Indonesia | History, Flag, Map, Capital, Language, Religion, & Facts

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data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Indonesia">Indonesia</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/Indonesia">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref22833"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia#ref22833">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref275942"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia#ref275942">Relief</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22836"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Islands-of-the-Sunda-Shelf">Islands of the Sunda Shelf</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22837"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Islands-of-the-Sunda-Shelf#ref22837">Islands of the Sahul Shelf</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22838"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Celebes-and-the-Moluccas">Celebes and the Moluccas</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22839"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Celebes-and-the-Moluccas#ref22839">Volcanoes</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22840"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Celebes-and-the-Moluccas#ref22840">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22841"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Soils">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22842"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Soils#ref22842">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref275943"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Plant-and-animal-life">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref22849"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Plant-and-animal-life#ref22849">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22850"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Ethnic-groups">Ethnic groups</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22851"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Ethnic-groups#ref22851">Western islands</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22852"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Ethnic-groups#ref22852">Eastern islands</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22853"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Chinese-and-other-Indonesian-peoples">Chinese and other Indonesian peoples</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22854"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Chinese-and-other-Indonesian-peoples#ref22854">Languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22855"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Religions">Religions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22846"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Religions#ref22846">Settlement patterns</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22847"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Religions#ref22847">Rural settlement</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22848"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Urban-settlement">Urban settlement</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22856"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Urban-settlement#ref22856">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref22857"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Economy">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22860"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Economy#ref22860">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22858"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Resources-and-power">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22861"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Resources-and-power#ref22861">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22862"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Resources-and-power#ref22862">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22863"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Resources-and-power#ref22863">Trade</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref275948"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Services">Services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref275949"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Services#ref275949">Labour</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22864"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Services#ref22864">Transportation and telecommunications</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22865"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Services#ref22865">Roads and railways</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22866"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Services#ref22866">Water and air transport</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref275950"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Services#ref275950">Telecommunications</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref22867"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22869"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Government-and-society#ref22869">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22870"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Government-and-society#ref22870">Local government</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22872"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Justice">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22871"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Justice#ref22871">Political process</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22873"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Security">Security</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22875"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Security#ref22875">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22876"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Housing">Housing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22874"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Housing#ref22874">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref22877"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Cultural-life">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref275951"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Cultural-life#ref275951">Cultural milieu</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22879"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Cultural-life#ref22879">The arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref275952"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Cultural-life#ref275952">Literature</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref275953"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Theatre-and-dance">Theatre and dance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref275954"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Theatre-and-dance#ref275954">Music</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref275955"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Visual-arts">Visual arts</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref275956"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Visual-arts#ref275956">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref275957"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Visual-arts#ref275957">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref275958"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Visual-arts#ref275958">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref214196"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22795"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/History#ref22795">The archipelago: its