INDONESIA

also known as “The emerald of the equator”

Indonesia is a large country that located between two continents, the continents of Asia and
Australia. It is also located between two oceans, the Indian and Pacific oceans.

In addition, Indonesia is an archipelago, consisting of thousands of islands. So that makes

Indonesia is rich in natural and cultural wealth. That is why Indonesia is called as the emerald of
the equator.

As one of the world’s most diverse countries, diversity is a central feature of Indonesian culture.
It has 300 ethnic groups; 750 languages and dialects, with several local languages having their
own scripts; and numerous religions, as a result of the country’s unique history and geography.
The importance of diversity is embedded in the nation’s motto: Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (“Unity in
diversity”). Even though Indonesians refer to themselves by their ethnic group and speak many
local languages, they are united as a nation by Bahasa Indonesia, the official language of the
country.

Ethnicity

Ninety-five percent of over 300 ethnic groups in Indonesia are of native Indonesian ancestry.
The ethnic groups in Indonesia, in order of size, are as follows: Javanese, which makes up nearly
42% of the total population; Sundanese, 31%; Malay, 3.7%; Maduranese, 3.3%, and others,
26%. The Javanese live mostly in Java Island, but due to government transmigration programs,
millions have migrated to other islands throughout the archipelago. There are also ethnic Chinese
populations, which make up 1% of the total population. Indians and Arabs live mostly in urban
areas.

Language

Bahasa Indonesia is the official language of Indonesia. It was the Malay language mainly spoken
in the Riau islands and was later influenced by the local languages, cultures, and foreign
languages that came with trade and other religions that were brought to the country. Bahasa
Indonesia developed into a language independent of its roots, the Malay language. Even though
Bahasa Indonesia has become the lingua franca, the local languages and dialects are still spoken
by many Indonesians. To preserve the local cultures and languages, the Indonesian government,
through its Ministry of Education, established policies for the local government to teach subjects
relevant to the local cultures.

Religion

Although the country is predominantly Muslim, the government officially recognizes six
religions. Islam is the country’s dominant religion, and most Muslims practice Sunni Islam of the
Shafi’i school. Muslims make up about 88% of the Indonesian population; Christian Protestants
and Roman Catholics make up roughly 10%; and Hindus, Buddhists, and Confucians make up
2%.

Society

Indonesia is a collectivist society that puts greater importance on the group rather than on
individuals. This is the society’s way of life, and it is manifested in the form of mutual assistance
(“gotong royong”) and consultations (“musyawarah”), which occur before arriving at a
consensus (“mufakat”). The collectivist culture is also evident in the people’s long-term
commitment to their family and extended family. The members of society form strong
relationships in which everyone takes responsibility for the members of their group or clan.
Indonesia does not have social security systems or welfare systems for every citizen;
nevertheless, its collectivist culture ensures that citizens take care of one another when needed.