Republic of Indonesia
Republic of Indonesia
Republic of Indonesia
Republic of Indonesia
Republik Indonesia
Anthem: Indonesia Raya
Capital Jakarta
(and largest city) / /
Demonym Indonesian
Area
1,919,440 (land) km2
(16th)
- Total
735,355 sq mi
- Water (%) 4.85
Population
- July 2008 est. estimate 237,512,352 (4th)
- 2000 census 206,264,595
134/km2 (84th)
- Density
347/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2007 estimate
Gini (2002) 34.3
HDI (2008) ▼ 0.726 (medium) (109th)
Currency Rupiah (IDR)
Calling code 62
The Indonesian archipelago has been an important trade region since at least the seventh
century, when the Srivijaya Kingdom traded with China and India. Local rulers gradually
adopted Indian cultural, religious and political models from the early centuries CE, and
Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms flourished. Indonesian history has been influenced by
foreign powers drawn to its natural resources. Muslim traders brought Islam, and
European powers fought one another to monopolize trade in the Spice Islands of Maluku
during the Age of Discovery. Following three and a half centuries of Dutch colonialism,
Indonesia secured its independence after World War II. Indonesia's history has since been
turbulent, with challenges posed by natural disasters, corruption, separatism, a
democratization process, and periods of rapid economic change.
Across its many islands, Indonesia consists of distinct ethnic, linguistic, and religious
groups. The Javanese are the largest and most politically dominant ethnic group. As a
unitary state and a nation, Indonesia has developed a shared identity defined by a national
language, ethnic diversity, religious pluralism within a majority Muslim population, and a
history of colonialism and rebellion against it. Indonesia's national motto, "Bhinneka
tunggal ika" ("Unity in Diversity" literally, "many, yet one"), articulates the diversity that
shapes the country. However, sectarian tensions and separatism have led to violent
confrontations that have undermined political and economic stability. Despite its large
population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that
support the world's second highest level of biodiversity. The country is richly endowed
with natural resources, yet poverty is a defining feature of contemporary Indonesia.
Contents
[hide]
1 Etymology
2 History
3 Government and politics
4 Foreign relations and military
5 Administrative divisions
6 Geography
7 Ecology
8 Economy
9 Demographics
10 Culture
11 See also
12 References
o 12.1 General
o 12.2 Notes
13 External links
[edit] Etymology
The name Indonesia derives from the Latin Indus, meaning "India", and the Greek nesos,
meaning "island".[4] The name dates to the 18th century, far predating the formation of
independent Indonesia.[5] In 1850, George Earl, an English ethnologist, proposed the
terms Indunesians — and, his preference, Malayunesians — for the inhabitants of the
"Indian Archipelago or Malayan Archipelago".[6] In the same publication, a student of
Earl's, James Richardson Logan, used Indonesia as a synonym for Indian Archipelago.[7]
However, Dutch academics writing in East Indies publications were reluctant to use
Indonesia. Instead, they used the terms Malay Archipelago (Maleische Archipel); the
Netherlands East Indies (Nederlandsch Oost Indië), popularly Indië; the East (de Oost);
and even Insulinde.[8]
From 1900, the name Indonesia became more common in academic circles outside the
Netherlands, and Indonesian nationalist groups adopted it for political expression.[9] Adolf
Bastian, of the University of Berlin, popularized the name through his book Indonesien
oder die Inseln des Malayischen Archipels, 1884–1894. The first Indonesian scholar to
use the name was Suwardi Suryaningrat (Ki Hajar Dewantara), when he established a
press bureau in the Netherlands with the name Indonesisch Pers-bureau in 1913.[5]
[edit] History
Main article: History of Indonesia
As early as the first century CE Indonesian vessels made trade voyages as far as Africa.
Picture: a ship carved on Borobudur, circa 800 CE.
Fossilized remains of Homo erectus, popularly known as the "Java Man", suggest that the
Indonesian archipelago was inhabited two million to 500,000 years ago.[10] Austronesian
people, who form the majority of the modern population, migrated to South East Asia
from Taiwan. They arrived in Indonesia around 2000 BCE, and confined the native
Melanesian peoples to the far eastern regions as they expanded.[11] Ideal agricultural
conditions, and the mastering of wet-field rice cultivation as early as the eighth century
BCE,[12] allowed villages, towns, and small kingdoms to flourish by the first century CE.
