1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Introduction
Background
Indonesia declared its independence in 1945 from the Netherlands, a claim disputed, then recognized by the Dutch in 1949. In 1975 Indonesian troops occupied Portuguese East Timor. Current issues include implementing IMF-mandated reforms (particularly restructuring and recapitalizing the insolvent banking sector), effecting a transition to a popularly elected government, addressing longstanding grievances over the role of the ethnic Chinese business class and charges of cronyism and corruption, alleged human rights violations by the military, the role of the military and religion in politics, and growing pressures for some form of independence or autonomy by Aceh, Irian Jaya, and East Timor.
Geography
Area
total: 1,919,440 sq km land: 1,826,440 sq km water: 93,000 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Coastline
54,716 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
Environment--current issues
deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires
Environment--international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geographic coordinates
5 00 S, 120 00 E
Geography--note
archipelago of 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
Irrigated land
45,970 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 2,602 km border countries: Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Land use
arable land: 10% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 62% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Location
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes
Natural resources
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Terrain
mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 30% (male 33,367,287; female 32,411,786) 15-64 years: 65% (male 70,541,893; female 70,866,972) 65 years and over: 5% (male 3,936,415; female 4,983,992) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
22.78 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
8.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26%
Infant mortality rate
57.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 62.92 years male: 60.67 years female: 65.29 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83.8% male: 89.6% female: 78% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Indonesian(s) adjective: Indonesian
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
216,108,345 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
1.46% (1999 est.)
Religions
Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1998)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.57 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular--propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular--daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Lampung, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*
Capital
Jakarta
Constitution
August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia conventional short form: Indonesia local long form: Republik Indonesia local short form: Indonesia former: Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
Data code
ID
Executive branch
note: on 21 May 1998--less than three months after being selected for a seventh five-year term--President Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO resigned from office; immediately following his resignation he announced that Vice President HABIBIE would assume the presidency for the remainder of the term which expires in 2003; on 28 May 1998, HABIBIE and legislative leaders announced an agreement to select a new president in 1999 chief of state: President Bacharuddin J. HABIBIE (since 21 May 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Bacharuddin J. HABIBIE (since 21 May 1998); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet election: president and vice president selected by consensus by the People's Consultative Assembly for five-year terms; selection last held 10 March 1998 (next to be held by 10 November 1999) election results: Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO selected president by consensus by the People's Consultative Assembly; Bacharuddin J. HABIBIE selected vice president by consensus by the People's Consultative Assembly; note--Vice President HABIBIE assumed the presidency after SOEHARTO's resignation
Flag description
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red
Government type
republic
Independence
17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December 1949, Indonesia became legally independent from the Netherlands)
International organization participation
APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador DORODJATUN Kuntoro-Jakti chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador J. Stapleton ROY embassy: Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Jakarta mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, APO AP 96520 consulate(s) general: Surabaya
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung), the judges are appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: Golkar (de facto ruling political Indonesia Democracy Party or PDI (federation of former Nationalist chairman]
Legal system
based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (500 seats; 425 elected by popular vote, 75 are appointed military representatives; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 May 1997 (next to be held 7 June 1999) election results: percent of vote by party--Golkar 74.5%, PPP 22.43%, PDI 3.07%; seats by party--Golkar 325, PPP 89, PDI 11 note: the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus 200 indirectly selected members; it meets every five years to elect the president and vice president and to approve the broad outlines of national policy
National holiday
Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Suffrage
17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Economy
Agriculture--products
rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra; poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Budget
revenues: $35 billion (of which $15 billion is from international financial institutions) expenditures: $35 billion, including capital expenditures of $12 billion (FY98/99 est.)
