The People

Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous nation. In 2000 the population of Indonesia was 206,264,595. About 60 per cent lived on Java and Madura. These two islands together are about the size of New York State but have about six times as many people. Indonesia's population density was was about 281 persons per square mile (108 per km2), more than three times that of the United States.

Of the hundreds of ethnic groups in Indonesia, the largest are the Malay peoples, who also inhabit Malaysia, the Philippines, and the Southeast Asian mainland. Malays are made up of several smaller cultural groups. The largest in Indonesia are the Javanese and the Sundanese. The Balinese are a distinct ethnic and religious minority. The immigrant Chinese community is small but economically powerful. In the cities, there are communities of Europeans, Arabs, and Africans.

Bahasa Indonesia (commonly called Indonesian), the official language, is a form of Malayan with words from various Indonesian dialects and from Sanskrit, English, Dutch, and Arabic. English, the second language of the country, is a compulsory subject in secondary schools.

Islam is the religion of 87 per cent of the people. Christians, mainly Protestants, make up the largest minority, about 10 per cent. Buddhism prevails among the Chinese, Hinduism among the Balinese. There are also mystic cults and numerous local sects.

Primary schooling begins at age seven and lasts six years. Secondary schooling also lasts six years. The literacy rate is about 80 per cent. The largest institutions of higher learning are the University of Indonesia at Jakarta, the University of Diponegoro at Semarang, and the University of Gadjah Mada at Yogyakarta.

Indonesian culture reflects the country's religious and ethnic diversity. Music and dance vary from one region to another, with the dances of the old royal courts of Java and the folk dances of Bali being the most popular. The dances represent scenes of love, battle, or adventure; many are based on ancient Hindu myths. Elaborate stone sculptures decorate Indonesia's many ancient Hindu and Buddhist temples. Traditional literature consists largely of local folk tales and Hindu and Islamic stories.