Demographics
With over 200 million people, Indonesia is the fourth-most populous nation in the world. Over 75% of Indonesians live on Java and Sumatra, which together represent only a fraction of the country’s total land mass. The Javanese and Sundanese, Indonesia’s largest and most politically influential ethnic groups, live in Java. The Islamic Bugis and the Torajans inhabit Sulawesi; the Acehnese, Batak, and Minangkabau people live in Sumatra. The Balinese, known for their flourishing arts and dedication to Hinduism, host Indonesia’s most popular tourist destination.
One of over 300 languages and dialects spoken in the country, Bahasa Indonesia unites the population. Closely related to the Malay trade dialect, Bahasa Indonesia is relatively easy to learn; the language ...more
ISLAMAbout 88% of Indonesians practice Islam, making the country home to the world’s largest Muslim population. Originally spread through trade, Islam has proven an important political force in Indonesia ...more
Indonesia’s rich natural environment—which includes 10% of the world’s forest cover and the third-largest tropical rain forest has suffered terrible environmental abuses due to industrialization ...more
As an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, Indonesia boasts the largest diversity of marine life in the world and sustains 17% of the world’s bird species. Ecologists classify the fauna of the islands ...more
HINDU-BUDDHIST KINGDOMS (AD 600-1478)Indonesian history begins with the Shrivijaya Kingdom, which gained power by controlling trade routes. Simultaneously, a succession of neighboring kingdoms in Central ...more
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICSIn March 1998, economic crisis caused by currency devaluation and stringent IMF regulations resulted in factory closings, bank liquidations, withdrawal of foreign investment, and ...more
Adat, or common law, explains many Indonesian customs. Adat, originally rooted in religion and adapted over many years, is one of the few things that diverse Indonesians have in common. Though unwritten ...more
Two words describe Indonesian dishes: deep fried. Travelers will often encounter the term “goreng,” which means “fried.” Warungs (foodstalls) offer the tastiest and cheapest food ...more
BATIK AND OTHER CRAFTSBatik, a world-renowned textile art of producing intricate patterns, often with animal motifs, is common throughout Southeast Asia. Originally done by hand, batik tulis is now made ...more
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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