Indonesia's strategic sea-lane position fostered inter-island and international trade. For
example, trade links with both Indian kingdoms and China were established several
centuries BCE.[13] Trade has since fundamentally shaped Indonesian history.[14]
The nutmeg plant is native to Indonesia's Banda Islands. Once one of the world's most
valuable commodities, it drew the first European colonial powers to Indonesia.
From the seventh century CE, the powerful Srivijaya naval kingdom flourished as a result
of trade and the influences of Hinduism and Buddhism that were imported with it.[15]
Between the eighth and 10th centuries CE, the agricultural Buddhist Sailendra and Hindu
Mataram dynasties thrived and declined in inland Java, leaving grand religious
monuments such as Sailendra's Borobudur and Mataram's Prambanan. The Hindu
Majapahit kingdom was founded in eastern Java in the late 13th century, and under Gajah
Mada, its influence stretched over much of Indonesia; this period is often referred to as a
"Golden Age" in Indonesian history.[16]
Although Muslim traders first traveled through South East Asia early in the Islamic era,
the earliest evidence of Islamized populations in Indonesia dates to the 13th century in
northern Sumatra.[17] Other Indonesian areas gradually adopted Islam, and it was the
dominant religion in Java and Sumatra by the end of the 16th century. For the most part,
Islam overlaid and mixed with existing cultural and religious influences, which shaped
the predominant form of Islam in Indonesia, particularly in Java.[18] The first Europeans
arrived in Indonesia in 1512, when Portuguese traders, led by Francisco Serrão, sought to
monopolize the sources of nutmeg, cloves, and cubeb pepper in Maluku.[19] Dutch and
British traders followed. In 1602 the Dutch established the Dutch East India Company
(VOC) and became the dominant European power. Following bankruptcy, the VOC was
formally dissolved in 1800, and the government of the Netherlands established the Dutch
East Indies as a nationalized colony.[19]
For most of the colonial period, Dutch control over these territories was tenuous; only in
the early 20th century did Dutch dominance extend to what was to become Indonesia's
current boundaries.[20] The Japanese invasion and subsequent occupation during World
War II ended Dutch rule,[21] and encouraged the previously suppressed Indonesian
independence movement. Two days after the surrender of Japan in August 1945,
Sukarno, an influential nationalist leader, declared independence and was appointed
president.[22] The Netherlands tried to reestablish their rule, and an armed and diplomatic
struggle ended in December 1949, when in the face of international pressure, the Dutch
formally recognized Indonesian independence[23] (with the exception of The Dutch
territory of West New Guinea, which was incorporated following the 1962 New York
Agreement, and UN-mandated Act of Free Choice).
Sukarno moved from democracy towards authoritarianism, and maintained his power
base by balancing the opposing forces of the Military, and the Communist Party of
Indonesia (PKI).[24] An attempted coup on 30 September 1965 was countered by the
army, who led a violent anti-communist purge, during which the PKI was blamed for the
coup and effectively destroyed.[25] Between 500,000 and one million people were killed.
[26]
The head of the military, General Suharto, out-maneuvered the politically weakened
Sukarno, and was formally appointed president in March 1968. His New Order
administration[27] was supported by the US government,[28] and encouraged foreign direct
investment in Indonesia, which was a major factor in the subsequent three decades of
substantial economic growth.[29] However, the authoritarian "New Order" was widely
accused of corruption and suppression of political opposition.
In 1997 and 1998, Indonesia was the country hardest hit by the Asian Financial Crisis.[30]
This increased popular discontent with the New Order[31] and led to popular protests.
Suharto resigned on 21 May 1998.[32] In 1999, East Timor voted to secede from
Indonesia, after a twenty-five-year military occupation that was marked by international
condemnation of often brutal repression of the East Timorese.[33] Since Suharto's
resignation, a strengthening of democratic processes has included a regional autonomy
program, and the first direct presidential election in 2004. Political and economic
instability, social unrest, corruption, and terrorism have slowed progress. Although
relations among different religious and ethnic groups are largely harmonious, acute
sectarian discontent and violence remain problems in some areas.[34] A political
settlement to an armed separatist conflict in Aceh was achieved in 2005.[35]
The highest representative body at national level is the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR). Its main functions are supporting and amending the constitution, inaugurating the
president, and formalizing broad outlines of state policy. It has the power to impeach the
president.[40] The MPR comprises two houses; the People's Representative Council
(DPR), with 550 members, and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), with 128
members. The DPR passes legislation and monitors the executive branch; party-aligned
members are elected for five-year terms by proportional representation.[37] Reforms since
1998 have markedly increased the DPR's role in national governance.[41] The DPD is a
new chamber for matters of regional management.[42]
Most civil disputes appear before a State Court; appeals are heard before the High Court.
The Supreme Court is the country's highest court, and hears final cassation appeals and
conducts case reviews. Other courts include the Commercial Court, which handles
bankruptcy and insolvency; a State Administrative Court to hear administrative law cases
against the government; a Constitutional Court to hear disputes concerning legality of
law, general elections, dissolution of political parties, and the scope of authority of state
institutions; and a Religious Court to deal with specific religious cases.[43]
National flags at the site of the 2002 terrorist bombing in Kuta, Bali
The Indonesian Government has worked with other countries to apprehend and prosecute
perpetrators of major bombings linked to militant Islamism and Al-Qaeda.[47] The
deadliest killed 202 people (including 164 international tourists) in the Bali resort town of
Kuta in 2002.[48] The attacks, and subsequent travel warnings issued by other countries,
severely damaged Indonesia's tourism industry and foreign investment prospects.[49]
Indonesia's 300,000-member armed forces (TNI) include the Army (TNI-AD), Navy
(TNI-AL, which includes marines), and Air Force (TNI-AU).[50] The army has about
233,000 active-duty personnel. Defense spending in the national budget was 4% of GDP
in 2006, and is controversially supplemented by revenue from military commercial
interests and foundations.[51] In the post-Suharto period since 1998, formal TNI
representation in parliament has been removed; though curtailed; its political influence
remains extensive.[52] Separatist movements in the provinces of Aceh and Papua have led
to armed conflict, and subsequent allegations of human rights abuses and brutality from
all sides.[53] Following a sporadic thirty year guerrilla war between the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian military, a ceasefire agreement was reached in
2005.[54] In Papua, there has been a significant, albeit imperfect, implementation of
regional autonomy laws, and a reported decline in the levels of violence and human rights
abuses, since the presidency of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.[55]
The provinces of Aceh, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Papua, and West Papua have greater
legislative privileges and a higher degree of autonomy from the central government than
the other provinces. The Acehnese government, for example, has the right to create an
independent legal system; in 2003, it instituted a form of Sharia (Islamic law).[56]
Yogyakarta was granted the status of Special Region in recognition of its pivotal role in
supporting Indonesian Republicans during the Indonesian Revolution.[57] Papua, formerly
known as Irian Jaya, was granted special autonomy status in 2001.[58] Jakarta is the
country's special capital region.
Sumatra Kalimantan
[edit] Geography
Main article: Geography of Indonesia
Map of Indonesia
Indonesia consists of 17,508 islands, about 6,000 of which are inhabited.[59] These are
scattered over both sides of the equator. The five largest islands are Java, Sumatra,
Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo), New Guinea (shared with Papua New
Guinea), and Sulawesi. Indonesia shares land borders with Malaysia on the islands of
Borneo and Sebatik, Papua New Guinea on the island of New Guinea, and East Timor on
the island of Timor. Indonesia also shares borders with Singapore, Malaysia, and the
Philippines to the north and Australia to the south across narrow straits of water. The
capital, Jakarta, is on Java and is the nation's largest city, followed by Surabaya,
Bandung, Medan, and Semarang.[60]
Indonesia's location on the edges of the Pacific, Eurasian, and Australian tectonic plates
makes it the site of numerous volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. Indonesia has at least
150 active volcanoes,[65] including Krakatoa and Tambora, both famous for their
devastating eruptions in the 19th century. The eruption of the Toba supervolcano,
approximately 70,000 years ago, was one of the largest eruptions ever, and a global
catastrophe. Recent disasters due to seismic activity include the 2004 tsunami that killed
an estimated 167,736 in northern Sumatra,[66] and the Yogyakarta earthquake in 2006.
However, volcanic ash is a major contributor to the high agricultural fertility that has
historically sustained the high population densities of Java and Bali.[67]
Lying along the equator, Indonesia has a tropical climate, with two distinct monsoonal
wet and dry seasons. Average annual rainfall in the lowlands varies from 1,780–
3,175 millimeters (70–125 in), and up to 6,100 millimeters (240 in) in mountainous
regions. Mountainous areas—particularly in the west coast of Sumatra, West Java,
Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Papua—receive the highest rainfall. Humidity is generally
high, averaging about 80%. Temperatures vary little throughout the year; the average
daily temperature range of Jakarta is 26–30 °C (79–86 °F).[68]
[edit] Ecology
Main articles: Fauna of Indonesia and Flora of Indonesia
Indonesia's size, tropical climate, and archipelagic geography, support the world's second
highest level of biodiversity (after Brazil),[69] and its flora and fauna is a mixture of Asian
and Australasian species.[70] Once linked to the Asian mainland, the islands of the Sunda
Shelf (Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and Bali) have a wealth of Asian fauna. Large species such
as the tiger, rhinoceros, orangutan, elephant, and leopard, were once abundant as far east
as Bali, but numbers and distribution have dwindled drastically. Forests cover
approximately 60% of the country.[71] In Sumatra and Kalimantan, these are
predominantly of Asian species. However, the forests of the smaller, and more densely
populated Java, have largely been removed for human habitation and agriculture.
Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, and Maluku—having been long separated from the continental
landmasses—have developed their own unique flora and fauna.[72] Papua was part of the
Australian landmass, and is home to a unique fauna and flora closely related to that of
Australia, including over 600 bird species.[73]
Indonesia is second only to Australia in its degree of endemism, with 26% of its 1,531
species of bird and 39% of its 515 species of mammal being endemic.[74] Indonesia's
80,000 kilometers (50,000 mi) of coastline are surrounded by tropical seas that contribute
to the country's high level of biodiversity. Indonesia has a range of sea and coastal
ecosystems, including beaches, sand dunes, estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs, sea grass
beds, coastal mudflats, tidal flats, algal beds, and small island ecosystems.[4] The British
naturalist, Alfred Wallace, described a dividing line between the distribution and peace of
Indonesia's Asian and Australasian species.[75] Known as the Wallace Line, it runs
roughly north-south along the edge of the Sunda Shelf, between Kalimantan and
Sulawesi, and along the deep Lombok Strait, between Lombok and Bali. West of the line
the flora and fauna are more Asian; moving east from Lombok, they are increasingly
Australian. In his 1869 book, The Malay Archipelago, Wallace described numerous
species unique to the area.[76] The region of islands between his line and New Guinea is
now termed Wallacea.[75]
[edit] Economy
Main article: Economy of Indonesia
Using water buffalo to plough rice fields in Java. Agriculture has been the country's
largest employer for centuries.
Indonesia's estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2007 is US$408 billion
(US$1,038 bn PPP).[79] In 2007, estimated nominal per capita GDP is US$1,812, and per
capita GDP PPP was US$4,616 (International Dollars).[80] The services sector is the
economy's largest and accounts for 45.3% of GDP (2005). This is followed by industry
(40.7%) and agriculture (14.0%).[81] However, agriculture employs more people than
other sectors, accounting for 44.3% of the 95 million-strong workforce. This is followed
by the services sector (36.9%) and industry (18.8%).[82] Major industries include
petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, and mining. Major agricultural products
include palm oil, rice, tea, coffee, spices, and rubber.
Indonesia's main export markets (2005) are Japan (22.3%), the United States (13.9%),
China (9.1%), and Singapore (8.9%). The major suppliers of imports to Indonesia are
Japan (18.0%), China (16.1%), and Singapore (12.8%). In 2005, Indonesia ran a trade
surplus with export revenues of US$83.64 billion and import expenditure of US$62.02
billion. The country has extensive natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas, tin,
copper, and gold. Indonesia's major imports include machinery and equipment,
chemicals, fuels, and foodstuffs.[83]
Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia and the country's largest commercial center
Indonesia was the country hardest hit by the East Asian financial crisis of 1997–98.
Against the US dollar, the currency dropped from about Rp. 2,000 to Rp. 18,000, and the
economy shrunk by 13.7%.[89] The rupiah has since stabilized at around Rp. 10,000, and
there has been a slow but significant economic recovery. Political instability since 1998,
slow economic reform, and corruption at all levels of government and business, have
contributed to the patchy nature of the recovery.[90] (Transparency International, for
example, ranked Indonesia 143rd out of 180 countries in its 2007 Corruption Perceptions
Index).[91] GDP growth, however, exceeded 5% in both 2004 and 2005, and is forecast to
increase further.[92] This growth rate, however, is not enough to make a significant impact
on unemployment,[93] and stagnant wages growth, and increases in fuel and rice prices
have worsened poverty levels.[94] As of 2006, an estimated 17.8% of the population live
below the poverty line, 49.0% of the population live on less than US$2 per day,[95] and
unemployment rate at 9.75%.[96]
[edit] Demographics
Main articles: Demographics of Indonesia, Languages of Indonesia, and Religion
in Indonesia
The national population from the 2000 national census is 206 million,[97] and the
Indonesian Central Statistics Bureau and Statistics Indonesia estimate a population of 222
million for 2006.[98] 130 million people live on the island of Java, the world's most
populous island.[99] Despite a fairly effective family planning program that has been in
place since the 1960s, the population is expected to grow to around 315 million by 2035,
based on the current estimated annual growth rate of 1.25%.[100]
[edit] Culture
Main article: Culture of Indonesia
A Wayang kulit shadow puppet performance as seen by the audience
Indonesia has around 300 ethnic groups, each with cultural differences developed over
centuries, and influenced by Indian, Arabic, Chinese, Malay, and European sources.
