About Indonesia

Geography

Indonesia is a nation of islands. According to the country’s Naval Hydro-Oceanographic Office, it contains some 17,508 islands, although only about 6,000 are inhabited. In fact, the country’s island identity is part of its name. “Indonesia” has its roots in two Greek words: Indos meaning “Indian” and Nesos which means “islands.”

The country stretches around the equator for 5,150 km (3,200 miles) – roughly the distance between Los Angeles and New York . It is the largest archipelago in the world.

Strategically, the country lies between the Australian and Asian continents and the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Seas and oceans comprise 81 percent of the total area of the Republic. Of its land area of 1,919,440 sq km, rivers and lakes occupy 93,000 sq km and land features 1,826,440 sq km.

Five main islands and 30 smaller archipelagos are home to the majority of the population. The main islands are Kalimantan (1,539,400 sq km), Sumatra (473,606 sq km), Irian Jaya (421,981 sq km), Sulawesi (189,216 sq km), and Java (132,187 sq km). Java alone is home to roughly 70 percent of the country’s population.

Indonesia shares the island of Papua with Papua New Guinea and the island of Kalimantan with Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.

Across the country, the land is generally covered by thick tropical rain forests, where fertile soil is continuously replenished by volcanic eruptions like those on the island of Java . But Indonesia is also mountainous, with some 400 volcanoes, of which 100 are still active.

Climate

Indonesia ‘s monsoon-type climate changes approximately every six months, although, in recent years, global warming has somewhat disrupted weather patterns. The dry season for the west part of Indonesia is from May to October and the wet season is from November to April. The dry and wet seasons in eastern Indonesia are the opposite.

Due to the large number of islands and mountains in the country, temperatures vary. Along the coastal plains, the average is 28°C (82°F); for inland and mountain areas, it is 26°C (79°F); and, in the higher mountain areas, the average is around 23°C (73°F). Like other tropical countries, Indonesia has a high average relative humidity, usually between 73 and 87 percent.

Flora and Fauna

Within the Indonesian archipelago lies one of the most remarkable zoological zones on the planet. Home of the most diverse flora and fauna in the world, Indonesia has 10 percent of all flowering plant species, 12 percent of mammal species, 17 percent of bird species and 25 percent of the world’s species of fish.

People

According to a 2003 count, Indonesia is home to 234,893,453 people, making it the world’s fourth most populous nation after China, India and United States. The work force (15-64 yrs of age) is 65.4 percent of the total population and consists of 76,743,613 males and 76,845,245 females.

In its ethnic groups, languages, culture, and religion, Indonesia is a very diverse nation. This great diversity is reflected in the country’s national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika which means “Unity in Diversity.”

Some 300 ethnic groups call Indonesia home, but most (45 percent) of Indonesians are Javanese. In addition, 14 percent are Sundanese, 7.5 percent Madurese, 7.5 percent coastal Malays, and 26 percent are of other ethnic groups.

There are more than 700 languages and dialects spoken in the archipelago. Bahasa Indonesia is the national language. It is similar to Malay and written in Roman script based on European orthography. English is the most prevalent foreign language. Also, some Dutch is still spoken and understood in the bigger cities and French increasing in its popularity in some hotels and restaurants.

Culture

Today, the country maintains a cultural richness, even as it expands into new areas. The traditional music of the gamelan and angklung coexists with new dangdut and rock and roll. The ancient art of wayang kulit, or shadow puppetry, complements the modern Indonesian film industry. And, while the themes and story from historic epics like the Ramayana persist, newer literature like that of the author Pramoedya Ananta Toer has become an irrevocable part of Indonesian culture.

Religion

Six world religions are formally recognized in Indonesia: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Confucianism, Hinduism and Buddhism. Nevertheless, other faiths can be found, especially in isolated societies. These religions, called traditional faiths, are also accepted. According to recent counts, approximately 85 percent of the population is Muslim, 11 percent is Christian (Protestants and Catholics), and 4 percent is Hindu, Buddhist, Confucian, or traditional.

Economy

Indonesia has a large economy that many analysts predict will grow further in the future. Specifically, they believe the country’s democratic political system and natural domestic market will encourage stable economic expansion. Today, trade with the United States is growing quickly. Total bilateral trade increased from $12 billion in 2003 to $16.5 billion in 2006.

Leading Industries & Natural Resources

Indonesia’s leading industries are foods and beverages, textiles, cement, construction, fertilizer production, light manufacturing, wood processing, mineral and petroleum production and processing, aircraft manufacturing, and tourism. Indonesia is rich in natural resources, including oil, tin, natural gas, coal, nickel, copper, bauxite, timber, gold, and silver. Indonesia exports agricultural products worldwide. Its most successful items include palm oil, cocoa, rubber, rice, tea, sugar, tobacco, and spices.

Government

The Government of Indonesia is based on the 1945 Constitution, as amended in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. Article I of the Constitution establishes a republican form of government that recognizes the sovereignty of the people.

Executive

The executive branch of government is headed by the president and vice president. The president is the head of government, the chief of state, and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Together with the vice president, he is elected for a five-year term and can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. The president appoints the members of his cabinet, who are responsible for the Government’s ministries.

Legislative

The legislative branch is based on the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), or Indonesia’s parliament. The MPR is made up of two bodies: the People’s Representative Council (DPR) and the Regional Representative Council (DPD). Together, these groups have the power to pass laws, amend the Constitution, conduct formal inquiries, oversee the state’s budget, and dismiss the president and vice president in accordance with the Constitution.

The People’s Representative Council, or DPR, is made up of 550 representatives elected by the people. The Regional Representative Council, or DPD, is made up of four representatives from each province, as elected by the people. As of the 2004 election, there were 128 representatives in the DPD.

Judicial

The Supreme Court is the final court of appeals, and oversees all lower courts. These include general, military, administrative, religious, and commercial courts. To safeguard its impartiality, it is independent of the executive and legislative branches of government.