General Facts
Indonesia is the fourth populous nation in the world, inhabited by more than 270 million people. It is an archipelago country, consisting of more than 17,000 islands, 1,340 ethnic groups, and 718 local languages. When it comes to religion, this country is also quite diverse, with six recognized official religions and 190 local beliefs. Islam has the major believers of approximately 87% of the total population, followed by Christians, Hindu, and Buddhism. Its diversity translates into the rich culture in which you can endlessly explore.
For further details about the general facts of Indonesia, read General Facts on this website.
Weather & Time Zones
Situated in the equator, Indonesia boasts a tropical climate with only two seasons, dry and wet seasons. Such comfortable conditions give you the advantage of traveling as you don’t need to prepare many types of clothes and face extreme weather. The dry season is usually the most pleasant time to visit Indonesia as the weather is warmer.
Due to the difference in the length of the longitude, Indonesia is classified into three different time zones: Western Indonesia Time (WIB), Central Indonesia Time (WITA), and Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT).
For further details about the weather and time zones in Indonesia, as well as some advice before you travel to Indonesia, read the article Weather & Time Zones on this website.
Cities & Regions
Archipelagic Indonesia consists of six geographical regions; Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra, Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, Maluku & Western New Guinea. More than 17,000 small islands constitute the entire country, extending 5,150 kilometers (3,200 miles) east to west, between the Indian and Pacific Oceans in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia has 34 provinces, one of which is the Special District of Jakarta, where the capital city, Jakarta, is located. There are two regions that hold special district status: the Special District of Yogyakarta and Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.
For details about the cities and regions in Indonesia, visit Cities & Regions on this website.
Common Phrases
Indonesian or often called Bahasa Indonesia is the official national language. While you are in the country, it is better to memorize the common phrases of Bahasa Indonesia for basic information and delivering basic expression. Learning some of them facilitates you to get more precise information from the natives and becomes a token of your genuine interest and respect for local people.
For understanding the most common phrases of Bahasa Indonesia and the usage, proceed reading Common Phrases on this website.