Indonesia
Top Sights & Landmarks
Background
The archipelago was once largely under the control of Buddhist and Hindu rulers. By around the 7th century, a Buddhist kingdom arose on Sumatra and expanded into Java and the Malay Peninsula until it was conquered in the late 13th century by the Hindu Majapahit Empire from Java. Majapahit (1290-1527) united most of modern-day Indonesia and Malaysia. Traders introduced Islam around the 11th century, and the religion gradually expanded over the next 500 years. The Portuguese conquered parts of Indonesia in the 16th century, but the Dutch ousted them (except in East Timor) and began colonizing the islands in the early 17th century. It would be the early 20th century before Dutch colonial rule was established across the entirety of what would become the boundaries of the modern Indonesian state. Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence shortly before Japan's surrender, but it required four years of sometimes brutal fighting, intermittent negotiations, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. A period of sometimes unruly parliamentary democracy ended in 1957 when President SOEKARNO declared martial law and instituted "Guided Democracy." After an abortive coup in 1965 by alleged communist sympathizers, SOEKARNO was gradually eased from power. From 1967 until 1998, President SUHARTO ruled Indonesia with his "New Order" government. After street protests toppled SUHARTO in 1998, free and fair legislative elections took place in 1999 while the country's first direct presidential election occurred in 2004. Indonesia has since become a robust democracy, holding four direct presidential elections, each considered by international observers to have been largely free and fair. Indonesia is now the world's third-most-populous democracy and the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. It has had strong economic growth since overcoming the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. By the 2020s, it had the largest economy in Southeast Asia, and its economy ranked in the world's top 10 in terms of purchasing power parity. It has also made considerable gains in reducing poverty. Although relations amongst its diverse population--there are more than 300 ethnic groups--have been harmonious in the 2000s, there have been areas of sectarian discontent and violence, as well as instances of religious extremism and terrorism. A political settlement to an armed separatist conflict in Aceh was achieved in 2005, but a separatist group in Papua continued to conduct a low-intensity conflict as of 2024.
Location
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
Area
Elevation
Detailed Geography Information
Coastline
54,716 km
Geography - note
note 1: 13,466 islands are in the archipelago, of which 922 are permanently inhabited; Indonesia is the world's largest country composed solely of islands; the country straddles the equator and occupies a strategic location along major sea lanes from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean note 2: Indonesia is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes, up to 90% of the world's earthquakes, and 80% of tsunamis note 3: despite having the fourth largest population in the world, Indonesia is the most heavily forested region on earth after the Amazon
Irrigated land
67,220 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Danau Toba - 1,150 sq km note - located in the caldera of a super volcano that erupted more than 70,000 years ago; it is the largest volcanic lake in the World
Major rivers (by length in km)
Sepik (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,126 km; Fly (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,050 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm note: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Natural hazards
occasional floods; severe droughts; tsunamis; earthquakes; volcanoes; forest fires volcanism: Indonesia contains the most volcanoes of any country in the world, with over 75 historically active; significant volcanic activity occurs on Java, Sumatra, the Sunda Islands, Halmahera Island, Sulawesi Island, Sangihe Island, and in the Banda Sea; Merapi (2,968 m), Indonesia's most active volcano, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; in 2018, a large explosion and flank collapse destroyed most of the island of Anak Krakatau (Child of Krakatau) and generated a deadly tsunami that left more than 400 dead; other notable historically active volcanoes include Agung, Awu, Karangetang, Krakatau (Krakatoa), Makian, Raung, Sinabung, and Tambora; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Natural resources
Terrain
mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
Population & Growth
Age Distribution
Demographic Longevity
Vital Dynamics
Detailed People & Society Information
Alcohol consumption per capita
0.08 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
15.9% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
70.3% (2022 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 46.1 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 34.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 12 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 8.3 (2025 est.)
Education expenditure
1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.6% national budget (2025 est.)
Ethnic groups
Gross reproduction rate
0.94 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure
3.7% of GDP (2021) 8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density
1.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 18.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 21.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
Literacy
total population: 96% (2020 est.) male: 97.4% (2020 est.) female: 94.6% (2020 est.)
