Factbook dossier
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.…
Location
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
Area
total : 1,904,569 sq km land: 1,811,569 sq km water: 93,000 sq km
Natural resources
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver note: Indonesia is the World's leading producer of nickel with an output of 1.6 million mt in 2022
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"
Population
total: 283,587,097 (2025 est.) male: 141,778,977 female: 141,808,120
Ethnic groups
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.)
Languages
Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (of which the most widely spoken is Javanese); note - more than 700 languages are used in Indonesia major-language sample(s): Fakta Dunia, sumber informasi dasar yang sangat diperlukan. (Indonesian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Muslim 87.4%, Protestant 7.5%, Roman Catholic 3.1%, Hindu 1.7%, other 0.8% (includes Buddhist and Confucian) (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
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
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Jakarta geographic coordinates: 6 10 S, 106 49 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Indonesia has three time zones etymology: derives from the Sanscrit name Jayakarta, meaning "victory and prosperity;" Prince FATILLAH conquered and renamed the city, formerly known as Sunda Kelapa, in 1527 note: in 2022, the relocation of the country s capital was approved, from Jakarta to a site on the island of Borneo between Samarinda City and the port city of Balikpapan; Nusantara ("archipelago"), the new capital, was in development as of 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2045
Executive branch
chief of state: President PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo (since 20 October 2024) head of government: President PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo (since 20 October 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 14 February 2024 election results: 2024: PRABOWO Subianto elected president (assumes office 20 October 2024); percent of vote - PRABOWO Subianto (GERINDRA) 58.6%, Anies Rasyid BASWEDAN (Independent) 24.9%, GANJAR Pranowo (PDI-P) 16.5% 2019: Joko WIDODO reelected president; percent of vote - Joko WIDODO (PDI-P) 55.5%, PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo (GERINDRA) 44.5% expected date of next election: 2029 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch
legislature name: House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 580 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 2/14/2024 parties elected and seats per party: Indonesian Democratic Party - Struggle (PDI-P) (110); Party of Functional Groups (Golkar) (102); Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) (86); National Democratic Party (NasDem) (69); National Awakening Party (PKB) (68); Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) (53); National Mandate Party (PAN) (48); Democratic Party (PD) (44) percentage of women in chamber: 21.9% expected date of next election: April 2029
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$4.102 trillion (2024 est.) $3.906 trillion (2023 est.) $3.718 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita
$14,500 (2024 est.) $13,900 (2023 est.) $13,300 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.7% (2023 est.) 4.2% (2022 est.) 1.6% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Exports - partners
China 24%, USA 9%, India 8%, Japan 8%, Singapore 5% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Imports - partners
China 29%, Singapore 8%, Japan 7%, USA 5%, Malaysia 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Military and security forces
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
Military expenditures
0.8% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.)