Indonesia

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.<br><br>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. <br><br>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.

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

5 00 S, 120 00 E

Southeast Asia

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

54,716 km

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains

petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver

67,220 sq km (2012)

Sepik (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,126 km; Fly (shared with Papua New Guinea [s]) - 1,050 km<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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

occasional floods; severe droughts; tsunamis; earthquakes; volcanoes; forest fires <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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"

<p><strong>note 1:</strong> 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</p> <p><strong>note 2:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>note 3:</strong> despite having the fourth largest population in the world, Indonesia is the most heavily forested region on earth after the Amazon</p>

Javanese 40.1%, Sundanese 15.5%, Malay 3.7%, Batak 3.6%, Madurese 3%, Betawi 2.9%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Buginese 2.7%, Bantenese 2%, Banjarese 1.7%, Balinese 1.7%, Acehnese 1.4%, Dayak 1.4%, Sasak 1.3%, Chinese 1.2%, other 15% (2010 est.)

Muslim 87.4%, Protestant 7.5%, Roman Catholic 3.1%, Hindu 1.7%, other 0.8% (includes Buddhist and Confucian) (2022 est.)

0.7% (2025 est.)

14.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

6.82 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

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)

22.4 years (2017 est.)

140 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

1.93 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.94 (2025 est.)

0.52 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

1.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

6.9% (2016)

15.9% (2023 est.)

70.3% (2022 est.)

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

large-scale deforestation (much of it illegal) and related wildfires cause heavy smog; over-exploitation of marine resources; air pollution from vehicle emissions; waste disposal; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

18.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

2.019 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)

presidential republic

35 provinces (<em>provinsi-provinsi</em>, singular - <em>provinsi</em>), 1 autonomous province*, 1 special region** (<em>daerah istimewa</em>), and 1 national capital district*** (<em>daerah khusus ibukota</em>); 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**

civil law system based on the Roman-Dutch model and influenced by customary law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

17 years of age; universal; married persons regardless of age

Democrat Party or PD <br>Functional Groups Party or GOLKAR <br>Great Indonesia Movement Party or GERINDRA <br>Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P <br>National Awakening Party or PKB <br>National Democratic Party or NasDem <br>National Mandate Party or PAN <br>Prosperous Justice Party or PKS 

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-11, G-15, G-20, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IORA, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, MSG (associate member), NAM, OECD (enhanced engagement), OIC, OPCW, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

17 August 1945 (declared independence from the Netherlands)

Independence Day, 17 August (1945)

<strong>description:</strong> two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red stands for courage and white for purity<br><br><strong>history:</strong> the colors derive from the banner of the Majapahit Empire of the 13th-15th centuries

garuda (mythical bird)

red, white

upper middle-income, largest and growing Southeast Asian economy; higher lending rates to moderate inflation; ongoing relocation of capital fueling infrastructure projects; major tourism sector prompting green economy goals

$1.396 trillion (2024 est.)

oil palm fruit, rice, sugarcane, maize, coconuts, cassava, bananas, eggs, chicken, mangoes/guavas (2023)

petroleum and natural gas, textiles, automotive, electrical appliances, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, medical instruments and appliances, handicrafts, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, processed food, jewelry, and tourism

5.2% (2024 est.)

143.144 million (2024 est.)

9% (2024 est.)

11.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

China 24%, USA 9%, India 8%, Japan 8%, Singapore 5% (2023)

coal, palm oil, iron alloys, lignite, garments (2023)

China 29%, Singapore 8%, Japan 7%, USA 5%, Malaysia 5% (2023)

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, plastics, vehicle parts/accessories, integrated circuits (2023)

mix of about a dozen national TV networks, including 1 public broadcaster and the rest private; more than 100 local TV stations; widespread use of satellite and cable TV systems; public radio broadcaster operates 6 national networks, as well as regional and local stations; more than 700 radio stations, with over 650 privately operated (2019)

.id

PK

556 (2025)

53 (2025)

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)<br><br>Indonesian National Police (aka The State Police of the Republic of Indonesia or POLRI)<br><br>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)

approximately 400,000 active Armed Forces, including about 300,000 Army (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)

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)

250 (plus about 170 police) Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,025 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 1,225 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (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<br><br>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)

Indonesian Space Agency (INASA; formed 2022); National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN; established 2021); Research Organization for Aeronautics and Space (ORPA; formed 2021) (2025)

focuses largely on rocket development and satellite acquisition/operation; manufactures remote sensing (RS) satellites; has a sounding (research) rocket program to develop an orbital satellite launch vehicle (SLV); researching and developing a range of other space-related technologies related to satellite payloads, communications, RS, and astronomy; has relations with several foreign space agencies and industries, including those of France, Germany, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the US; national space program includes building up the country's private space sector (2025)

1964 - launched first sounding rocket (Kartika)<br><br>1976 - first communications satellite (Palapa A1) built and launched by US<br><br>2005 - re-started sounding rocket program with goal of producing a satellite launch vehicle (SLV)<br><br>2007 - first remote sensing (RS) satellite (LAPAN-A1) built by Germany and launched by India<br><br>2015 - first domestically produced RS satellite (LAPAN-A2) launched by India<br><br>2023-2024 - two communications satellites (SATRIA-1 and Merah Putih 2) to provide high-speed internet access across the Indonesian archipelago built by European company and launched by US

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (aka Jemaah Anshorut Daulah); Jemaah Islamiyah