prehistory and early historical records</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22796"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Indonesian-Hinduism">Indonesian “Hinduism”</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22797"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Indonesian-Hinduism#ref22797">The arrival of Hindu religious conceptions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22798"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Indonesian-Hinduism#ref22798">Indonesian religious conceptions</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22799"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/The-Malay-kingdom-of-Srivijaya-Palembang">The Malay kingdom of Srivijaya-Palembang</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22800"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/The-Malay-kingdom-of-Srivijaya-Palembang#ref22800">Buddhism in Palembang</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22801"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/The-Malay-kingdom-of-Srivijaya-Palembang#ref22801">The maritime influence</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22802"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Central-Java-from-c-700-to-c-1000">Central Java from <em>c.</em> 700 to <em>c.</em> 1000</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22803"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Eastern-Java-and-the-archipelago-from-c-1000-to-c-1300">Eastern Java and the archipelago from <em>c.</em> 1000 to <em>c.</em> 1300</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22804"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Eastern-Java-and-the-archipelago-from-c-1000-to-c-1300#ref22804">Government and politics</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22805"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/The-empire-of-Kertanagara">The empire of Kertanagara</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22806"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/The-Majapahit-era">The Majapahit era</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22807"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Islamic-influence-in-Indonesia">Islamic influence in Indonesia</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22808"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Islamic-influence-in-Indonesia#ref22808">Muslim kingdoms of northern Sumatra</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22809"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Muslims-in-Java">Muslims in Java</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22810"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Muslims-in-Java#ref22810">Expansion of European influence</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22811"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Growth-and-impact-of-the-Dutch-East-India-Company">Growth and impact of the Dutch East India Company</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22812"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/The-French-and-the-British-in-Java-1806-15">The French and the British in Java, 1806–15</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22813"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/The-French-and-the-British-in-Java-1806-15#ref22813">Dutch rule from 1815 to <em>c.</em> 1920</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22814"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/The-Culture-System">The Culture System</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22815"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Dutch-territorial-expansion">Dutch territorial expansion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22816"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/The-Ethical-Policy">The Ethical Policy</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22817"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Toward-independence">Toward independence</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22818"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Toward-independence#ref22818">The rise of nationalism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22819"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Japanese-occupation">Japanese occupation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22820"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Japanese-occupation#ref22820">The revolution</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref22821"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Independent-Indonesia-to-1965">Independent Indonesia to 1965</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22822"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Independent-Indonesia-to-1965#ref22822">The years of constitutional democracy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22823"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Independent-Indonesia-to-1965#ref22823">Introduction of Guided Democracy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22824"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Sukarnos-policies">Sukarno’s policies</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref275944"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Indonesia-from-the-coup-to-the-end-of-the-New-Order">Indonesia from the coup to the end of the New Order</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref22826"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Indonesia-from-the-coup-to-the-end-of-the-New-Order#ref22826">The coup</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref275945" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Indonesia-from-the-coup-to-the-end-of-the-New-Order#ref275945">Suharto’s New Order</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref22828"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Indonesia-from-the-coup-to-the-end-of-the-New-Order#ref22828">Economic development</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref22830"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/Indonesia/Political-developments">Political developments</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/indonesia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Indonesia</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.indonesia.travel/in/en/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Official Tourism Site of Indonesia</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Indonesia/345708" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indonesia - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Indonesia/275050" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indonesia - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Republic of Indonesia, Republik Indonesia</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/John-David-Legge/1719" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">John David Legge</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Emeritus Professor of History, Monash University, Clayton, Australia; Dean, Faculty of Arts, 1978–86. Author of <i>Intellectuals and Nationalism in Indonesia.</i></div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> John David Legge</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Oliver-W-Wolters/3249" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Oliver W. Wolters</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Former Goldwin Smith Professor Emeritus of Southeast Asian History, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Author of <i>Early Indonesian Commerce</i>, <i>The Fall of Srivijaya in Malay History</i>, and...