Currency
Indonesian rupiah (Rp)
Debt--external
$136 billion (yearend 1997 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$43 billion from IMF program and other official external financing (1997-2000)
Economy--overview
The collapse of the rupiah in late 1997 and early 1998 caused GDP to contract by an estimated 13.7% in 1998 because of Indonesian firms' reliance on short-term dollar-denominated debt and high levels of nonperforming loans in the banking sector. The Indonesian Government initially wavered on meeting the conditions it agreed to in exchange for a $42 billion IMF assistance package, contributing to further loss in investor confidence and outflows of capital. Riots that in many cases targeted ethnic Chinese business owners also set back chances that Indonesia would quickly stabilize its financial crisis and contributed to President SOEHARTO's resignation on 21 May 1998. His successor, B.J. HABIBIE, improved cooperation with the IMF. The money supply--which expanded rapidly early in the year to prop up banks hit by deposit runs--was tightened within a few months, and by October, inflation--which reached a 77% annual rate--was significantly dampened. The government also announced a bank recapitalization program in late 1998, but by early 1999 the plan faced growing challenges over its reliance on public funds. Doubts about whether the program is adequate underlie forecasts of continued--although much less severe--GDP contraction for 1999. Signs of spreading unrest and sectarian violence and concern that social instability will increase as the 7 June 1999 national election approaches also contribute to pessimism about the economy, particularly because foreign investors remain reluctant to begin to increase capital inflows again. The next government will face the challenge of establishing a macroeconomic policy framework that addresses longstanding grievances and inequities underlying much of the current unrest without hampering an economic recovery.
Electricity--consumption
66.8 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
66.8 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 82.34% hydro: 14.97% nuclear: 0% other: 2.69% (1996)
Exchange rates
Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1--8,714.3 (January 1999), 10,013.6 (1998), 2,909.4 (1997), 2,342.3 (1996), 2,248.6 (1995), 2,160.8 (1994)
Exports
$49 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities
garments 7.9%, textiles 7.3%, gas 6.4%, electrical appliances 5.9%, pulp and paper 5.3%, oil 4.7%, plywood 4.7%
Exports--partners
Japan 18%, EU 15%, US 14%, Singapore 13%, South Korea 5%, Hong Kong 4%, China 3.9%, Taiwan 3.4% (1998 est.)
Fiscal year
1 April--31 March
GDP
purchasing power parity--$602 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 18.8% industry: 40.3% services: 40.9% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$2,830 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
-13.7% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 28.3% (1995)
Imports
$24 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities
manufactures 75.3%, raw materials 9.0%, foodstuffs 7.8%, fuels 7.7%
Imports--partners
Japan 20%, US 13%, Germany 9%, Singapore 9%, Australia 6.4%, South Korea 5.4%, Taiwan 3.4%, China 3.1% (1998 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
-13.7% (1998 est.)
Industries
petroleum and natural gas; textiles, apparel, and footwear; mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood; rubber; food; tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
77% (1998 est.)
Labor force
87 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 41%, trade, restaurant, and hotel 19.8%, manufacturing 14%, construction 4.8%, transport and communications 4.75%, other 15.65% (1997)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
15%-20% (1998 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 618, FM 38, shortwave 0
Radios
28.1 million (1992 est.)
Telephone system
domestic service fair, international service good domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net; domestic satellite communications system international: satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Telephones
1,276,600 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations
41 (of which 18 are government-owned and 23 are commercial) (1997)
Televisions
11.5 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
443 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 125 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 41 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 30 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 318 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 282 (1998 est.)
Heliports
4 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 342,700 km paved: 158,670 km unpaved: 184,030 km (1997 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 587 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,707,004 GRT/3,701,001 DWT ships by type: bulk 37, cargo 348, chemical tanker 8, container 20, liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 116, passenger 9, passenger-cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11, short-sea passenger 7, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 5 (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; natural gas 1,703 km (1989) Ports and harbors: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Semarang, Surabaya, Ujungpandang
Railways
total: 6,458 km narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (101 km electrified; 101 km double track); 497 km 0.750-m gauge (1995)
Waterways
21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Sulawesi (Celebes) 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$959.7 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
1% (FY97/98)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 61,087,521 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 35,804,125 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 2,268,638 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
Indonesian sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province), which is not recognized by the UN, is the subject of discussions between the UN, Indonesia, and Portugal; two islands in dispute with Malaysia
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; possible growing role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin