Indonesia 
Quick answerIndonesia is a country in South-Eastern Asia, with a population of 290,125,073 (2026). Its capital is Jakarta, its official language is Indonesian, and its currency is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR). It covers 1,904,569 square kilometres (735,358 square miles), and its time zone is Asia/Jakarta.
Indonesia is the world's fourth-most populous country, home to about 290 million people. Its capital is Jakarta, its official language is Indonesian, and its currency is the rupiah.
Key facts
| Capital | Jakarta |
|---|---|
| Population | 290,125,073 (2026) · 290.1 million |
| Population density | 160.2 people per km² (land area) |
| Area | 1,904,569 km² (735,358 sq mi) total · 1,811,569 km² (699,450 sq mi) land |
| Official language | Indonesian (official) |
| Currency | Indonesian rupiah (IDR, Rp) |
| Time zones | Asia/Jakarta, Asia/Makassar, Asia/Jayapura |
| Government | Unitary presidential republic |
| Coastline | 54,716 km |
| Highest point | Puncak Jaya, 4,884 m |
| Life expectancy | 71.3 years (2024) |
| Calling code | +62 |
| Driving side | Left |
| Internet domain | .id |
Overview
Indonesia sits in South-East Asia, between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, and stretches across more than 13,000 islands — the largest archipelago in the world. It covers 1,904,569 square kilometres, making it the 14th-largest country by area, and its 54,716 kilometres of coastline run along islands from Sumatra in the west to New Guinea in the east. The country's highest point is Puncak Jaya, at 4,884 metres on the island of New Guinea, while most Indonesians live on Java, the most heavily populated island in the world.
About 290.1 million people lived in Indonesia in 2026, making it the fourth-most populous country in the world and the country with the largest Muslim population. Around 59 per cent of Indonesians live in towns and cities, and the capital, Jakarta, anchors a metropolitan area of nearly 42 million people, one of the largest in the world. Indonesian is the official language, but more than 700 local languages are spoken across the islands, and life expectancy at birth reached 71.3 years in 2024.
Indonesia is a unitary presidential republic that became independent from the Netherlands in 1945. It is made up of 38 provinces, some with special autonomy, and its national motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika — 'unity in diversity' — reflects its hundreds of ethnic groups. The country is famous for the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan, the Komodo dragon, and the beaches of Bali, and its economy is the largest in South-East Asia, built on services, manufacturing, farming and natural resources.
The country's culture is as varied as its islands: Javanese gamelan music, Balinese dance, Toraja funeral rituals and the batik cloth that UNESCO listed as a cultural heritage in 2009. Indonesia's wildlife is equally varied — it is one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, home to orangutans, Komodo dragons and the giant Rafflesia flower.
Notable facts
- Indonesia's population was 290,125,073 in 2026, making it the fourth-most populous country in the world.
- Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state, spread across between 13,000 and 17,000 islands.
- More than half of all Indonesians live on Java, the most heavily populated island in the world.
- The Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard, is one of Indonesia's officially designated national animals.
- Life expectancy at birth in Indonesia was 71.3 years in 2024, according to the World Bank.
How Indonesia compares
Comparison table — Indonesia next to 3 similar countries (neighbours first, then the same subregion).
| Country | Population | Area | Density | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia ★ | 290,125,073 (2026) | 1,904,569 km² | 160.2 people per km² | Jakarta |
| Thailand | 65,975,198 (2024) | 513,120 km² | 129.1 people per km² | Bangkok |
| Vietnam | 102,300,000 (2025) | 331,345 km² | 329.9 people per km² | Hanoi |
| Australia | 27,801,023 (2025) | 7,692,024 km² | 3.6 people per km² | Canberra |
Cities in Indonesia
See all 4 cities in Indonesia →
- Jakarta 11,010,514 people (2025) · Capital Known for National Monument (Monas)
- Surabaya 3,003,860 people (2025) Known for City of Heroes
- Bandung 2,528,163 people (2023) Known for Paris of Java
- Medan 2,486,283 people (2024) Known for Maimun Palace
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Indonesia?
The capital of Indonesia is Jakarta. It is also the country's largest city, with about 11 million people inside the special capital region (2025) and about 41.9 million in the wider Jabodetabek metropolitan area. Jakarta sits on the north-west coast of Java and is home to the National Monument, the old town of Kota Tua and the ASEAN headquarters.
What is the population of Indonesia?
Indonesia had a population of 290,125,073 in 2026, making it the fourth-most populous country in the world, after India, China and the United States. About 59 per cent of Indonesians live in towns and cities. More than half of the population lives on Java, while the other islands — Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and New Guinea — are less crowded.
What language is spoken in Indonesia?
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia and is spoken by almost everyone in the country. It is a standardised form of Malay and serves as the common language between the country's hundreds of ethnic groups. More than 700 local languages are also spoken, including Javanese, Sundanese, Balinese and Batak.
What currency is used in Indonesia?
Indonesia uses the Indonesian rupiah (IDR, symbol Rp). Banknotes come in denominations up to 100,000 rupiah, and coins are used for small amounts. Cash is still common in markets and small shops, but cards and mobile payments are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and larger stores in the cities.
Where is Indonesia?
Indonesia is in South-East Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It shares the island of Borneo with Malaysia and Brunei, the island of New Guinea with Papua New Guinea, and the island of Timor with Timor-Leste. Its thousands of islands stretch across the Equator, from Sumatra in the west to New Guinea in the east.
What time zone is Indonesia in?
Indonesia spans three time zones: Western Indonesia Time (WIB, UTC+7) on Java, Sumatra and western Kalimantan; Central Indonesia Time (WITA, UTC+8) on Bali, Sulawesi and eastern Kalimantan; and Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT, UTC+9) on New Guinea and Maluku. The IANA names are Asia/Jakarta, Asia/Makassar and Asia/Jayapura. There is no daylight saving time.
Quick quiz
Three questions from the facts on this page. No sign-up, no score is saved.
Keep exploring
- Jakarta — capital of Indonesia
- Surabaya — city in Indonesia
- Bandung — city in Indonesia
- Medan — city in Indonesia
- Malaysia — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Papua-new-guinea — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Timor-leste — neighbouring country (page coming soon)
- Thailand — another country in South-Eastern Asia
- Vietnam — another country in South-Eastern Asia
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
- Wikipedia — Indonesia
- World Bank, World Development Indicators
- mledoze/countries (skeleton: area, borders, capital, languages, currency, demonym, calling code, landlocked, coordinates, region, tld)
- Wikipedia — List of countries and dependencies by length of coastline
- Statistics Indonesia (BPS)
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.