The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence shortly before Japan's surrender, but it required four years of sometimes brutal fighting, intermittent negotiations, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to transfer sovereignty in 1949. A period of sometimes unruly parliamentary democracy ended in 1957 when President SOEKARNO declared martial law and instituted "Guided Democracy." After an abortive coup in 1965 by alleged communist sympathizers, SOEKARNO was gradually eased from power. From 1967 until 1998, President SUHARTO ruled Indonesia with his "New Order" government. After street protests toppled SUHARTO in 1998, free and fair legislative elections took place in 1999. Indonesia is now the world's third most populous democracy, the world's largest archipelagic state, and the world's largest Muslim-majority nation. Current issues include: alleviating poverty, improving education, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing economic and financial reforms, stemming corruption, reforming the criminal justice system, addressing climate change, and controlling infectious diseases, particularly those of global and regional importance. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, which led to democratic elections in Aceh in December 2006. Indonesia continues to face low intensity armed resistance in Papua by the separatist Free Papua Movement.

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

5 00 S, 120 00 E

Southeast Asia

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

54,716 km

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains

highest point: Puncak Jaya 4,884 m

petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver

arable land 13%; permanent crops 12.1%; permanent pasture 6.1%

67,220 sq km (2012)

major concentration on the island of Java, which is considered one of the most densely populated places on earth; of the outer islands (those surrounding Java and Bali), Sumatra contains some of the most significant clusters, particularly in the south near the Selat Sunda, and along the northeastern coast near Medan; the cities of Makasar (Sulawesi), Banjarmasin (Kalimantan) are also heavily populated

occasional floods; severe droughts; tsunamis; earthquakes; volcanoes; forest fires

deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires

according to Indonesia's National Coordinating Agency for Survey and Mapping, the total number of islands in the archipelago is 13,466, of which 922 are permanently inhabited (Indonesia is the world's largest country comprised solely of islands); the country straddles the equator and occupies a strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean; despite having the fourth largest population in the world, Indonesia is the most heavily forested region on earth after the Amazon

260,580,739 (July 2017 est.)

Javanese 40.1%, Sundanese 15.5%, Malay 3.7%, Batak 3.6%, Madurese 3%, Betawi 2.9%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Buginese 2.7%, Bantenese 2%, Banjarese 1.7%, Balinese 1.7%, Acehnese 1.4%, Dayak 1.4%, Sasak 1.3%, Chinese 1.2%, other 15% (2010 est.)

Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (of which the most widely spoken is Javanese)

Muslim 87.2%, Protestant 7%, Roman Catholic 2.9%, Hindu 1.7%, other 0.9% (includes Buddhist and Confucian), unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)

0.86% (2017 est.)

16.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

-1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

major concentration on the island of Java, which is considered one of the most densely populated places on earth; of the outer islands (those surrounding Java and Bali), Sumatra contains some of the most significant clusters, particularly in the south near the Selat Sunda, and along the northeastern coast near Medan; the cities of Makasar (Sulawesi), Banjarmasin (Kalimantan) are also heavily populated

JAKARTA (capital) 10.323 million; Surabaya 2.853 million; Bandung 2.544 million; Medan 2.204 million; Semarang 1.63 million; Makassar 1.489 million (2015)

22.8 years

126 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

2.11 children born/woman (2017 est.)

61.1% (2015)

2.8% of GDP (2014)

0.2 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2012)

urban: 94.2% of population

rural: 79.5% of population

total: 87.4% of population

urban: 5.8% of population

rural: 20.5% of population

total: 12.6% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 72.3% of population

rural: 47.5% of population

total: 60.8% of population

urban: 27.7% of population

rural: 52.5% of population

total: 39.2% of population (2015 est.)

0.4% (2016 est.)

620,000 (2016 est.)

38,000 (2016 est.)

