PROFILE

Official Name:
Republic of Indonesia

Geography
Area: 2 million sq. km. (736,000 sq. mi.), about three times the size of Texas; maritime area: 7,900,000 sq. km.
Cities: Capital--Jakarta (est. 8.8 million). Other cities--Surabaya 3.0 million, Medan 2.5 million, Bandung 2.5 million.
Terrain: More than 17,500 islands; 6,000 are inhabited; 1,000 of which are permanently settled. Large islands consist of coastal plains with mountainous interiors.
Climate: Equatorial but cooler in the highlands.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Indonesian(s).
Population (July 2006 est.): 245.5 million.
Annual population growth rate (2006): 1.3%.
Ethnic groups: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, others 26%.
Religions: Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist and other 1%.
Languages: Indonesian (official), local languages, the most prevalent of which is Javanese.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Enrollment--94% of eligible primary school-age children. Literacy--90% (2005).
Health: Infant mortality rate--28/1,000 (2005). Life expectancy at birth--68 years (2005).
Work force: 94.2 million (2005 est.). Agriculture--46.5%, industry--11.8%, services--41.7%.

Government
Type: Independent republic.
Independence: August 17, 1945 proclaimed.
Constitution: 1945. Embodies five principles of the state philosophy, called Pancasila, namely monotheism, humanitarianism, national unity, representative democracy by consensus, and social justice.
Branches: Executive--president (head of government and chief of state) elected by direct popular vote. Legislative--The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which includes the 550-member House of Representatives (DPR) and the 128-member Council of Regional Representatives (DPD), both elected to five-year terms. Judicial--Supreme Court.
Suffrage: 17 years of age universal and married persons regardless of age.

Economy
GDP (2005): $281.3 billion; (2006 est.): $351.9 billion.
Annual growth rate (2005): 5.6%; (2006 est.): 5.5%.
Inflation (2005): 10.5%; (2006 est.): 6.1%.
Per capita income (2005): $3,600 (est., PPP).
Natural resources (10.4% of GDP): Oil and gas, bauxite, silver, tin, copper, gold, coal.
Agriculture (13.4% of GDP): Products--timber, rubber, rice, palm oil, coffee. Land--17% cultivated.
Manufacturing (28.1% of GDP): Garments, footwear, electronic goods, furniture, paper products.
Trade: Exports (2005)--$86.2 billion including oil, natural gas, appliances, textiles. Major exporters--Japan, U.S., China, Singapore. Imports (2005)--$63.9 billion including food, chemicals, capital goods, consumer goods. Major importers--Japan, China, Singapore, and Thailand.

PEOPLE
Indonesia's approximately 245.5 million people make it the world's fourth-most populous nation. The island of Java, roughly the size of New York State, is the most populous island in the world (124 million, 2005 est.) and one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Indonesia includes numerous related but distinct cultural and linguistic groups, many of which are ethnically Malay. Since independence, Bahasa Indonesia (the national language, a form of Malay) has spread throughout the archipelago and has become the language of most written communication, education, government, business, and media. Local languages are still important in many areas, however. English is the most widely spoken foreign language. Education is compulsory for children through grade 9. In primary school, 94% of eligible children are enrolled whereas 57% of eligible children are enrolled in secondary school.