</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Oliver W. Wolters</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Indonesia/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-27T00:00:00CST" >Nov 27, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Indonesia/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm 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eruption grounds international flights on tourist island of Bali</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 13, 2024, 8:12 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/286480/bdf2e898b600b2568cd1ada25c0a3c1b" rel="nofollow">Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki unleashes towering columns of hot clouds</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 9, 2024, 11:05 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="107651" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/61110-050-DAC8AD8E/Mount-Bromo-volcanoes-Semeru-Indonesia-Java.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/286480/107651"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/61110-050-DAC8AD8E/Mount-Bromo-volcanoes-Semeru-Indonesia-Java.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/61110-050-DAC8AD8E/Mount-Bromo-volcanoes-Semeru-Indonesia-Java.jpg?w=300" alt="Mount Bromo" data-width="1228" data-height="800" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/10/61110-050-DAC8AD8E/Mount-Bromo-volcanoes-Semeru-Indonesia-Java.jpg" data-href="/media/1/286480/107651">Mount Bromo</a><span>Mount Bromo (foreground) and Mount Semeru (background), two active volcanoes in eastern Java, Indonesia.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref63088"></span>Indonesia</strong>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/nation-state" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">country</a> located off the coast of mainland <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Southeast-Asia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Southeast Asia</a> in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Indian-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Indian</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pacific</a> oceans. The most populous country in Southeast Asia and the fourth most populous in the world, Indonesia is situated on an <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="archipelago" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/archipelago" data-type="EB">archipelago</a> that lies across the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Equator" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Equator</a> and spans a distance equivalent to one-eighth of Earth’s circumference. Its islands can be grouped into the Greater <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sunda-Islands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sunda Islands</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sumatra" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sumatra</a> (Sumatera), <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Java-island-Indonesia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Java</a> (Jawa), the southern extent of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Borneo-island-Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Borneo</a> (<a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kalimantan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kalimantan</a>), and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Celebes" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Celebes</a> (Sulawesi); the Lesser Sunda Islands (Nusa Tenggara) of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bali-island-and-province-Indonesia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bali</a> and a chain of islands that runs eastward through <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Timor" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Timor</a>; the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Moluccas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Moluccas</a> (Maluku) between Celebes and the island of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Guinea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">New Guinea</a>; and the western extent of New Guinea (generally known as Papua). The capital, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Jakarta" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Jakarta</a>, is located near the northwestern coast of Java.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="208499" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/183666-050-A509049A/World-Data-Locator-Map-Indonesia.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/286480/208499"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/183666-050-A509049A/World-Data-Locator-Map-Indonesia.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/183666-050-A509049A/World-Data-Locator-Map-Indonesia.jpg?w=300" alt="Indonesia" data-width="1600" data-height="1532" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/183666-050-A509049A/World-Data-Locator-Map-Indonesia.jpg" data-href="/media/1/286480/208499">Indonesia</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Indonesia was formerly known as the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dutch-East-Indies" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dutch East Indies</a> (or Netherlands East Indies). Although Indonesia did not become the country’s official name until the time of independence, the name was used as early as 1884 by a German geographer; it is thought to derive from the Greek <em>indos</em>, meaning “India,” and <em>nesos</em>, meaning “island.” After a period of occupation by the Japanese (1942–45) during <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a>, Indonesia declared its independence from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Netherlands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">the Netherlands</a> in 1945. Its struggle for independence, however, continued until 1949, when the Dutch officially recognized Indonesian <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="sovereignty" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sovereignty" data-type="MW">sovereignty</a>. It was not until the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/United-Nations" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">United Nations</a> (UN) acknowledged the western segment of New Guinea as part of Indonesia in 1969 that the country took on its present form. The former Portuguese territory of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/East-Timor" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">East Timor</a> (Timor-Leste) was incorporated into Indonesia in 1976. Following a UN-organized referendum in 1999, however, East Timor declared its independence and became fully <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="sovereign" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sovereign" data-type="MW">sovereign</a> in 2002.