60 Interesting Facts About Indonesia

1. “Srivijaya” is considered the first of the known Indonesian kingdoms, lasting until about 1400 A.D.

2. The Portuguese arrived in Indonesia in the early 16th century, mainly for spices. Due to huge demand for spices in Europe at the time, profits could be made selling them. Hence, the Portuguese seized the Moluccas, the chief spice-producing region.

3. The Portuguese, however, lost their dominance over the region to the Dutch.

4. Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, the world’s third-most-populous democracy, and the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation.

5. More than 50% of the country is covered by forests.

6. Did you know that Indonesia has more volcanoes than any other country in the world? Yes, that is true. The country outranks even Japan and the United States in the tally. The country also leads the world in terms of the total number of active volcanoes.

7. The Javan rhino is an Indonesian native animal that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. An estimated 50 or fewer of these animals are in existence today.

8. Have you ever heard of Komodo dragons? This amazing animal, which can be seen in Indonesia, can eat humans. Do not worry; they are protected, as they can be seen only in the country’s national parks of Komodo Island. The dragon is named after the island. Take note that it is the world’s largest lizard.

9. Are you interested in seeing lakes that change colors? You may have to climb a volcano. There are three lakes at the top of an Indonesian volcano—Kelimutu—that change colors from turquoise to green, red and black. No-no, there isn’t a miracle behind this color change. The phenomenon happens when volcanic gases react with minerals dissolved in the water.

10. Flower lovers, pay attention here. Indonesia, is home to the world’s largest flower—Rafflesia Arnoldi. The flower can grow up to a weight of 7 kg, and its petals can be 2.5 cm thick and 0.5 m long. Amazed or not?

11. There are 504 statues of Buddha in Borobudur temple, which is the world’s largest Buddhist temple, in Indonesia. The temple is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

12. There were more than 2000 sex-workers in “Dolly” — the largest red-light district in Southeast Asia. However, it was shut down by the government in 2014.

13. Looking for gold? You may be surprised to learn that Indonesia is also home to the world’s largest Gold mine — The Grasberg Mine. The mine is also the world’s third-largest copper mine. A workforce of 19,000 to 20,000 people operates the mine.

14. Ever smelled a flower from a distance of half a mile? You have a chance to do so if you visit Indonesia. The country has the most odorous flower on Earth, Amorphophallus titanium, available on Sumatra Island. The flower, also known as “the devil’s tongue,” can grow up to an average height of two meters.

15. Mt. Tambora, one of the tallest peaks in the Indonesian archipelago, is the most explosive volcano in history. The largest eruption recorded from this volcano, which happened in 1815, was heard 1930 km away at Sumatra Island. The eruption took the lives of more than 70,000 people.

16. As per Volcanodiscovery.com, there are 147 volcanoes in Indonesia.

17. Indonesia’s flag is similar to that of Monaco; however, the size of the flags differs.

18. Kids note that the Singaporean national anthem was composed by an Indonesian – Zubair Said in 1958.

19. Jakarta, though a populous city, is devoid of any high-speed railway system, which is very strange. Some development is needed! The city also suffers from heavy traffic jams and congestion.

20. The Indonesia archipelago consists of more than 17,500 islands, a large number (approximately – 6000) of which are inhabited. The majority of the islands are yet to be named.

21. The country’s inhabitants use more than 700 languages across its span.

22. Indonesia has three time zones, while France has twelve (the maximum for any country).

23. The Garuda (mythical bird) is the national bird of Indonesia.

24. Indonesia has the largest economy in Southeast Asia.

25. Almost 17% of the population of Indonesia uses the internet.

26. Indonesia is home to the world’s thirteenth-largest island – Java. The island is home to a population of more 140 million people. And it contains more than half of the country’s population.

27. Java is the world’s most populous island.

28. “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (“Unity in Diversity” literally, “many, yet one”) is Indonesia’s national motto.

29. Indonesia is the world’s second-largest biodiverse nation.

30. The term “Indonesia” was first used by the British anthropologist J. R. Logan in 1850.

31. Homo erectus, also known as the Java Man, inhabited the Indonesian archipelago between 1.5 million years and 35,000 years ago.

32. Japan occupied Indonesia between 1942 and 1945 essentially to obtain its natural resources. It was revealed through a UN report that at least four million people died in Indonesia during this period. The cause of death, however, was famine and forced labor.

33. General Suharto, the second president of Indonesia, is believed to have amassed up to $45 billion corruptly. He was the acting president between March 12, 1967 and May 21, 1998. If the assessment about his wealth is correct, it might make him the world’s most corrupt politician of all time.

34. Indonesia is essentially known for: Komodo dragons, beaches, tigers, music and traditional puppetry.

35. The country’s people are very young despite the extensive history of the country. In Indonesia, at least 165 million people are under the age of 30.

36. More than 700 different dialects and languages are spoken in Indonesia, which makes it a highly diverse country.

37. Indonesia contains hotels where there are “ladies-only floors.” Ladies can book a room on such floors where all the caretakers and staff are women.

38. The traffic conditions in Indonesia are also difficult for a newbie to get comfortable with. Almost any space that is available on the busy roads will be taken up by motorcyclists.

39. More than 35% of the species of birds and mammals in Indonesia are endemic, making it the second country in the world after Australia to have such a fleet of native species.

40. Take a note of this fact: presently, Indonesia is also the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

41. Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of palm oil, contributing about half the world’s supply.

42. The nature of Indonesian national culture is somewhat similar to that of India.

43. An Indonesian engineer, Tjokorda Raka Sukawati, is credited with inventing a road-construction technique–Sosrobahu–that is now used by many countries across the world.

44. Indonesian cuisine has been influenced by Indian, Chinese, European and Middle Eastern cuisines.

45. According to an old Indonesian tradition, girls between the ages of 12 and 16 are isolated from the outside world and are virtually imprisoned.

46. In 1976, Indonesia became the first developing country to operate its own satellite system by launching Palapa satellite.

47. Indonesia is the world’s largest island country, followed by Madagascar and Papua New Guinea.

48. Indonesia also takes credit for being home to the world’s largest volcanic lake – Lake Toba. In length, it is over 100 km and it spans 30 km in width. It is also the largest lake in Indonesia. The lake also houses a newly formed island – Pulao Samosir.

49. Earthquakes are quite frequent in Indonesia. The country experiences between one and three earthquakes every day. However, not everyone is disastrous; most are quite mild.

50. Indonesia sees at least one volcanic eruption every year.

51. After Brazil, Indonesia has the world’s second-largest number of tropical forests.

52. After China, Indonesia is the world’s second-largest producer of instant noodles. The country is also home to the world’s largest instant noodle producer – Indofood.

53. Serving more than 300,000 passengers daily, the TransJakarta is the world’s largest bus rapid transit system.

54. In 2004, the world’s second-largest earthquake struck off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The result was a Tsunami that caused an estimated 300,000 deaths and displaced several millions more people. The force was so intense that surrounding land masses have shifted by up to 12 m.

55. According to data collected by the World Bank in 2009, almost half of the country’s population earns less than $2 per day.

56. At 4,884 meters, Puncak Jaya in Papua is Indonesia’s highest peak.

57. Indonesia has a coastline of more than 54,716 km. Remember: Australia has the world’s longest coastline, while Monaco has the world’s shortest.

58. Indonesia lies between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

59. Tourism plays a significant role in the nation’s economy. The country models itself as “Wonderful Indonesia.”

60. Barack Obama, the U.S. President, also spent part of his childhood in Indonesia.