Indonesia
Republic of IndonesiaRepublik Indonesia
presidential republicIndependence 17 August 1945 (declared)
Indonesia as the 2016 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 168 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence shortly before Japan's surrender, but it required four years of sometimes brutal fighting, intermittent negotiations, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. A period of sometimes unruly parliamentary democracy ended in 1957 when President SOEKARNO declared martial law and instituted "Guided Democracy."
After an abortive coup in 1965 by alleged communist sympathizers, SOEKARNO was gradually eased from power. From 1967 until 1988, President SUHARTO ruled Indonesia with his "New Order" government. After rioting toppled SUHARTO in 1998, free and fair legislative elections took place in 1999. Indonesia is now the world's third most populous democracy, the world's largest archipelagic state, and the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
Current issues include: alleviating poverty, improving education, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing economic and financial reforms, stemming corruption, reforming the criminal justice system, holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations, addressing climate change, and controlling infectious diseases, particularly those of global and regional importance.
In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, which led to democratic elections in Aceh in December 2006. Indonesia continues to face low intensity armed resistance in Papua by the separatist Free Papua Movement.
Geography
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
18 fieldsNatural resources
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Land use
- agricultural land:
- 31.2%;
- arable land 13%;
- permanent crops 12.1%;
- permanent pasture 6.1%
- forest:
- 51.7%
- other:
- 17.1% (2011 est.)
Natural hazards
- occasional floods;
- severe droughts;
- tsunamis;
- earthquakes;
- volcanoes;
- forest fires
- volcanism:
- Indonesia contains the most volcanoes of any country in the world - some 76 are historically active;
- significant volcanic activity occurs on Java, Sumatra, the Sunda Islands, Halmahera Island, Sulawesi Island, Sangihe Island, and in the Banda Sea;
- Merapi (elev. 2,968 m), Indonesia's most active volcano and in eruption since 2010, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations;
- other notable historically active volcanoes include
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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
- signed, but not ratified:
- Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note
- archipelago of 17,508 islands, some 6,000 of which are inhabited (Indonesia is the world's largest country comprised solely of islands);
- straddles the equator;
- strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean;
- despite having the fourth largest population in the world, Indonesia is the most heavily forested region on earth after the Amazon
People and Society
37 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2016 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2016 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2010 est.)
Religions(2010 est.)
Languages
Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (of which the most widely spoken is Javanese) note: more than 700 languages are used in Indonesia
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.84 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.77 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- very high
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- dengue fever and malaria (2016)
Child labor - children ages 5-14
- total number:
- 4,026,285
- percentage:
- 7%
note: data represent children ages 5-17 (2009 est.)
Government
Presidential republic; President Joko WIDODO (since 20 October 2014); President Joko WIDODO (since 20 October 2014)
22 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
House of Representatives, 525 seats, elected 9 April 2014seats by party
Percent of vote
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
- etymology:
- the name is an 18th-century construct of two Greek words, "Indos" (India) and "nesoi" (islands), meaning "Indian islands"
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 has three time zones
Administrative divisions
31 provinces (provinsi-provinsi, singular - provinsi), 1 autonomous province*, 1 special region** (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 national capital district*** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Jakarta Raya***, Jambi, Jawa Barat (West Java), Jawa Tengah (Central Java), Jawa Timur (East Java), Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan), Kalimantan Selatan (South Kalimantan), Kalimantan Tengah (Central Kalimantan), Kalimantan Timur (East Kalimantan), Kalimantan Utara (North Kalimantan), Kepulauan Bangka Belitung (Bangka Belitung Islands), Kepulauan Riau (Riau Islands), Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara (North Maluku), Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara), Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara), Papua, Papua Barat (West Papua), Riau, Sulawesi Barat (West Sulawesi), Sulawesi Selatan (South Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tengah (Central Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Sulawesi), Sulawesi Utara (North Sulawesi), Sumatera Barat (West Sumatra), Sumatera Selatan (South Sumatra), Sumatera Utara (North Sumatra), Yogyakarta**; note: following the implementation of decentralization beginning on 1 January 2001, regencies and municipalities have become the key administrative units responsible for providing most government services
Constitution
- drafted July to August 1945, effective 17 August 1945, abrogated by 1949 and 1950 constitutions, 1945 constitution restored 5 July 1959;
- amended several times, last in 2002;
- note - an amendment on "national character building and national consciousness awareness" was pending parliamentary review in early 2016 (2016)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- no
- citizenship by descent only:
- at least one parent must be a citizen of Indonesia
- dual citizenship recognized:
- no
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- 5 continuous years
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Joko WIDODO (since 20 October 2014);
- Vice President Jusuf KALLA (since 20 October 2014);
- note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- President Joko WIDODO (since 20 October 2014); Vice President Jusuf KALLA (since 20 October 2014)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the president
- elections/appointments:
- president and vice president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term);
- election last held on 9 July 2014 (next to be held in 2019)
- election results:
- Joko WiDODO elected president; percent of vote - Joko WIDODO (PDI-P) 53.2%, PRABOWO Subianto (GERINDRA) 46.8%
Legislative branch
- description:
- bicameral People's Consultative Assembly or Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat consists of the Regional Representative Council or Dewan Perwakilan Daerah (132 seats; non-partisan members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (560 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by single non-transferable vote to serve 5-year terms)