</p><div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="qf-title font-weight-bold font-14 mb-10 text-center"> Quick Facts</div> <div class="m-n10 "> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 media-slider card-snap-slider col-100"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex col-100"> <div class="rw-track w-100"> <div class="pt-10 d-inline-flex col-100"> <div class="w-100"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/1648-050-9C1F365D/Flag-Indonesia.jpg" data-href="/media/1/286480/61308" class="media-overlay-link card-media d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center px-20" > <div class="position-relative"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/48/1648-050-9C1F365D/Flag-Indonesia.jpg" alt="Indonesia" class="cropped-false w-100 " /> <em class="material-icons qf-zoom" data-icon="zoom_in"></em> </div> </a> <div class="card-body text-center pt-5 pb-10 font-14"> <span>See article: <a href="/topic/flag-of-Indonesia">flag of Indonesia</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue btn-blue-dark" aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <audio src="https://cdn.britannica.com/13/145713-005-BA9E4D7D/instrumental-national-anthem-Indonesia.mp3" type="audio/mpeg" controls=""></audio> <div class="text-center font-12 mt-5"> <span>Audio File:</span> National anthem of Indonesia</div> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also Known As: </dt> <dd>Republic of Indonesia</dd> <dd>Republik Indonesia</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Head Of State And Government: </dt> <dd>President: Prabowo Subianto</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Capital: </dt> <dd><a href="/place/Jakarta">Jakarta</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population: </dt> <dd>(2024 est.) 282,154,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Currency Exchange Rate: </dt> <dd>1 USD equals 16262.625 Indonesian rupiah</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Form Of Government: </dt> <dd>multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Regional Representative Council<sup>1</sup> [132]; House of Representatives [560])</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Language: </dt> <dd>Indonesian</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Religion: </dt> <dd>monotheism</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Official Name: </dt> <dd>Republik Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Km): </dt> <dd>1,892,410</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Total Area (Sq Mi): </dt> <dd>730,660</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Monetary Unit: </dt> <dd>rupiah (Rp)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Rank: </dt> <dd>(2023) 4</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Population Projection 2030: </dt> <dd>298,806,000</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Mi: </dt> <dd>(2024) 386.2</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Density: Persons Per Sq Km: </dt> <dd>(2024) 149.1</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Urban-Rural Population: </dt> <dd>Urban: (2024) 59.2%</dd> <dd>Rural: (2024) 40.8%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Life Expectancy At Birth: </dt> <dd>Male: (2022) 70.9 years</dd> <dd>Female: (2022) 75.4 years</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate: </dt> <dd>Male: (2020) 97%</dd> <dd>Female: (2020) 95%</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000): </dt> <dd>(2023) 1,352,588</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="facts-item-none d-none"> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Gni Per Capita (U.S.$): </dt> <dd>(2023) 4,870</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="footnotes mb-15"> <ol> <li>Has limited legislative authority.</li> </ol> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Indonesia"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> <button class="facts-list-show-more-btn mt-15 p-0 mx-auto btn font-14 d-block font-weight-normal"> <span class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_more"></span> <span class="show-more-label">Show More</span> </button> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="211972" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/155981-050-C2E5C653/Mount-Bromo-volcano-Indonesia-Java.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/286480/211972"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/155981-050-C2E5C653/Mount-Bromo-volcano-Indonesia-Java.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/155981-050-C2E5C653/Mount-Bromo-volcano-Indonesia-Java.jpg?w=300" alt="Mount Bromo" data-width="1600" data-height="1071" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/155981-050-C2E5C653/Mount-Bromo-volcano-Indonesia-Java.jpg" data-href="/media/1/286480/211972">Mount Bromo</a><span>Mount Bromo, an active volcano in eastern Java, Indonesia.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The Indonesian archipelago represents one of the most unusual areas in the world: it <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="encompasses" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encompasses" data-type="MW">encompasses</a> a major juncture of Earth’s tectonic plates, spans two faunal realms, and has for millennia served as a nexus of the peoples and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="cultures" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cultures" data-type="MW">cultures</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Oceania-region-Pacific-Ocean" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Oceania</a> and mainland <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Asia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Asia</a>. These factors have created a highly <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diverse" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diverse" data-type="MW">diverse</a> <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="environment" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environment" data-type="MW">environment</a> and society that sometimes seem united only by susceptibility to seismic and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/volcanism" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">volcanic activity</a>, close proximity to the sea, and a moist, tropical climate. Nevertheless, a centralized government and a common language have provided Indonesia with some sense of unity. Furthermore, in keeping with its role as an economic and cultural crossroads, the country is active in numerous <a href="https://www.britannica.com/money/international-trade" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">international trade</a> and security organizations, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/ASEAN" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">ASEAN</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/OPEC" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">OPEC</a>, and the UN.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref22833"> <h2 class="h1">Land</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><span id="ref63101"></span>Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia, with a maximum <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="dimension" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/dimension" data-type="EB">dimension</a> from east to west of about 3,200 miles (5,100 km) and an extent from north to south of 1,100 miles (1,800 km). It shares a border with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Malaysia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Malaysia</a> in the northern part of Borneo and with <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Papua-New-Guinea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Papua New Guinea</a> in the centre of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Guinea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">New Guinea</a>. Indonesia is composed of some 17,500 islands, of which more than 7,000 are uninhabited. Almost three-fourths of Indonesia’s area is embraced by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sumatra" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sumatra</a>, Kalimantan, and western New Guinea; <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Celebes" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Celebes</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Java-island-Indonesia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Java</a>, and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Moluccas" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Moluccas</a> account for most of the country’s remaining area.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <section data-level="2" id="ref275942"> <h2 class="h2">Relief</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="61310" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/54/1654-050-C9C5F0CF/Indonesia-entirety-islands-Lombok-Bali-Java-Sumbawa.