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Indonesia
Physical. Indonesia
is an archipelago of 6,000 inhabited islands including Sumatra, Java, Timor and
Bali, and is located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It covers
an area almost three times the size of Texas. The climate is tropical, hot and
humid, with moderate conditions in the highlands. Indonesia’s terrain consists
mostly of coastal lowlands while larger islands generally have interior
mountains. The country’s many natural resources include petroleum, tin, natural
gas, nickel, timber, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold and silver.
People. Over 238.4
million people live in Indonesia. Bahasa Indonesia is the official language
while English, Dutch and local languages (primarily Javanese) are spoken as
well. Ethnically, the country consists of: Javanese (45%) Sudanese (14%) and
Madurese and coastal Malays (7.5% each). Islam (88%) is the primary religion
with smaller proportions of Protestantism (5%) Roman Catholicism (3%) Hinduism
(2%) and Buddhism (1%).
Government. General
Suharto ruled Indonesia as dictator from 1966 to 1998. Following massive
protests in May 1998, Suharto resigned. Since then there have been three
presidents. While East Timor voted for independence in a peaceful election in
1999, the reaction from anti-independents and government troops was brutal.
Australia sent in troops to prevent a complete blood bath. Eventually East Timor
gained its independence, but Indonesia’s response to the rampage was
ineffectual. Violence also broke out in Borneo in 1999.
Current president Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono is the first directly elected president as of October 2004.
Like his predecessors, he has tried to jump-start the economy and clean up the
governmental corruption left by Suharto.
Economy. Three
quarters of the population live in rural areas. More than half of the people
engage in fishing and small plot rice and vegetable farming. The average income
per person is only about $3,000 a year. Another factor affecting the economy is
the amount of government debt. Indonesia has borrowed more money than any other
country in Asia. The country must allocate 40% of its national budget just to
pay interest on its loans. Although rich in oil reserves, it has taken huge
loans to help extract these resources. Transportation and communication in this
archipelago of over 17,000 islands (uninhabited as well as inhabited) is a
challenge. With 2.3 million new Indonesians entering the labor force every year
and half the population under 20, the country is dedicated to making serious
efforts to increase employment opportunities.
Areas of Concern.
Environmental concerns include water and air pollution, particularly due to
Indonesia’s forest fires and overpopulation. Violence in Borneo and East Timor
or the possibility of future violence (due to overpopulation, poverty, ethnic
conflict, unemployment and/or distrust of the government) is of concern.
Government debt hampers attempts to improve the economy. Repatriation problems
exist for Papua New Guinea and East Timor refugees. There are maritime boundary
disputes with Australia.
Indonesia statistics
Geography
Area: 740,903
Capital: Jakarta (pop 11,429,000)
Environmental concerns: deforestation; sewage; air and water pollution; smoke
and haze from forest fires
Geographical features: 6,000 inhabited islands with mostly coastal lowlands;
larger islands have interior mountains
Climate: tropical hot and humid; more moderate in the highlands
People.
238,452,952 people; Javanese (45%); Sundanese (14%); Madurese (7.5%); coastal
Malays (7.5%)
Annual growth rate: 1.49%
Major languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English,
Dutch, local dialects the most widely spoken of which is Javanese
Religions: Muslim (88%); Protestant (5%); Roman Catholic (3%); Hindu (2%) (1998)
Health and social issues
Life expectancy: Men, 66.8 years; women, 71.8 years
Infant mortality: 36.82 deaths per 1000 live births
27% of the population in poverty
1 physician per 6,570 people
HIV/AIDS rate in adults: less than 0.1%
87.9% of adults are literate
Compulsory education (ages): 7-16
Communication and transportation
7,750,000 main telephone lines (2002)
8,000,000 Internet users (2002)
212,474 miles of highway (1999)
3,875 miles of railroad
661 airfields (2003 est.)
4,800,000 motor vehicles
Government
Indonesia is a republic that declared its independence the Netherlands August
17, 1945; recognized by the Netherlands on December 27, 1949
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is both head of state and government
5 major political parties
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Military
Military expenditures: 1.3% of GDP
Current disputes: territorial disputes with Malaysia
Economy
Currency: rupiahs
Per capita GDP: $3,200
GDP: $758.8 billion
GDP growth rate: 4.1%
Inflation rate: 6.6%
Labor force: agriculture (45%); industry (16%): services (39%)
Resources and industry
Natural resources: petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper,
fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Agriculture: rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil,
copra, poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Industry: petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear, mining,
cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism
Exports: $63.89 billion
Imports: $40.22 billion
Suggested web sites
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook
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