the Indonesian samples, 56%having an additio nal mutation in the E6 open reading frame (ORF; 276G), giving the predicted amin o acid change N58S. This Javanese variant was also found in three Surinamese sam ples, which reflects what could be expected from migration of Javanese people to Surinam. Other non-European variants were identified in Indonesian, Surinamese , and Dutch samples in 14%, 28%, and 19%, respectively. Conclusion. The major ity of the HPV 16-positive cervical cancers in Indonesia are caused by a specif ic intratypic variant that was rarely found before in other countries. Objective. Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) has several intratyp ic varian ts, and some are associated with enhanced oncogenic potential. For risk determintion aswell as for future vaccine development, knowledge about variants is impo rtant. Regarding the geographical distribution of HPV variants and the lack of d ata from Indonesia and Suriname, we studied the prevalence of HPV 16 variants in cervical cancer in these high incidence countries. Data were compared with The Netherlands, a low-risk country. Methods. DNA samples from 74 formalin- Fixed p araffin-embedded HPV 16-positive cervical carcinomas from Indonesia (Java, N = 22), Suriname (N = 25), and The Netherlands (N = 27) were amplified using prime rs specific for the E6, E7, and part of the L1 regions. Products were sequenced and analyzed. A specific Javanese variant, with mutations 666A in E7 an d 6826T in L1, was found in 73% of the Indonesian samples, 56% having an additio nal mutation in the E6 open reading fra This non-European variants were also found in three Surinamese sam ples, which reflects what could be expected from migration of Javanese people to Surinam. Other non-European variants were identified in Indonesian, Surinamese, and Dutch samples in 14%, 28%, and 19%, respectively. Conclusion. The major ity of the HPV 16-positive cervical cancers in Indonesia are caused by a specific ic intratypic variant that was rarely found before in other Countries.