Traditional Javanese and Balinese dances, for example, contain aspects of Hindu culture
and mythology, as do wayang kulit (shadow puppet) performances. Textiles such as
batik, ikat and songket are created across Indonesia in styles that vary by region. The
most dominant influences on Indonesian architecture have traditionally been Indian;
however, Chinese, Arab, and European architectural influences have been significant.
The most popular sports in Indonesia are badminton and football; Liga Indonesia is the
country's premier football club league. Traditional sports include sepak takraw, and bull
racing in Madura. In areas with a history of tribal warfare, mock fighting contests are
held, such as, caci in Flores, and pasola in Sumba. Pencak Silat is an Indonesian martial
art. Sports in Indonesia are generally male-orientated and spectator sports are often
associated with illegal gambling.[119]
A selection of Indonesian food, including Soto Ayam (chicken soup), sate kerang
(shellfish kebabs), telor pindang (preserved eggs), perkedel (fritter), and es teh manis
(sweet iced tea)
Indonesian cuisine varies by region and is based on Chinese, European, Middle Eastern,
and Indian precedents.[120] Rice is the main staple food and is served with side dishes of
meat and vegetables. Spices (notably chili), coconut milk, fish and chicken are
fundamental ingredients.[121] Indonesian traditional music includes gamelan and
keroncong. Dangdut is a popular contemporary genre of pop music that draws influence
from Arabic, Indian, and Malay folk music. The Indonesian film industry's popularity
peaked in the 1980s and dominated cinemas in Indonesia,[122] although it declined
significantly in the early 1990s.[123] Between 2000 and 2005, the number of Indonesian
films released each year has steadily increased.[122]
The oldest evidence of writing in Indonesia is a series of Sanskrit inscriptions dated to the
5th century CE. Important figures in modern Indonesian literature include: Dutch author
Multatuli, who criticized treatment of the Indonesians under Dutch colonial rule;
Sumatrans Muhammad Yamin and Hamka, who were influential pre-independence
nationalist writers and politicians;[124] and proletarian writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer,
Indonesia's most famous novelist.[125] Many of Indonesia's peoples have strongly-rooted
oral traditions, which help to define and preserve their cultural identities.[126] Media
freedom in Indonesia increased considerably after the end of President Suharto's rule,
during which the now-defunct Ministry of Information monitored and controlled
domestic media, and restricted foreign media.[127] The TV market includes ten national
commercial networks, and provincial networks that compete with public TVRI. Private
radio stations carry their own news bulletins and foreign broadcasters supply programs.
At a reported 25 million users in 2008,[128] Internet usage is limited to a minority of the
population, approximately 10.5%.
Geography
Islands · Lakes · Mountains · Volcanoes · National parks · Rivers
and
natural history Fauna · Flora
Portal
[edit] References
[edit] General
[edit] Notes
Government of Indonesia
Minister of The State Secretary (Indonesian)
Antara - National News Agency
Statistics Center
Chief of State and Cabinet Members
General information
Introduction
Indonesia Geography
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Home Reference Maps Appendixes Print-Friendly Transportation
Page Military
Transnational
Issues
Background:
The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; the
islands were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared
its independence after Japan's surrender, but it required four years of
intermittent negotiations, recurring hostilities, and UN mediation
before the Netherlands agreed to relinquish its colony. Indonesia is the
world's largest archipelagic state and home to the world's largest
Muslim population. Current issues include: alleviating poverty,
preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of
authoritarianism, implementing economic and financial reforms,
stemming corruption, holding the military and police accountable for
human rights violations, and controlling avian influenza. In 2005,
Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed separatists in
Aceh, which led to democratic elections in December 2006. Indonesia
continues to face a low intensity separatist movement in Papua.