note: 29 other parties received less than the 2.5% vote threshold and failed to win so did not obtain any seats; because of election rules, the number of seats won does not always follow the percentage of votes received by parties
- elections:
- last held on 9 April 2014 (next to be held in 2019)
- election results:
- House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDI-P 19%, Golkar 15%, Gerindra 12%, PD 10%, PKB 9%, PAN 8%, PKS 7%, NasDem 7%, PPP 7%, Hanura 5%;
- seats by party - PDI-P 109, Golkar 91, Gerindra 73, PD 61, PAN 49, PKB 47, PKS 40, NasDem 35, PPP 39, Hanura 16
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (51 judges divided into 8 chambers); Constitutional Court or Mahkamah Konstitusi (consists of 9 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Supreme Court judges nominated by Judicial Commission, appointed by president with concurrence of parliament;
- judges serve until retirement at age 65;
- Constitutional Court judges - 3 nominated by president, 3 by Supreme Court, and 3 by parliament;
- judges appointed by the president;
- judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
- subordinate courts:
- High Courts of Appeal, district courts, religious courts
Political parties and leaders
- Democrat Party or PD [Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO]
- Functional Groups Party or GOLKAR [Aburizal BAKRIE]
- Great Indonesia Movement Party or GERINDRA [PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo]
- Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri]
- National Awakening Party or PKB [Muhaiman ISKANDAR]
- National Mandate Party or PAN [Hatta RAJASA]
- People's Conscience Party or HANURA [WIRANTO]
- Prosperous Justice Party or PKS [Anis MATTA]
- United Development Party or PPP [NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Commission for the "Disappeared" and Victims of Violence or KontraS
- Indonesia Corruption Watch or ICW
- Indonesian Forum for the Environment or WALHI
International organization participation
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-11, G-15, G-20, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OECD (Enhanced Engagement, OIC, OPCW, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Budi BOWOLEKSONO (since 21 May 2014)
- 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 from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Robert O. BLAKE, Jr. (since 30 January 2014)
- embassy:
- Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan 3-5, Jakarta 10110
- mailing address:
- Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520
- telephone:
- [62] (21) 3435-9000
- FAX:
- [62] (21) 386-2259
- consulate general:
- Surabaya
- consulate:
- Medan
- consular agency:
- Bali
Flag description
- two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white;
- the colors derive from the banner of the Majapahit Empire of the 13th-15th centuries;
- red symbolizes courage, white represents purity
note: similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red
National anthem
- name:
- "Indonesia Raya" (Great Indonesia)
- lyrics/music:
- Wage Rudolf SOEPRATMAN
note: adopted 1945
Economy
Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has seen a slowdown in growth since 2012, mostly due to the end of the commodities export boom.
41 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2015 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has seen a slowdown in growth since 2012, mostly due to the end of the commodities export boom. During the global financial crisis, Indonesia outperformed its regional neighbors and joined China and India as the only G20 members posting growth.
Indonesia’s annual budget deficit is capped at 3% of GDP, and the Government of Indonesia lowered its debt-to-GDP ratio from a peak of 100% shortly after the Asian financial crisis in 1999 to less than 25% today. Fitch and Moody's upgraded Indonesia's credit rating to investment grade in December 2011.
Indonesia still struggles with poverty and unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment, and unequal resource distribution among its regions. President Joko WIDODO - elected in July 2014 – seeks to develop Indonesia’s maritime resources and pursue other infrastructure development, including significantly increasing its electrical power generation capacity.
Fuel subsidies were significantly reduced in early 2015, a move which has helped the government redirect its spending to development priorities. Indonesia, with the nine other ASEAN members, will continue to move towards participation in the ASEAN Economic Community, though full implementation of economic integration has not yet materialized.
Gross national saving
32.5% of GDP (2015 est.) · 31.5% of GDP (2014 est.) · 30.7% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Agriculture - products
rubber and similar products, palm oil, poultry, beef, forest products, shrimp, cocoa, coffee, medicinal herbs, essential oil, fish and its similar products, and spices
Industries
petroleum and natural gas, textiles, automotive, electrical appliances, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, medical instruments and appliances, handicrafts, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, processed food, jewelry, and tourism
Distribution of family income - Gini index
36.8 (2009) · 39.4 (2005) country comparison to the world: 79
Central bank discount rate
6.37% (31 December 2010) · 6.46% (31 December 2009) note: this figure represents the 3-month SBI rate; the Bank of Indonesia has not employed the one-month SBI since September 2010 country comparison to the world: 61
Commercial bank prime lending rate
12.66% (31 December 2015 est.) · 12.61% (31 December 2014 est.) note: these figures represent the average annualized rate on working capital loans country comparison to the world: 61
Stock of narrow money
$76.5 billion (31 December 2015 est.) · $75.74 billion (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Stock of broad money
$348.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $305.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Stock of domestic credit
$354.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) · $360.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Current account balance
-$17.76 billion (2015 est.) · -$27.52 billion (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Exports - commodities
mineral fuels, animal or vegetable fats (includes palm oil), electrical machinery, rubber, machinery and mechanical appliance parts
Imports - commodities
mineral fuels, boilers, machinery, and mechanical parts, electric machinery, iron and steel, foodstuffs
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$105.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.) · $111.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Debt - external
$316 billion (31 December 2015 est.) · $293.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$271.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.) · $253.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$33.32 billion (31 December 2015 est.) · $24.05 billion (31 December 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Exchange rates
Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar - 13,389.4 (2015 est.) · 11,865.2 (2014 est.) · 11,865.2 (2013 est.) · 9,386.63 (2012 est.) · 8,770.43 (2011 est.)