6.9% (2016)

19.9% (2013)

3.3% of GDP (2014)

presidential republic

31 provinces (provinsi-provinsi, singular - provinsi), 1 autonomous province*, 1 special region** (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 national capital district*** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Jakarta Raya***, Jambi, Jawa Barat (West Java), Jawa Tengah (Central Java), Jawa Timur (East Java), Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan), Kalimantan Selatan (South Kalimantan), Kalimantan Tengah (Central Kalimantan), Kalimantan Timur (East Kalimantan), Kalimantan Utara (North Kalimantan), Kepulauan Bangka Belitung (Bangka Belitung Islands), Kepulauan Riau (Riau Islands), Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara (North Maluku), Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara), Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara), Papua, Papua Barat (West Papua), Riau, Sulawesi Barat (West Sulawesi), Sulawesi Selatan (South Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tengah (Central Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Sulawesi), Sulawesi Utara (North Sulawesi), Sumatera Barat (West Sumatra), Sumatera Selatan (South Sumatra), Sumatera Utara (North Sumatra), Yogyakarta**

17 August 1945 (declared independence from the Netherlands)

Independence Day, 17 August (1945)

drafted July to August 1945, effective 17 August 1945, abrogated by 1949 and 1950 constitutions, 1945 constitution restored 5 July 1959; amended several times, last in 2002; note - an amendment on "national character building and national consciousness awareness" was pending parliamentary review in early 2016 (2016)

civil law system based on the Roman-Dutch model and influenced by customary law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age

Democrat Party or PD [Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO]

Functional Groups Party or GOLKAR [Setya NOVANTO]

Great Indonesia Movement Party or GERINDRA [PRABOWO Subianto Djojohadikusumo]

Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri]

National Awakening Party or PKB [Muhaiman ISKANDAR]

National Democratic Party or Nasdem [Surya PALOH]

National Mandate Party or PAN [Zulkifli HASAN]

People's Conscience Party or HANURA [WIRANTO]

Prosperous Justice Party or PKS [Muhammad Sohibul IMAN]

United Development Party or PPP [Muhammad ROMAHURMUZIY]

Commission for the "Disappeared" and Victims of Violence or KontraS

Indonesia Corruption Watch or ICW

Indonesian Forum for the Environment or WALHI

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, EAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-11, G-15, G-20, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IORA, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, MSG (associate member), NAM, OECD (enhanced engagement), OIC, OPCW, PIF (partner), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors derive from the banner of the Majapahit Empire of the 13th-15th centuries; red symbolizes courage, white represents purity

garuda (mythical bird); national colors: red, white

Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has seen a slowdown in growth since 2012, mostly due to the end of the commodities export boom. During the global financial crisis, Indonesia outperformed its regional neighbors and joined China and India as the only G20 members posting growth. Indonesia’s annual budget deficit is capped at 3% of GDP, and the Government of Indonesia lowered its debt-to-GDP ratio from a peak of 100% shortly after the Asian financial crisis in 1999 to less than 27 percent today. While Fitch and Moody's Investors upgraded Indonesia's credit rating to investment grade in December 2011, Standard & Poor’s has yet to raise Indonesia’s rating to this status amid several constraints to foreign direct investment in the country, such as a high level of protectionism.

Indonesia still struggles with poverty and unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment, and unequal resource distribution among its regions. President Joko WIDODO - elected in July 2014 – seeks to develop Indonesia’s maritime resources and pursue other infrastructure development, including significantly increasing its electrical power generation capacity. Fuel subsidies were significantly reduced in early 2015, a move which has helped the government redirect its spending to development priorities. Indonesia, with the nine other ASEAN members, will continue to move towards participation in the ASEAN Economic Community, though full implementation of economic integration has not yet materialized.

$3.031 trillion (2016 est.)

$2.85 trillion (2015 est.)

$2.688 trillion (2014 est.)

$932.4 billion (2016 est.)

5% (2016 est.)

4.9% (2015 est.)

5% (2014 est.)

$11,700 (2016 est.)

$11,300 (2015 est.)

$10,900 (2014 est.)

32.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

32.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

31.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

rubber and similar products, palm oil, poultry, beef, forest products, shrimp, cocoa, coffee, medicinal herbs, essential oil, fish and its similar products, and spices

petroleum and natural gas, textiles, automotive, electrical appliances, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, medical instruments and appliances, handicrafts, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, processed food, jewelry, and tourism

3.9% (2016 est.)

125.4 million (2016 est.)

5.6% (2016 est.)

6.2% (2015 est.)

10.9% (2016 est.)

36.8 (2009)

39.4 (2005)

12.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

-2.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

31.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

29.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

calendar year

3.5% (2016 est.)

6.4% (2015 est.)

6.37% (31 December 2010)

6.46% (31 December 2009)

11.89% (31 December 2016 est.)

12.66% (31 December 2015 est.)

$92.11 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$76.51 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$372.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$329.7 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$397.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$354.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$428.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$353.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$422.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$-16.77 billion (2016 est.)

