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Country Guide > South-East Asia > Indonesia | |
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General Information Area 1,922,570 sq km (742,308 sq miles).
Population 217,131,000 (UN estimate 2002). Population Density 112.9 per sq km. Capital Jakarta (Java). Population: 11,429,400 (UN estimate 2001). Geography Indonesia lies between the mainland of South-East Asia and Australia in the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is the world’s largest archipelago state. Indonesia is made up of five main islands – Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Kalimantan (part of the island of Borneo) and Irian Jaya (the western half of New Guinea) – and 30 smaller archipelagos. In total, the Indonesian archipelago consists of about 17,500 islands; 6000 of these are inhabited and stretch over 4828km (3000 miles), most lying in a volcanic belt with more than 300 volcanoes, the great majority of which are extinct. The landscape varies from island to island, ranging from high mountains and plateaux to coastal lowlands and alluvial belts. Government Republic. Declared independence from the Netherlands in 1945. Head of State and Government: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono since 2004. Language Bahasa Indonesia is the official national language. It is similar to Malay and written in the Roman alphabet. All together, there are an estimated 583 languages and dialects spoken in the archipelago. Many local languages are further divided by special forms of address depending on social status, and all languages are spoken in a variety of local dialects. English is the most widely used foreign language for business and tourism, and many people in the more remote areas have a basic command of English. The older generation still speaks Dutch as a second language and French is spoken at some of the better hotels and restaurants. Religion There is a Muslim majority of approximately 90 per cent, with Christian, Hindu (mainly in Bali) and Buddhist minorities. Animist beliefs are held in remote areas. Time Indonesia spans three time zones: Bangka, Balitung, Java, West and Central Kalimantan, Madura and Sumatra: GMT + 7 (West), GMT + 8 (Central), GMT + 9 (East). Bali, Flores, South and East Kalimantan, Lombok, Sulawesi, Sumba, Sumbawa and Timor: GMT + 8. Aru, Irian Jaya, Kai, Moluccas and Tanimbar: GMT + 9. Electricity Generally 220 volts AC, 50Hz, but 127 volts AC, 50Hz, in some rural areas. Communications Telephone IDD is available to main cities. Country code: 62 (followed by 22 for Bandung, 21 for Jakarta, 61 for Medan and 31 for Surabaya). Outgoing international code: 00. Many hotel lobbies have public phones which take credit cards and phone cards. State-operated phone booths (WARTEL), which work on a pay-as-you-leave basis, can be found throughout the country. For emergencies, dial 110 (police) or 118 (ambulance for traffic accidents) or 119 (ambulance for general health) or 113 (fire department). Mobile telephone GSM 900 and 1800 networks. Main operators include Excelcom (website: www.excelcom.co.id), Lippo Telecom (website: www.lippotel.com) and Telkomsel (website: www.telkomsel.com). Coverage may be limited to main towns and cities. Fax Faxes can be sent and received from WARTEL shops. Internet ISPs include Indobiz (website: www.indobiz.com) and Indosat (website: www.indosatm2.com). There are Internet cafes in all major cities and tourist destinations. Telegram These can be sent from any telegraphic office; in Jakarta facilities are available 24 hours a day, but services outside Jakarta are less efficient. Post Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 10 days. Internal mail is fast and generally reliable by the express service (Pos KILAT), but mail to the outer islands can be subject to considerable delays. Press There are several English-language newspapers in Jakarta and on the other islands, notably Bali Post, Indonesian Observer, Jakarta Post and The Indonesia Times. Radio BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. |