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/286480/61310"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/54/1654-050-C9C5F0CF/Indonesia-entirety-islands-Lombok-Bali-Java-Sumbawa.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/54/1654-050-C9C5F0CF/Indonesia-entirety-islands-Lombok-Bali-Java-Sumbawa.jpg?w=300" alt="Indonesia" data-width="2000" data-height="1392" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/54/1654-050-C9C5F0CF/Indonesia-entirety-islands-Lombok-Bali-Java-Sumbawa.jpg" data-href="/media/1/286480/61310">Indonesia</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The major Indonesian islands are characterized by densely forested volcanic mountains in the interior that slope downward to coastal plains covered by thick alluvial swamps that, in turn, dissolve into shallow seas and coral reefs. Beneath this surface the unique and complex physical structure of Indonesia encompasses the junction of three major sections of the Earth’s crust and involves a complicated series of shelves, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/volcanic-dome" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">volcanic mountain</a> chains, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/deep-sea-trench" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">deep-sea trenches</a>. The island of Borneo and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/island-arc" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">island arc</a> that includes Sumatra, Java, Bali, and the Lesser Sunda chain sit on the <span id="ref63102"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sunda-Shelf" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sunda Shelf</a>, a southward extension of the continental mass of Asia. The shelf is bounded on the south and west by deep-sea trenches, such as the <span id="ref63103"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Java-Trench" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Java Trench</a> (about 24,440 feet [7,450 metres] deep at its lowest point), which form the true continental boundary. New Guinea and its <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="adjacent" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adjacent" data-type="MW">adjacent</a> islands, possibly including the island of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Halmahera" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Halmahera</a>, sit on the <span id="ref63104"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sahul-Shelf" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sahul Shelf</a>, which is a northwestern extension of the Australian continental mass; the shelf is bounded to the northeast by a series of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/oceanic-trough" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">oceanic troughs</a> and to the northwest by troughs, a chain of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/coral-reef" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">coral reefs</a>, and a series of submarine ridges. The third major unit of the Earth’s crust in Indonesia is an extension of the belt of mountains that forms <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Japan" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Japan</a> and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Philippines</a>; the mountains run southward between Borneo and New Guinea and include a series of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/volcano" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">volcanoes</a> and deep-sea trenches on and around Celebes and the Moluccas.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/which-country-is-larger-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/244164-131-C5EE8DAB/nation-flags-world-map.jpg" alt="Flags of all nations of the world. Grouping of various country flags on a world map." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Which Country Is Larger? Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The relation between these three landmasses is not clearly understood. The present land-sea formations are somewhat <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="misleading" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/misleading" data-type="EB">misleading</a> because the seas that lie on the Sunda and Sahul shelves are shallow and of geologically recent origin; they rest on the continental mass rather than on a true ocean floor. The Sunda Shelf in the vicinity of the <span id="ref63105"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Java-Sea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Java Sea</a> has relatively low relief, contains several coral reefs, and is not volcanic. The mountain system that stretches along the South <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/China" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">China</a> and Celebes seas of this shelf and that marks the outer edge of the continental mass of Asia, however, is an area of strong relief and is one of the most active volcanic zones in the world.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="107645" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/50/1650-050-23CDB684/Mount-Agung-volcano-rice-paddies-Indonesia-Bali.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/286480/107645"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/50/1650-050-23CDB684/Mount-Agung-volcano-rice-paddies-Indonesia-Bali.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/50/1650-050-23CDB684/Mount-Agung-volcano-rice-paddies-Indonesia-Bali.jpg?w=300" alt="Mount Agung" data-width="1528" data-height="1014" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/50/1650-050-23CDB684/Mount-Agung-volcano-rice-paddies-Indonesia-Bali.jpg" data-href="/media/1/286480/107645">Mount Agung</a><span>Mount Agung volcano overlooking rice paddies in northeastern Bali, Indonesia.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The outer (southern) side of the chain of islands from Sumatra through Java and the Lesser Sundas forms the leading edge of the Southeast Asian landmass. It is characterized by active volcanoes, bounded to the south and west by a series of deep-sea trenches. On the inner (northern) side of the islands the volcanic mountains grade into swamps, lowlands, and the shallow Java Sea. This sheltered sea was formed at the close of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/Pleistocene-Epoch" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Pleistocene Epoch</a> (about 12,000 years ago), and there is evidence of former land bridges, which <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="facilitated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facilitated" data-type="MW">facilitated</a> the migration of plants and animals from the Asian continent.</p><div class="module-spacing"> <DIV class="marketing-INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="INLINE_SUBSCRIPTION"><style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"> <img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp" /> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10">Get Unlimited Access</div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold">Try Britannica Premium for free and discover more.</div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"> <a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=inline-cta&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </DIV></div><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> </section></section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":41,"pageId":286480,"pageLength":999,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"COUNTRY_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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