Indonesia
Indonesia is made of over 17,000 islands spread across three time zones, and it has more active volcanoes than any other country.
- CapitalJakartaA new capital, Nusantara, is being built in Borneo
- PopulationAbout 279 millionFourth most populous country on Earth
- IslandsOver 17,000Around 6,000 are inhabited
- Active volcanoesAround 130More than any other country
Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, stretching about 5,100 km from west to east, further than the distance across the United States. Java alone holds over half the population, making it the most crowded major island on Earth.
The islands sit on the Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates collide, which is why Indonesia has around 130 active volcanoes. That comes with danger, but volcanic ash also makes the soil of Java extraordinarily fertile.
National symbols
- National animal Komodo dragon
- National emblem Garuda, a mythical eagle
- National anthem Indonesia Raya (Translation: Great Indonesia)
- National day Independence Day, 17 August
Map of Indonesia
Geography
Indonesia covers 1,904,569 km2 and shares land borders with Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and East Timor, spread across the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The five biggest islands are Sumatra, Java, Borneo (shared with Malaysia and Brunei), Sulawesi and New Guinea (shared with Papua New Guinea). Puncak Jaya in Papua reaches 4,884 m and is the highest island peak in the world, with glaciers despite sitting almost on the equator.
Climate
Indonesia straddles the equator, so it is hot and humid all year, generally 25C to 33C, with no summer or winter, only wet and dry seasons.
The wet season runs roughly October to April, driven by the monsoon. Rainfall is heavy, over 2,000 mm a year in most places and far more in the mountains, which is what supports the rainforest.
Culture
Indonesian, called Bahasa Indonesia, is the official language, deliberately chosen as a neutral link language. Over 700 local languages are spoken, including Javanese, which has more speakers than Indonesian as a first language.
Around 87 per cent of Indonesians are Muslim, making this the largest Muslim-majority country in the world. Bali, unusually, is mostly Hindu. Batik cloth, wax-resist dyed in intricate patterns, and wayang shadow puppetry are both on the UNESCO heritage list.
Economy
Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia. It is the world's biggest producer of palm oil and nickel, and a leading exporter of coal, rubber and tin.
Manufacturing has grown quickly, especially textiles, footwear and electronics. Tourism, centred on Bali, is significant, and the government is building an entirely new capital city, Nusantara, in Borneo because Jakarta is sinking.
The flag
Two equal horizontal bands, red above and white below, called Sang Saka Merah-Putih, meaning the lofty red and white.
Red stands for courage and the human body, white for purity and the spirit. The colours date back to the Majapahit empire of the 1200s. The flag is almost identical to Monaco's, differing only slightly in proportions, and is the reverse of Poland's.