Geography Indonesia Top of Page
Location:
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean
and the Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates:
5 00 S, 120 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 1,919,440 sq km
land: 1,826,440 sq km
water: 93,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 2,830 km
border countries: Timor-Leste 228 km, Malaysia 1,782
km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Coastline:
54,716 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior
mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper,
fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Land use:
arable land: 11.03%
permanent crops: 7.04%
other: 81.93% (2005)
Irrigated land:
45,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water
resources:
2,838 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricult
ural): total: 82.78 cu km/yr (8%/1%/91%)
per capita: 372 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes,
volcanoes, forest fires
Environment - current
issues:
deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes,
sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from
forest fires
Environment - international
agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-
Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
archipelago of 17,508 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles
equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes
from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
People Indonesia Top of Page
Population:
237,512,352 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.4% (male 34,343,198/female 33,175,135)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 78,330,830/female 77,812,339)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 6,151,305/female 7,699,548) (2008
est.)
Median age:
total: 27.2 years
male: 26.7 years
female: 27.7 years (2008 est.)
Population
growth rate:
1.175% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
19.24 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration
rate: -1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality
rate: total: 31.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 36.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy
at birth: total population: 70.46 years
male: 67.98 years
female: 73.07 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult
prevalence rate: 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people
living with 110,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS -
deaths: 2,400 (2003 est.)
Major infectious
diseases: degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: chikungunya, dengue fever, and malaria
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in
this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases
possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Indonesian(s)
adjective: Indonesian
Ethnic groups:
Javanese 40.6%, Sundanese 15%, Madurese 3.3%, Minangkabau
2.7%, Betawi 2.4%, Bugis 2.4%, Banten 2%, Banjar 1.7%, other or
unspecified 29.9% (2000 census)
Religions:
Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 1.8%,
other or unspecified 3.4% (2000 census)
Languages:
Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch,
local dialects (the most widely spoken of which is Javanese)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.4%
male: 94%
female: 86.8% (2004 est.)
School life
expectancy total: 11 years
(primary to male: 12 years
tertiary
education):
female: 11 years (2005)
Education
expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2006)
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
Government
type: 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)
note: Indonesia is divided into three time zones
Administrative
divisions: 30 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2 special regions*
(daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 special
capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Banten,
Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa
Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Selatan,
Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Kepulauan Bangka Belitung,
Kepulauan Riau, Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara, Nusa Tenggara
Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Papua, Papua Barat (Irian Jaya Barat),
Riau, Sulawesi Barat, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi
Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan,
Sumatera Utara, Yogyakarta*
note: following the implementation of decentralization beginning on 1
January 2001, the 465 regencies and municipalities have become the
key administrative units responsible for providing most government
services
Independence:
17 August 1945 (declared)
note: recognized by the Netherlands on 27 December 1949; in August
2005, the Netherlands announced it recognized de facto Indonesian
independence on 17 August 1945
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Constitution:
August 1945; abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and
Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959; series of
amendments concluded in 2002
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous
concepts and by new criminal procedures and election codes; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Executive
branch: chief of state: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20
October 2004); Vice President Muhammad Yusuf KALLA (since 20
October 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since
20 October 2004); Vice President Muhammad Yusuf KALLA (since
20 October 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president were elected for five-year terms
(eligible for a second term) by direct vote of the citizenry; last held 20
September 2004 (next to be held on 8 July 2009)
election results: Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO elected president
receiving 60.6% of vote; MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri received 39.4%
Legislative
branch: House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (550
seats; members elected to serve five-year terms); House of Regional
Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD), constitutionally
mandated role includes providing legislative input to DPR on issues
affecting regions; People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis
Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) has role in inaugurating and
impeaching president and in amending constitution; consists of
members of DPR and DPD; MPR does not formulate national policy
elections: last held 5 April 2004 (next to be held on 9 April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Golkar 21.6%, PDI-P
