Country name conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia
conventional short form: Indonesia
local long form: Republik Indonesia
former: Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
local short form: Indonesia Background Indonesia is the world"s largest archipelago; it achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1949. Current issues include: alleviating widespread poverty, implementing IMF-mandated reforms of the banking sector, effecting a transition to a popularly-elected government after four decades of authoritarianism, addressing charges of cronyism and corruption, holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations, and resolving growing separatist pressures in Aceh and Papua.Location Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean Area total: 1,919,440 sq km
water: 93,000 sq km
land: 1,826,440 sq km Area - comparative slightly less than three times the size of Texas Coastline 54,716 km Climate tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands Terrain mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m Natural hazards occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, forest fires Environment - current issues deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires Geography - note archipelago of more than 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean Population 234,893,453 (July 2003 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 29.7% (male 35,437,274; female 34,232,824)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 76,743,613; female 76,845,245)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 5,086,465; female 6,548,032) (2003 est.) Median age total: 25.8 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 26.2 years (2002) Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.) Nationality noun: Indonesian(s)
adjective: Indonesian Ethnic groups Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26% Religions Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1998) Languages Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese Internet country code .id Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.5%
male: 92.9%
female: 84.1% (2003 est.) Government type republic National holiday Independence Day, 17 August (1945) Legal system based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction International organization participation APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Economy - overview Indonesia, a vast polyglot nation, faces severe economic development problems stemming from secessionist movements and the low level of security in the regions; the lack of reliable legal recourse in contract disputes; corruption; weaknesses in the banking system; and strained relations with the IMF. Investor confidence will remain low and few new jobs will be created under these circumstances. In November 2001, Indonesia agreed with the IMF on a series of economic reforms in 2002, thus enabling further IMF disbursements. Negotiations with the IMF and bilateral donors continued in 2002. Keys to future growth remain internal reform, the build-up of the confidence of international donors and investors, and a strong comeback in the global economy. Exports - partners Japan 21.1%, US 13.2%, Singapore 9.4%, South Korea 7.2%, China 5.1%, Taiwan 4.2% (2002) Currency Indonesian rupiah (IDR) Currency code IDR Exchange rates Indonesian rupiahs per US dollar - 9,311.19 (2002), 10,260.8 (2001), 8,421.77 (2000), 7,855.15 (1999), 10,013.6 (1998) Airports 631 (2002) Airports - with paved runways total: 153
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 48
under 914 m: 43 (2002)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 46 Airports - with unpaved runways total: 478
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 450 (2002) Disputes - international East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee continues to meet regularly to survey and delimit land boundary; East Timor refugees delay return from camps in Indonesia; maritime delimitations with Australia and East Timor await further discussions; ICJ awarded Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia in 2002; Indonesian secessionists, squatters and illegal migrants create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea |
