Lesson 1/45 min
Indonesia
Basics
- The world's largest island nation, and the country with the largest Muslim population.
- Over 17,000 islands by the government's count (about 13,500 on the UN's list). It has 38 provinces.
- Capital: Jakarta. The planned new capital is Nusantara (East Kalimantan); in 2025 the government set a 2028 target to make it the “political capital”, and in May 2026 the Constitutional Court said Jakarta remains the capital until a decree changes it.
- Currency: rupiah; a Dutch (Netherlands) colony; independence proclaimed on 17 August 1945.
- Left the UN in 1965 (the only member ever to withdraw) and returned in 1966.
- The airline is Garuda; home of the Komodo dragon; West Timor is part of Indonesia.
Main islands
| Island | Fact |
|---|---|
| Sumatra | Part of Indonesia |
| Java | The world's most populous island; Bandung is here |
| Kalimantan (Borneo) | Asia's largest island; shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei |
| Sulawesi | A main island |
| Papua (western New Guinea, formerly Irian Jaya) | Area of a separatist movement |
| Bali | Famous for tourism |
Key figures
| Name | Known for |
|---|---|
| Dr Ahmed Sukarno | Father of the nation, “Bung Karno”; first president 1945–1967; promoter of the “Pancasila” principles; lost power to Suharto in 1966–67 |
| General Suharto | A dictator; in power for about 32 years (1967–1998) |
| Megawati Sukarnoputri | Sukarno's daughter; Indonesia's fifth president (2001–2004) and its first woman president; leader of the PDI-P party |
| Prabowo Subianto | The present president, since October 2024 |
Separatism and famous places
- In Aceh the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) fought for independence; a peace deal came in 2005. The conflict in Papua (Irian Jaya) continues.
- Banda Aceh is the capital of Aceh province.
- Borobudur: in Magelang, Central Java; a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple; 9 levels (6 square, 3 circular); the world's largest Buddhist temple.
Watch out: Exams sometimes say Malaysia is the top palm-oil producer. In fact Indonesia is the world's largest (about 60 percent), with Malaysia second (about 25 percent). Khandokar's “33 provinces” and “capital Nusantara” are out of date or incomplete.
Watch out: Both books call Megawati the “first elected woman head of the Muslim world”. She became president in 2001 after Wahid's removal, and Benazir Bhutto had been Pakistan's prime minister (1988); the safe wording is “Indonesia's first woman president”.
Check yourself
Which country colonised Indonesia?
At a glance
- 1
Indonesia is the largest island nation and has the largest Muslim population; capital Jakarta (Nusantara is planned).
- 2
Independence was proclaimed on 17 August 1945; it was a Dutch (Netherlands) colony.
- 3
Sukarno was the first president (1945–1967); Suharto was the dictator; Megawati the first woman president (2001–2004).
- 4
Java is the world's most populous island; Borneo (Kalimantan) is Asia's largest island.
- 5
Aceh and Irian Jaya (Papua) are separatist areas; Borobudur is a Buddhist temple in Central Java.
- 6
Indonesia left the UN in 1965 and returned in 1966.