Capital:
Jakarta Total Area: 1,904,569 km² (735,358 mi²) (
15th)
Approximate population: 283,487,931 (
4th) - (2024 est.)
Location: Southeastern Asia
Languages:
Bahasa Indonesian (official),
English,
Arabic,
Chinese, other local languages and dialects, note -
718 languagesIndonesia is home to over 700 living languages spoken across its extensive archipelago. This significant linguistic variety constitutes approximately 10% of the world’s total languages, positioning Indonesia as the second most linguistically diverse nation globally, following Papua New Guinea. The majority of these languages belong to the Austronesian language family, prevalent in the western and central regions of Indonesia, including languages such as Acehnese, Sundanese, and Buginese. In contrast, the eastern regions, particularly Papua and the Maluku Islands, are home to over 270 Papuan languages, which are distinct from the Austronesian family and represent a unique linguistic heritage. The language most widely spoken as a native language is Javanese, primarily by the Javanese people in the central and eastern parts of Java Island, as well as across many other islands due to migration. are used in Indonesia
Religions:
Islam 87.06%,
Christianity 10.47%,
Hinduism 1.68%,
Buddhism 0.71%,
Confucianism(0.03%,
Folk/Other 0.05% - (2023 est.)
Ethnic groups:
Javanese 40.06%, Sundanese 15.51%, Malay 3.70%, Batak 3.58%, Madurese 3.03%, Betawi 2.88%, Minangkabau 2.73%, Buginese 2.71%, Bantenese 1.96%, Banjar 1.74%, Balinese 1.66%, Acehnese 1.44%, Dayak 1.36%, Sasak 1.34%, Chinese Indonesian 1.20%, other 15%. (2010 est.)
Currency:
Indonesian rupiah (Rp) (
IDR)
Time zone:
UTC+7 to +9 (
IDTTime in Indonesia, has three time zones. Western Indonesia Time (Waktu Indonesia Barat, WIB) is seven hours ahead (UTC+07:00) of the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), used in the islands of Sumatra, Java, and the western half of Kalimantan. Central Indonesia Time (Waktu Indonesia Tengah, WITA) is eight hours ahead (UTC+08:00), used in the eastern half of Kalimantan, as well as all of Bali, the Lesser Sunda Islands, and Sulawesi. Eastern Indonesia Time (Waktu Indonesia Timur, WIT) is nine hours ahead (UTC+09:00), used in the Maluku Islands and Western New Guinea.)
Calling code: (
+62)
Organizations: United Nations, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
Border countries:
Malaysia 2,019 km (1,255 mi),
Papua New Guinea 824 km (512 mi),
East Timor 253 km (157 mi)
Other nearby countries:
Australia,
Brunei,
Cambodia,
India,
Laos,
Myanmar,
Palau,
Philippines,
Singapore,
Sri Lanka,
Thailand,
Vietnam Coastline: 54,720 km (34,000 mi)
Maritime boundaries: Arafura Sea, Banda Sea, Celebes Sea, Indian Ocean, Molucca Sea, Pacific Ocean, Singapore Strait, South China Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea
Indonesia,
— (officially the
Republic of Indonesia), is a huge archipelago of diverse islands scattered over both sides of the Equator between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Comprising over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guinea, Indonesia is nicknamed The Emerald of the Equator. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state and the 15th-largest country by area, at 1,904,569 km² (735,358 mi²). With over 283 million people, Indonesia is the world's fourth-most-populous country and the most populous Muslim-majority country. Indonesia's best known tourist destination is Bali, but with 6,000 inhabited islands, tourists have a wealth of diversity to explore.
Indonesia is one of the most exotic countries you will ever visit. Indonesia markets itself as Wonderful Indonesia, and the slogan is often quite true. It has a diversity of culture with more than 900 tribes and languages and food, while its enchanting nature, mostly outside of Java, and the friendliness of the people in most areas will entice you to stay as long as you want.
Administrative divisionsin Indonesia:Indonesia is divided into 38 provinces, nine of which have special autonomous status.
According to
ISO 3166-2:IDISO 3166-2:ID is the entry for Indonesia in ISO 3166-2, part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which defines codes for the names of the principal subdivisions of all countries coded in ISO 3166-1., Indonesia is divided into seven geographical units, with each unit consisting of major islands or an island group. These geographical units are as follows:
Regions and provinces:

- Sumatra (Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Riau Islands, Jambi, Bengkulu, Bangka-Belitung, South Sumatra, Lampung)
Wild and rugged, the 6th largest island in the world has a great natural and cultural wealth with more than 40 million inhabitants. This region consist of 10 provinces (including Riau Islands and Bangka-Belitung) that becomes habitat for various endangered species including elephants, rhinos, and tigers. It has strong cultural identity as shown by major ethnics like Batak, Malay, and Minang, as well as the minor ones like Mentawai and Kubu. The dynamic life of Sumatrans can be felt across the island and its provincial capital cities, from Medan, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Padang, Bandar Lampung, Jambi, Banda Aceh, Bengkulu, Pangkal Pinang, to Tanjungpinang, as well as cities like Batam, Bukittinggi, Tanjung Pandan, Lubuklinggau, Lhokseumawe, and Pematang Siantar.
- Kalimantan (West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, North Kalimantan)
The vast majority of this, the world's third largest island, is covered by the Indonesian province. Uncharted jungles, mighty rivers, home of the orangutan, a paradise for the adventurer.
- Java (Jawa) (Banten, Central Java, East Java, the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, and West Java)
The country's heartland, big cities including the capital Jakarta, and a lot of people packed on a not-so-big island. Also features the cultural treasures of Yogyakarta, Borobudur and Prambanan.
- Sulawesi (South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Gorontalo, North Sulawesi)
Strangely shaped, this island houses a diversity of societies and some spectacular scenery, Toraja culture, rich flora and fauna, world class diving sites.
- Nusa Tenggara (Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara)
Also known as the Lesser Sunda Islands, the "Southeast Islands", contain scores of ethnic groups, languages and religions, as well as Komodo lizards and more spectacular diving.
Bali By far the most popular visitor destination in Indonesia, Bali's blend of unique culture, legendary beaches, spectacular highland regions and unique underwater life make it a perennial favourite amongst global travellers.
- Maluku (North Maluku, Maluku)
The historic Spice Islands, fought over to this day, largely unexplored and almost unknown to the outside world.
- Papua (Western New Guinea) (West Papua, Papua)
The western half of the island of New Guinea, with mountains, forests, swamps, an almost impenetrable wilderness in one of the most remote places on earth.
Natural resources: coal,
petroleum,
natural gas,
tin,
nickel,
timber,
bauxite,
copper, fertile
soils,
gold,
silver.