DEMOGRAPHICS
General Information
Population – 261 mil. people (4th in the world). It is the most populous country in Southeast Asia.
The average annual population growth rate over the decade from 2010 to 2020 was 1,25%.
The age structure of the population – characteristic of developing countries: a high proportion of youth.
The median age of an Indonesian resident is 31 years. 23,3% of Indonesians are under 15 years old, 70,7% – aged 15-65, and 6% – over 65 years old.
The sex ratio indicator – 1,02 men per one woman.
Population density – 152 people per sq. km. The population is distributed unevenly: 56,1% of Indonesians live on the island of Java, which constitutes less than 7% of the territory. The share of the urban population is 44%.
To ensure a more even distribution of the population across the country's territory, the Indonesian authorities have been implementing a large-scale transmigration program since 1950 – the resettlement of residents from densely populated areas (Java, Madura, Bali) to sparsely populated islands (Kalimantan, New Guinea, Moluccas). Within the framework of this program, by the beginning of the 2000s, at least 5,5 mil. people had been resettled, almost half of whom – in the 1970s – 1980s.
Ethnic and Confessional Composition
Ethnic Composition
More than 300 ethnic groups live in Indonesia. The largest group – Javanese (42% of the population). Other large groups living in the country: Sundanese (15,4%), Malays (4,1%), Chinese (about 4%), Madurese (3,3%), Batak (3%), Bugis (2,9%), Minangkabau (2,7%).
Confessional Composition
The main religions – Islam (86,1%) and Christianity (Protestants – 5,7%, Catholics – 3%). Also living in the country are Hindus (1,8%, predominantly in Bali), Buddhists (part of the Chinese community) and adherents of other faiths.
State Language
According to the Constitution of Indonesia, the state language is Indonesian (a branch of the Malay language), which is used in official documents, education, and interethnic communication. Although about 20% of the population consider it their native language, more than 90% of citizens speak it as a second language.
Over 700 languages and dialects, predominantly of the Austronesian family, are spoken in the country. Local languages are actively used in daily life and regional administration, especially in provinces with high ethnic identity.
The most common local languages of Indonesia include: Javanese (98 mil. speakers), Sundanese (42 mil. speakers), Madurese (14 mil. speakers), Minangkabau (6,5 mil. speakers).