Energy
24 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2013)
Installed generating capacity, 55 million kW(2014 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
3.693 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es) country comparison to the world: 29
Natural gas - proved reserves
2.875 trillion cu m (1 January 2016 es) country comparison to the world: 13
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
442 million Mt (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Communications
6 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(July 2015 est.)
Telephone system
- general assessment:
- domestic service includes an interisland microwave system, an HF radio police net, and a domestic satellite communications system; international service good
- domestic:
- 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) (2015)
Broadcast media
- mixture of about a dozen national TV networks - 2 public broadcasters, the remainder private broadcasters - each with multiple transmitters;
- more than 100 local TV stations;
- widespread use of satellite and cable TV systems;
- public radio broadcaster operates 6 national networks, as well as regional and local stations;
- overall, more than 700 radio stations with more than 650 privately operated (2008)
Transportation
13 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
National air transport system
- number of registered air carriers:
- 29; inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 550
- annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
- 88,685,767
- annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
- 747,473,207 mt-km (2015)
Pipelines
- condensate 1,064 km;
- condensate/gas 150 km;
- gas 11,702 km;
- liquid petroleum gas 119 km;
- oil 7,767 km;
- oil/gas/water 77 km;
- refined products 728 km;
- unknown 53 km;
- water 44 km (2013)
Railways
- total:
- 8,159 km
- narrow gauge:
- 8,159 km 1.067-m gauge (565 km electrified)
note: 4,816 km operational (2014)
country comparison to the world: 26
Roadways
- total:
- 496,607 km
- paved:
- 283,102 km
- unpaved:
- 213,505 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 14
Merchant marine
- total:
- 1,340
- by type:
- bulk carrier 105, cargo 618, chemical tanker 69, container 120, liquefied gas 28, passenger 49, passenger/cargo 77, petroleum tanker 244, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 12, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 11
- foreign-owned:
- 69 (China 1, France 1, Greece 1, Japan 8, Jordan 1, Malaysia 1, Norway 3, Singapore 46, South Korea 2, Taiwan 1, UK 2, US 2)
- registered in other countries:
- 95 (Bahamas 2, Cambodia 2, China 2, Hong Kong 10, Liberia 4, Marshall Islands 1, Mongolia 2, Panama 10, Singapore 60, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 8
Ports and terminals
- major seaport(s):
- Banjarmasin, Belawan, Kotabaru, Krueg Geukueh, Palembang, Panjang, Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok
- container port(s) (TEUs):
- Tanjung Priok (5,617,562)
- LNG terminal(s) (export):
- Bontang, Tangguh
- LNG terminal(s) (import):
- Arun, Lampung, West Java
Transportation - note
- the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships;
- attacks have increased yearly since 2009;
- in 2014, 100 commercial vessels were attacked and 90 crew members taken hostage;
- hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia;
- crews have been murdered or cast adrift
Military and Security
3 fieldsMilitary branches
Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army (TNI-Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL); includes marines (Korps Marinir, KorMar), naval air arm), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU)), National Air Defense Command (Kommando Pertahanan Udara Nasional (Kohanudnas)) (2013)
Military service age and obligation
- 18-45 years of age for voluntary military service, with selective conscription authorized;
- 2-year service obligation, with reserve obligation to age 45 (officers);
- Indonesian citizens only (2012)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
- Indonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of establishing stable fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of its neighbors;
- three stretches of land borders with Timor-Leste have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries have been established between the countries;
- many refugees from Timor-Leste who left in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation;
- all borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and EEZ boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature;
- 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;
- land and maritime negotiations with Malaysia are ongoing, and disputed areas include the controversial Tanjung Datu and Camar Wulan border area in Borneo and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea;
- Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalizing 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;
- maritime delimitation talks continue with Palau;
- EEZ negotiations with Vietnam are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundary
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 6,100 (inter-communal, inter-faith, and separatist violence between 1998 and 2004 in Aceh and Papua; religious attacks and land conflicts in 2012 and 2013; most IDPs in Aceh, Maluku, East Nusa Tengarra) (2015) (2011)
Illicit drugs
- illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use;
- producer of methamphetamine and ecstasy;
- President WIDODO's war on drugs has led to an increase in death sentences and executions, particularly of foreign drug traffickers (2015)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Indonesia.” The World Factbook 2016. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/indonesia/2016.