Geography
Area: 2 million sq. km. (736,000 sq. mi.), about three times the size
of Texas; maritime area: 7,900,000 sq. km.
Cities: Capital--Jakarta (est. 8.8 million). Other cities--Surabaya
3.0 million, Medan 2.5 million, Bandung 2.5 million plus an additional
3 million in the surrounding area.
Terrain: More than 17,000 islands; 6,000 are inhabited; 1,000 of which
are permanently settled. Large islands consist of coastal plains with
mountainous interiors.
Climate: Equatorial but cooler in the highlands.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Indonesian(s).
Population (2001): 210 million.
Annual growth rate (2001): 1.6%.
Ethnic groups: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal
Malays 7.5%, others 26%.
Christian singles note-Religions: Islam 87%, Protestant 6%, Catholic 3%,
Hindu 2%, Buddhist and other 1%.
Languages: Indonesian (official), local languages, the most important
of which is Javanese.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Enrollment--92% of
eligible primary school-age children. Literacy--85%. Health: Infant
mortality rate--63/1,000 live births. Life expectancy at
birth--men 60 years, women 64 years.
Work force: 90 million. Agriculture--41.2%, trade and
restaurants--19.8%, public services--13.7%, manufacturing--12.9% (1997
data).
Government
Type: Independent republic.
Independence: August 17, 1945 proclaimed.
Constitution: 1945. Embodies five principles of the state philosophy,
called Pancasila, namely monotheism, humanitarianism, national unity,
representative democracy by consensus, and social justice.
Branches: Executive--president (head of government and chief
of state) elected by direct popular vote. Legislative—550
member House of Representatives (DPR) elected for a 5-year term. Judicial--Supreme
Court.
Suffrage: 17 years of age universal and married persons regardless of
age.
Economy
GDP (2002): $172.9 billion
Annual growth rate (2002): 3.7%.
Per capita income (2002): $796.
Natural resources (13.6% of GDP): Oil and gas, bauxite, silver, tin,
copper, gold, coal.
Agriculture (17.5% of GDP): Products--timber, rubber, rice,
palm oil, coffee. Land--17% cultivated.
Manufacturing (25.0% of GDP): Garments, footwear, electronic goods,
furniture, paper products.
Trade: Exports (2002)--$59.1 billion including oil, natural
gas, appliances, textiles. Major markets--Japan, EU, U.S.,
Singapore. Imports (2002)--$35.6 billion including food,
chemicals, capital goods, consumer goods. Major suppliers--Japan,
Singapore, EU, U.S., China.
PEOPLE
Indonesia's 210 million people make it the world's fourth-most
populous nation. The island of Java is one of the most densely
populated areas in the world, with more than 107 million people living
in an area the size of New York State. Indonesia includes numerous
related but distinct cultural and linguistic groups, many of which are
ethnically Malay. Since independence, Bahasa Indonesia (the national
language, a form of Malay) has spread throughout the archipelago and
has become the language of most written communication, education,
government, and business. Many local languages are still important in
many areas, however. English is the most widely spoken foreign
language. Education is compulsory for children through grade 9.
Although about 92% of eligible children are enrolled in primary
school, a much smaller percentage attend full time. About 44% of
secondary school-age children attend junior high school, and some
others of this age group attend vocational schools.
Christian singles note-Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom
apply to the five religions recognized by the state, namely Islam
(87%), Protestantism (6%), Catholicism (3%), Buddhism (2%), and
Hinduism (1%). In some remote areas, animism is still practiced.