18.5%, PKB 10.6%, PPP 8.2%, PD 7.5%, PKS 7.3%, PAN 6.4%,
others 19.9%; seats by party - Golkar 128, PDI-P 109, PPP 58, PD 55,
PAN 53, PKB 52, PKS 45, others 50
note: because of election rules, the number of seats won does not
always follow the percentage of votes received by parties
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (justices appointed by the
president from a list of candidates selected by the legislature); a
separate Constitutional Court or Mahkamah Konstitusi was invested by
the president on 16 August 2003; in March 2004 the Supreme Court
assumed administrative and financial responsibility for the lower court
system from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights; Labor Court
under supervision of Supreme Court began functioning in January
2006
Political parties
and leaders: Crescent Moon and Star Party or PBB [MS KABAN]; Democratic
Party or PD [Hadi UTOMO]; Functional Groups Party or Golkar
[Yusuf KALLA]; Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P
[MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri]; National Awakening Party or PKB
[Muhaiman ISKANDAR]; National Mandate Party or PAN [Sutrisno
BACHIR]; Prosperous Justice Party or PKS [Tifatul SEMBIRING];
United Development Party or PPP [Suryadharma ALI]
Political pressure
groups and Indonesian Women's Coalition (Koalisi Perempuan - human rights
leaders: group); Islamic Defenders Front or FPI; National Alliance for Freedom
of Religion and Faith; Oil Palm Watch (environmental)
International
organization ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-20,
participation: G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic
representation in chief of mission: Ambassador SUDJADNAN Parnohadiningrat
the US: chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200
FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San
Francisco
Diplomatic
representation chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron R. HUME
from the US: embassy: Jalan 1 Medan Merdeka Selatan 4-5, Jakarta 10110
mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520
telephone: [62] (21) 3435-9000
FAX: [62] (21) 3435-9922
consulate(s) general: Surabaya
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of
Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is
white (top) and red
Economy Indonesia Top of Page
Economy -
overview: Indonesia, a vast polyglot nation, has made significant economic
advances under the administration of President YUDHOYONO, but
faces challenges stemming from the global financial crisis and world
economic downturn. Indonesia's debt-to-GDP ratio in recent years has
been declined steadily because of increasingly robust GDP growth and
sound fiscal stewardship. The government has introduced significant
reforms in the financial sector including tax and customs reforms, the
use of Treasury bills, and improved capital market supervision.
Indonesia's new investment law, passed in March 2007, seeks to
address some of the concerns of foreign and domestic investors.
Indonesia still struggles with poverty and unemployment, inadequate
infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment, and
unequal resource distribution among regions. The non-bank financial
sector, including pension funds and insurance, remains weak, and
despite efforts to broaden and deepen capital markets, they remain
underdeveloped. Economic difficulties in early 2008 centered on high
global food and oil prices and their impact on Indonesia's poor and on
the budget. The onset of the global financial crisis relieved inflation
but also brought a host of new problems: a rout in the stock market, a
difficult environment for bond issuance, lower prices for Indonesia's
commodities exports, and prospects for lower growth overall.
GDP (purchasing
power parity): $932.1 billion (2008 est.)
GDP (official
exchange rate): $496.8 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth
rate: 5.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita
(PPP): $3,900 (2008 est.)
GDP -
composition by agriculture: 13.5%
sector: industry: 45.6%
services: 40.8% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
112 million (2008 est.)
Labor force - by
occupation: agriculture: 42.1%
industry: 18.6%
services: 39.3% (2006 est.)
Unemployment
rate: 8.2% (2008 est.)
Household
income or lowest 10%: 3.6%
consumption by highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)
percentage
share:
Distribution of
family income - 39.4 (2005)
Gini index:
Investment
(gross fixed): 25.2% of GDP (2008 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $90.17 billion
expenditures: $96.87 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
30.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate
(consumer 10.5% (2008 est.)
prices):
Central bank
discount rate: 8% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank
prime lending 13.86% (31 December 2007)
rate:
Stock of money:
$47.78 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi
money: $127 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of
domestic credit: $170.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of
publicly traded $211.7 billion (31 December 2007)
shares:
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear, mining, cement,
chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism
Electricity -
production: 125.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity -
consumption: 110.7 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity -
exports: 0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity -
imports: 0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
1.044 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil -
consumption: 1.219 million bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
470,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - imports:
500,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - proved
reserves: 4.37 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas -
production: 56 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas -
consumption: 23.4 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas -
exports: 32.6 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas -
imports: 0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas -
proved reserves: 2.659 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account
balance: $2.485 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:
$141 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
Exports -
commodities: oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber
Exports -
partners: Japan 20.7%, US 10.2%, Singapore 9.2%, China 8.5%, South Korea
6.6%, Malaysia 4.5%, India 4.3% (2007)
Imports:
$114.3 billion f.o.b. (2008 est.)
