Republic of Indonesia (RI)

A Champion

  • 17,000 Islands
  • 1,300 Ethnic Groups
  • 700 Languages
  • 280mio people
  • 50% of population lives in Java
  • 14th largest country by area
  • 2mio square kilometres (735k square miles)
  • Presidential Republic with 37 Provinces
  • Capital: Jakarta

Republic of Indonesia (RI), is located between the Indian and Pacific oceans in Southeast Asia. Indonesia has land or sea borders with Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, the eastern part of Malaysia, The Philippines, Australia, Palau, and India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands). Even though it’s the 4th most populous country of the world, there are vast areas that are still wild and therefore Indonesia serves globally as an important region for biodiversity, on land and in the ocean.

Amazing Facts About Indonesia

True Size Comparison Indonesia, India, Australia, Europe, USA

map comparison europe indonesia usa

Top 12 Interesting Facts About Indonesia

Largest Archipelago in the World

Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, consisting of over 17,000 islands, of which about 6,000 are inhabited. This makes it a country of incredible diversity and natural beauty, spread across a vast oceanic territory.

Fourth Most Populous Country

With a population of approximately 277.5 million people in 2024, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, following China, India, and the United States. This makes Indonesia a key player in the global demographic landscape.

World’s Largest Muslim Population

Indonesia is home to the world’s largest Muslim population. Around 87% of Indonesians identify as Muslim, meaning the country hosts roughly 12.7% of the global Muslim community. Despite this, Indonesia is known for its religious diversity and tolerance.

Biodiversity Hotspot

Indonesia is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries. It ranks second only to Brazil in terms of species diversity. The country boasts around 15% of the world’s known species of plants, mammals, birds, and reptiles, including iconic species like the Komodo dragon and orangutans.

The World's Largest Gold Mine

Indonesia is home to the Grasberg Mine in Papua, which is the largest gold mine and the second-largest copper mine in the world. This mine plays a major role in Indonesia’s economy, contributing significantly to the country’s mineral exports.

A Major Coffee Producer

Indonesia is one of the top coffee producers in the world. The country is particularly famous for its premium Arabica beans from regions like Sumatra, Sulawesi, and Java. Indonesia is also known for kopi luwak, one of the most expensive coffees in the world, which is made using beans digested by civet cats.

Borobudur: The Largest Buddhist Temple

Indonesia is home to Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Built in the 9th century, this UNESCO World Heritage site consists of over 2,600 relief panels and 500 Buddha statues, making it one of the greatest Buddhist monuments ever constructed.

World's Largest Volcanic Lake

Lake Toba, located on the island of Sumatra, is the world’s largest volcanic lake. Formed by a supervolcanic eruption around 75,000 years ago, it covers more than 1,100 square kilometers and is one of the deepest lakes in the world.

Home to 700+ Languages

Indonesia is linguistically diverse, with over 700 languages spoken across the archipelago. While Bahasa Indonesia is the official language, regional languages like Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese are spoken by millions of people in their respective regions.

One of the Fastest-Growing Economies

Indonesia has one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, with an average GDP growth rate of around 5% in recent years. It is the largest economy in Southeast Asia and a member of the G20, highlighting its growing importance on the global stage.

Komodo Dragons: Living Dinosaurs

Indonesia is the only place in the world where you can find the Komodo dragon, the largest living species of lizard. These “living dinosaurs” can grow up to 3 meters long and are found on five islands, including Komodo Island, which is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Home to Asia's Only Wild Orangutans

Indonesia is one of only two countries (the other being Malaysia) that is home to wild orangutans. The Sumatran and Bornean orangutans are critically endangered, but Indonesia’s rainforests still provide a sanctuary for these intelligent, tree-dwelling apes.

World’s Largest Flower

Indonesia is home to Rafflesia arnoldii, the world’s largest flower, which can grow over 1 meter in diameter. This rare and fascinating plant is found in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo and is known for its strong odor, earning it the nickname ‘corpse flower’.

Unity in Diversity

Indonesia: 275mio people, 17,000 islands  thousands of native ethnic groups, hundreds of languages, an incredible cultural diversity; spanning an area from east to West that is larger than Australia or Europe. A country of superlatives.

One can imagine, it is not an easy task to create a common identity among its citizens of such a large and diverse country. Much smaller countries and regions have failed to unite their territory and became prone to separatist movements.

Indonesia embraced a motto that is taught already in kindergarden and schools and became a part of the Indonesian identity: 

Unity in Diversity – “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (translated: many, yet one).

Bahasa Indonesia has been established firmly as the lingua franca and serves as the main national language. Even though the majority of the population is muslim, the state promotes a religious pluralism and tolerance. 

Furthermore, the philosophical concept of PANCASILA, implemented by Indonesia’s first President, serves as foundation for unity.

PANCASILA Principles

State Philosophy

  • Belief in the Almighty God – Ketuhanan yang Maha Esa
  • Just and civilized humanity – Kemanusiaan yang adil dan beradab
  • The unity of Indonesia – Persatuan Indonesia
  • Democracy guided by the inner wisdom in the unanimity arising out of deliberations among representatives – Kerakyatan yang dipimpin oleh hikmat kebijaksanaan dalam permusyawaratan/perwakilan
  • Social justice for all of the people of Indonesia – Keadilan sosial bagi seluruh rakyat Indonesia

Sanskrit: pañca (“five”) and “śīla” (“principles”).

pancasila principles

The Pancasila (consisting of 5 core principles) is the official philosophical theory of Indonesia that serves as a foundation for the nation.

The principles were derived from speeches given by Sukarno, Indonesia´s first President after Indonesia became an Independent State. The principles are taught to Indonesians already at a young age and are woven into the fabric of the political system and regulations.

The Future of Indonesia Shines Bright

The Indonesian archipelago has been a region rich in trade since at least the 7th century trading with mainland China and the Indian subcontinent overall. Although the Portuguese, the French and British ruled at some point in parts of this vast area, the Dutch were the main colonial power and were present for around 350 years.

The proclamation of Indonesia as an Independent State happened in 1945, but it was not until 1949 that the Dutch were willing to let go of their colonial claims and recognised Indonesia’s sovereignty.

Today, the economy of Indonesia is growing steadily and is scheduled to be the world’s 5th-largest by nominal GDP within a decade or two. It is a definite power in the South East Asian region and serves as a steady political and economic partner for its neighbours. Indonesia is a member of several multilateral organisations, including the United Nations, APEC, WTO (World Trade Organization), the G20 (holding the presidency in 2022), and a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, East Asia Summit, D-8 and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Indonesia’s demographic, with tens of millions of young and reasonably well educated people pushing into the rising middle class is going to be the engine for economical growth. The country is incredibly rich in natural resources. With a relatively stable democracy and a very successful presidency of Joko Widodo (Jokowi) experts agree, that the country will prosper n the years to come.

Top Destinations in Indonesia to Visit



Map of Indonesia with Locations of Indonesia’s main and most popular Islands (Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua)