Ethnic groups in Indonesia

Ethnic Groups in Indonesia

Indonesia, officially known as the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. It is the world's largest island country, with more than seventeen thousand islands, and at 1,904,569 square kilometers, the 14th largest by land area. With over 267 million people, it is the world's 4th most populous country as well as the most populous Muslim-majority country. The country's capital, Jakarta, is the second-most populous urban area in the world. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and the eastern part of Malaysia.

Ethnic Groups

Indonesia is a diverse country with significant ethnic diversity. The country has over 1,300 ethnic groups, each with its own unique languages and cultures. The largest ethnic group in Indonesia is the Javanese, who make up about 40% of the total population. The Sundanese, Malay, and Madurese are the next largest groups in the country.

Javanese

The Javanese are the largest ethnic group in Indonesia, primarily inhabiting the central and eastern parts of the island of Java. They are known for their rich cultural traditions, including batik making, wayang puppet theatre, and gamelan music.

Sundanese

The Sundanese are the second largest ethnic group in Indonesia, primarily inhabiting the western part of the island of Java. They have a distinct culture from the Javanese and are known for their angklung musical instrument and wayang golek puppet theatre.

Malay

The Malay are an ethnic group primarily inhabiting the eastern part of Sumatra and the coastal areas of Kalimantan. They are known for their traditional dances and music, as well as their wood carving and weaving skills.

Madurese

The Madurese are an ethnic group primarily inhabiting the island of Madura and eastern Java. They are known for their bull racing tradition and their music and dance.

Languages

Indonesia recognizes over 700 languages, with Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) as the official national language. It is a standardized form of Malay, which was used in the archipelago, influenced by all the languages of Indonesia.

Religion

The majority of Indonesians are Muslim, with substantial Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, and Confucian minorities. The Indonesian constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but the government only recognizes six religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.

See Also

• Demographics of Indonesia
• Culture of Indonesia
• Religion in Indonesia