Imports -
commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs
Imports -
partners: Singapore 13.2%, China 11.5%, Japan 8.8%, Malaysia 8.6%, US 6.4%,
Thailand 5.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.5%, South Korea 4.3%, Australia 4%
(2007)
Reserves of
foreign exchange $51.74 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
and gold:
Debt - external:
$143.5 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct
foreign $63.46 billion (2008 est.)
investment - at
home:
Stock of direct
foreign $4.277 billion (2008 est.)
investment -
abroad:
Exchange rates:
Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar - 9,558.1 (2008 est.), 9,056
(2007 est.), 9,159.3 (2006), 9,704.7 (2005), 8,938.9 (2004)
Communicatio
Indonesia Top of Page
ns
Telephones -
main lines in use: 17.828 million (2007)
Telephones -
mobile cellular: 81.835 million (2007)
Telephone
system: general assessment: domestic service fair, international service good
domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net;
domestic satellite communications system; coverage provided by
existing network has been expanded by use of over 200,000 telephone
kiosks many located in remote areas; mobile cellular subscribership
growing rapidly
international: country code - 62; landing point for both the SEA-ME-
WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks that provide
links throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast
stations: AM 678, FM 43, shortwave 82 (1998)
Television
broadcast 54 local TV stations (11 national TV networks; each with its group of
stations: local transmitters) (2006)
Internet country
code: .id
Internet hosts:
753,200 (2008)
Internet users:
13 million (2007)
Transportation Indonesia Top of Page
Airports:
652 (2007)
Airports - with
paved runways: total: 158
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 49
under 914 m: 39 (2007)
Airports - with
unpaved total: 494
runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 462 (2007)
Heliports:
17 (2007)
Pipelines:
condensate 963 km; condensate/gas 81 km; gas 9,003 km; oil 7,471
km; oil/gas/water 77 km; refined products 1,365 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 6,458 km
narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (125 km electrified); 497 km
0.750-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 391,009 km
paved: 216,714 km
unpaved: 174,295 km (2005)
Waterways:
21,579 km (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 971
by type: bulk carrier 54, cargo 514, chemical tanker 35, container 80,
liquefied gas 7, passenger 44, passenger/cargo 68, petroleum tanker
143, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 10, specialized tanker 10,
vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned: 43 (China 2, France 1, Germany 1, Japan 6, Norway 1,
Philippines 1, Singapore 27, Taiwan 2, UAE 2)
registered in other countries: 114 (Bahamas 2, Cambodia 2, China 1,
Hong Kong 7, Liberia 2, Mongolia 1, Panama 31, Singapore 66,
unknown 2) (2008)
Ports and
terminals: Banjarmasin, Belawan, Ciwandan, Kotabaru, Krueg Geukueh,
Palembang, Panjang, Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok
Transportation -
note: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore
waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for
piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels
have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway;
hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East
Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift
Military Indonesia Top of Page
Military
branches: Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army
(TNI-Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut (TNI-
AL); includes marines, naval air arm), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan Udara
(TNI-AU)), National Air Defense Command (Kommando Pertahanan
Udara Nasional (Kohanudnas)) (2008)
Military service
age and 18 years of age for selective compulsory and voluntary military
obligation: service; 2-year conscript service obligation, with reserve obligation to
age 45 (officers); Indonesian citizens only (2008)
Manpower
available for males age 16-49: 63,800,825
military service: females age 16-49: 61,729,717 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for
military service: males age 16-49: 52,367,788
females age 16-49: 52,129,123 (2008 est.)
Manpower
reaching male: 2,181,303
militarily female: 2,110,397 (2008 est.)
significant age
annually:
Military
expenditures: 3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational
Indonesia Top of Page
Issues
Disputes -
international: Indonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of establishing stable
fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of its neighbors; Timor-
Leste-Indonesia Boundary Committee has resolved all but a small
portion of the land boundary, but discussions on maritime boundaries
are stalemated over sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of
Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai in the north and alignment with Australian
claims in the south; many refugees from Timor-Leste who left in 2003
still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; a 1997 treaty between
Indonesia and Australia settled some parts of their maritime boundary
but outstanding issues remain; ICJ's award of Sipadan and Ligitan
islands to Malaysia in 2002 left the sovereignty of Unarang rock and
the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea in
dispute; the ICJ decision has prompted Indonesia to assert claims to
and to establish a presence on its smaller outer islands; Indonesia and
Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime
boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's
Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants
create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; piracy remains a
problem in the Malacca Strait; maritime delimitation talks continue
with Palau; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore
Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve to
Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain catches
Refugees and
internally IDPs: 200,000-350,000 (government offensives against rebels in Aceh;
displaced most IDPs in Aceh, Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi Provinces,
persons:
and Maluku) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; producer of
methamphetamine and ecstasy
This page was last updated on 10 February 2009