Major urban areas - population
11.249 million JAKARTA (capital), 3.729 million Bekasi, 3.044 million Surabaya, 3.041 million Depok, 2.674 million Bandung, 2.514 million Tangerang (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio
140 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
22.4 years (2017 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Nationality
noun: Indonesian(s) adjective: Indonesian
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
6.9% (2016)
People - note
Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the World after China, India, and the United States; more than half of the Indonesian population - roughly 150 million people or 55% - live on the island of Java (about the size of California) making it the most crowded island on earth
Physician density
0.52 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Population distribution
major concentration on the island of Java, which is considered one of the most densely populated places on earth; of the outer islands, Sumatra contains some of the most significant clusters, particularly in the south near the Selat Sunda and along the northeastern coast near Medan; the cities of Makasar (Sulawesi), Banjarmasin (Kalimantan) are also heavily populated
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Religions
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 13 years (2023 est.) male: 13 years (2023 est.) female: 13 years (2023 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Tobacco use
total: 39% (2025 est.) male: 74.9% (2025 est.) female: 3.1% (2025 est.)
Climate & Issues
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Land Cover
Air & Carbon Emissions
Water Resources & Use
Detailed Environmental Information
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 12 (2025) global geoparks and regional networks: Batur; Belitong; Ciletuh - Palabuhanratu; Gunung Sewu; Ijen; Kebumen; Maros Pangkep; Merangin Jambi; Meratus; Raja Ampat; Rinjani-Lombok; Toba Caldera (2025)
International environmental agreements
Urbanization
urban population: 58.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 65.2 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15.2% (2022 est.)
Capital & State Profile
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
National Identity & Symbols
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white
Detailed Government Information
Administrative divisions
35 provinces (provinsi-provinsi, singular - provinsi), 1 autonomous province*, 1 special region** (daerah istimewa), and 1 national capital district*** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Jakarta***, Jambi, Jawa Barat (West Java), Jawa Tengah (Central Java), Jawa Timur (East Java), Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan), Kalimantan Selatan (South Kalimantan), Kalimantan Tengah (Central Kalimantan), Kalimantan Timur (East Kalimantan), Kalimantan Utara (North Kalimantan), Kepulauan Bangka Belitung (Bangka Belitung Islands), Kepulauan Riau (Riau Islands), Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara (North Maluku), Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara), Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara), Papua, Papua Barat (West Papua), Papua Barat Daya (Southwest Papua), Papua Pegunungan (Papua Highlands), Papua Selatan (South Papua), Papua Tengah (Central Papua), Riau, Sulawesi Barat (West Sulawesi), Sulawesi Selatan (South Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tengah (Central Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Sulawesi), Sulawesi Utara (North Sulawesi), Sumatera Barat (West Sumatra), Sumatera Selatan (South Sumatra), Sumatera Utara (North Sumatra), Yogyakarta**
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Indonesia dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 continuous years
Constitution
history: drafted July to August 1945, effective 18 August 1945, abrogated by 1949 and 1950 constitutions; 1945 constitution restored 5 July 1959 amendment process: proposed by the People’s Consultative Assembly, with at least two thirds of its members present; passage requires simple majority vote by the Assembly membership; constitutional articles on the unitary form of the state cannot be amended
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia conventional short form: Indonesia local long form: Republik Indonesia local short form: Indonesia former: Netherlands East Indies (Dutch East Indies), Netherlands New Guinea etymology: the name is an 18th-century construct of two Greek words, "Indos" (India) and "nesoi" (islands), meaning "Indian islands"
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
International organization participation
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (51 judges divided into 8 chambers); Constitutional Court or Mahkamah Konstitusi (consists of 9 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by Judicial Commission, appointed by president with concurrence of parliament; judges serve until retirement at age 65; Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by president, 3 by Supreme Court, and 3 by parliament; judges appointed by the president; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: High Courts of Appeal, district courts, religious courts
Legal system
civil law system based on the Roman-Dutch model and influenced by customary law
