Ten Fun Facts about Indonesia
Indonesia’s 17,000-plus islands are a haven for biodiversity, multiculturalism and volcanic activity. Keen to learn more about the idyllic island nation? From surprising football stats to rare flora, we’ve got plenty of fun facts about Indonesia up our sleeve. Roll on your next pub quiz…
1. Indonesia and Monaco have almost identical flags
Both feature the same simple design of a red and white band. The only difference? Their dimensions: Monaco’s flag has shorter proportions. Indonesia’s flag was adopted in August 1945 after the country achieved independence from the Netherlands; the red represents courage, while the white represents purity. These colours were first associated with the 13th century Majapahit Empire in Java.
2. There are over 700 languages spoken in Indonesia
This makes it the second-most linguistically diverse country in the world (behind Papua New Guinea). Although the official national language is Bahasa Indonesia – spoken by over 90% of the population – it’s mostly spoken as a second language. Most Indonesians are bilingual or even multilingual. Pretty impressive, right? Other languages include Javanese, which is the most widely spoken native language (by over 30% of the population), followed by Sundanese and Madurese.
3. Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago
The Southeast Asian nation consists of over 17,000 islands dotted across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, of which approximately 6,000 are inhabited. Based on the total land area, it’s the 14th largest country in the world. Indonesia’s five main islands are Sumatra, New Guinea, Sulawesi, Java and Kalimantan (Borneo).
Image by Igor Tichonow/stock.adobe.com
4. Indonesia was ruled by the Netherlands until 1945
During its colonial rule (between 1602 and 1945), Indonesia was known as the Dutch East Indies. The Indonesian Declaration of Independence was created on 17 August 1945. Following this proclamation, the Dutch tried to reassert control over the nation, leading to the Indonesian National Revolution between 1945 and 1949.
5. Indonesia was the first Asian country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup
The Dutch East Indies (as Indonesia was then known) participated in the 1938 tournament held in France. Despite making history, Indonesia lost six–nil to Hungary in the first round. Ouch. Due to the outbreak of World War Two the following year, the 1938 tournament was the last to occur for 12 years.
6. Komodo dragons are endemic to Indonesia
Known for their ruthless killing tactics and fearsome appearances, the largest living lizard species is one of Indonesia’s most iconic animals. They even have an island named after them: Komodo Island, which is home to the largest population of dragons. These large lizards love the hot climate of Indonesia’s islands and can be found elsewhere in the UNESCO-protected Komodo National Park, on islands including Padar and Rinca.
Image by Robertus Pudyanto/Zuma REA
7. Indonesia is home to the world’s largest individual flower
Incredibly, the Rafflesia arnoldii flower can reach over three feet wide and weigh up to ten kilograms. When in bloom, it emits a foul scent akin to rotting flesh – which has earned it the nickname ‘corpse flower’. This stinky species is a parasitic plant that lives inside Tetrastigma vines – when blooming, it attracts flesh-loving flies that pollinate the flower. This rare and endangered flower is only found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia.
8. Java is the world’s most populous island
Over 150 million people live on the island of Java – that’s over half of Indonesia’s total population and more than the Philippines’ entire population. Java is also home to the country’s capital, Jakarta, which (surprise, surprise) is Indonesia’s most populous city.
9. Indonesia sits on both sides of the equator
The equator passes through Sumatra, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sulawesi and the Maluku Islands, meaning that Indonesia straddles both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Thanks to its distinct equatorial location, the island nation has little seasonal variations, including limited changes in daylight hours and a year-round tropical climate and rich biodiversity.
10. There are around 130 active volcanoes in Indonesia
Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a 25,000-mile-long belt of volcanoes and sites of seismic activity circling the Pacific Ocean. Among the nation’s notable volcanoes are Mount Tambora – the site of the biggest eruption in history – and Java’s Mount Merapi – Indonesia’s most active volcano and one the most dangerous in the world.
Image by Kristian Cabanis/VISUM REA