$-17.52 billion (2015 est.)

$144.4 billion (2016 est.)

$149.1 billion (2015 est.)

mineral fuels, animal or vegetable fats (includes palm oil), electrical machinery, rubber, machinery and mechanical appliance parts

China 11.6%, US 11.2%, Japan 11.1%, Singapore 7.8%, India 7%, Malaysia 4.9%, South Korea 4.8% (2016)

$129 billion (2016 est.)

$135.1 billion (2015 est.)

mineral fuels, boilers, machinery, and mechanical parts, electric machinery, iron and steel, foodstuffs

China 22.9%, Singapore 10.8%, Japan 9.6%, Thailand 6.4%, US 5.4%, Malaysia 5.4%, South Korea 5% (2016)

$116.4 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$105.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$316.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$308.5 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$229.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$224.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$18.42 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$30.17 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Indonesian rupiah (IDR) per US dollar -

13,483 (2016 est.)

13,389.4 (2015 est.)

13,389.4 (2014 est.)

11,865.2 (2013 est.)

9,386.63 (2012 est.)

221.3 billion kWh (2015 est.)

199.3 billion kWh (2015 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

13 million kWh (2015 est.)

57.35 million kW (2015 est.)

85.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

9.4% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

5.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

831,100 bbl/day (2016 est.)

289,300 bbl/day (2014 est.)

507,900 bbl/day (2014 est.)

3.23 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es)

990,700 bbl/day (2014 est.)

1.708 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

98,780 bbl/day (2014 est.)

668,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)

72.8 billion cu m (2015 est.)

53.15 billion cu m (2015 est.)

30.29 billion cu m (2015 est.)

1.8 billion cu m (2014 est.)

2.775 trillion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

442 million Mt (2013 est.)

mixture of about a dozen national TV networks - 2 public broadcasters, the remainder private broadcasters - each with multiple transmitters; more than 100 local TV stations; widespread use of satellite and cable TV systems; public radio broadcaster operates 6 national networks, as well as regional and local stations; overall, more than 700 radio stations with more than 650 privately operated (2008)

.id

PK (2016)

673 (2013)

76 (2013)

condensate 1,064 km; condensate/gas 150 km; gas 11,702 km; liquid petroleum gas 119 km; oil 7,767 km; oil/gas/water 77 km; refined products 728 km; unknown 53 km; water 44 km (2013)

21,579 km (2011)

0.88% of GDP (2016)

0.89% of GDP (2015)

0.78% of GDP (2014)

0.92% of GDP (2013)

0.71% of GDP (2012)

Indonesian Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army (TNI-Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD)), Navy (TNI-Angkatan Laut (TNI-AL), includes marines (Korps Marinir, KorMar), naval air arm), Air Force (TNI-Angkatan Udara (TNI-AU)), National Air Defense Command (Kommando Pertahanan Udara Nasional (Kohanudnas)) (2013)

18-45 years of age for voluntary military service, with selective conscription authorized; 2-year service obligation, with reserve obligation to age 45 (officers); Indonesian citizens only (2012)

the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters in the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; attacks declined dramatically from 108 incidents in 2015 to 49 in 2016, although Indonesian waters remained the most dangerous in the world; in 2016, 45 commercial vessels were boarded and one hijacked; during 2016 37 crew members were taken hostage; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift; Indonesia remains the most dangerous area during the first half of 2017 with more than 20% of all incidents reported world-wide

Indonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of establishing stable fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of its neighbors; three stretches of land borders with Timor-Leste have yet to be delimited, two of which are in the Oecussi exclave area, and no maritime or Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries have been established between the countries; all borders between Indonesia and Australia have been agreed upon bilaterally, but a 1997 treaty that would settle the last of their maritime and EEZ boundary has yet to be ratified by Indonesia's legislature; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and Cartier Reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain catches; land and maritime negotiations with Malaysia are ongoing, and disputed areas include the controversial Tanjung Datu and Camar Wulan border area in Borneo and the maritime boundary in the Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalizing their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; maritime delimitation talks continue with Palau; EEZ negotiations with Vietnam are ongoing, and the two countries in Fall 2011 agreed to work together to reduce illegal fishing along their maritime boundary

illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; producer of methamphetamine and ecstasy; President WIDODO's war on drugs has led to an increase in death sentences and executions, particularly of foreign drug traffickers