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 10 (6 cultural, 4 natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Borobudur Temple Compounds (c); Komodo National Park (n); Prambanan Temple Compounds (c); Ujung Kulon National Park (n); Sangiran Early Man Site (c); Lorentz National Park (n); Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (n); Cultural Landscape of Bali Province (c); Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto (c); Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta and its Historic Landmarks (c)
Political parties
Democrat Party or PD Functional Groups Party or GOLKAR Great Indonesia Movement Party or GERINDRA Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P National Awakening Party or PKB National Democratic Party or NasDem National Mandate Party or PAN Prosperous Justice Party or PKS
Suffrage
17 years of age; universal; married persons regardless of age
Economic Overview
one of the fastest growing economies and largest in Southeast Asia; upper middle-income country; human capital and competitiveness phase of its 20-year development plan; COVID-19 reversed poverty reduction trajectory; strengthening financial resilience
Size & Performance
GDP Sector Breakdown
Trade Balance
Budget Balance
Export Profile
Top Export Partners
Major Export Commodities
Labor & Employment
Income Inequality
Family Income / Consumption Share
Detailed Economic Data
Agricultural products
Current account balance
-$8.47 billion (2024 est.) -$2.042 billion (2023 est.) $13.215 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external
$225.273 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 15,855.448 (2024 est.) 15,236.885 (2023 est.) 14,849.854 (2022 est.) 14,308.144 (2021 est.) 14,582.203 (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
Industrial production growth rate
5.2% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.7% (2023 est.) 4.2% (2022 est.) 1.6% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Public debt
45.34% of GDP (2022 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Remittances
1.1% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 1% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$155.708 billion (2024 est.) $146.359 billion (2023 est.) $137.222 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues
11.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Grid Infrastructure
Generation Mix
Fossil Fuels Production
Intensity & Nuclear
Digital Access
Active internet users as a percentage of the total population.
Fixed Broadband
Mobile Cellular
Broadcast Media
Aviation
Railways
Ports & Harbors
Merchant Marine
Military Expenditures
Active Duty Strengths
approximately 400,000 active Armed Forces, including about 300,000 Army (2025)
Service & Defense Details
Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army (TNI-Angkatan Darat, TNI-AD), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut, TNI-AL; includes Marine Corps (Korps Marinir or KorMar)), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan Udara, TNI-AU) Indonesian National Police (aka The State Police of the Republic of Indonesia or POLRI) Ministry of Transportation: Indonesia Sea and Coast Guard (Kesatuan Penjagaan Laut dan Pantai Republik Indonesia, KPLP); Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs: Maritime Security Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (Badan Keamanan Laut Republik Indonesia, Bakamla) (2025) note 1: the National Police are an independent organization reporting directly to the president of Indonesia note 2: the KPLP ensures the safety of shipping inside the Indonesian Maritime Zone; the Bakamla conducts security and safety patrols in the territorial waters of Indonesia
250 (plus about 170 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,025 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 1,225 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2025)
the military's inventory is a mix of older and new weapons platforms from China, Russia, Europe, the US, and other countries; in recent years, major suppliers have included China, France, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, and the US; the TNI has been engaged in a modernization program for more than a decade; Indonesia has a growing defense industry fueled by technology transfers and cooperation agreements with several countries; it has jointly produced aircraft and naval vessels (2025)
the military is responsible for external defense, combatting separatism, and responding to national emergencies and natural disasters; in certain conditions it may provide operational support to police, such as for counterterrorism operations, maintaining public order, and addressing communal conflicts key operational priorities include an insurgency on Papua and the security of Indonesia's vast maritime domain; the West Papua Liberation Army, the military wing of the Free Papua Organization, has been fighting a low-level insurgency in Papua since Indonesia annexed the former Dutch colony in the 1960s; maritime issues include piracy, transnational crime, illegal fishing, and incursions by People's Republic of China (PRC) vessels; Indonesia is not a formal claimant in the South China Sea, although some of its waters lie within the PRC's “nine-dash line” maritime claims, resulting in some stand offs in recent years; over the past decade, the Indonesian military has bolstered its presence on and around the strategically located Natuna Islands (2025)
18 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; upper age limits vary by military service, position, specialty; compulsory service authorized but not utilized (2025)
Space Agency
Indonesian Space Agency (INASA; formed 2022); National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN; established 2021); Research Organization for Aeronautics and Space (ORPA; formed 2021) (2025)