Indonesia or Republic of Indonesia, the largest island nation in the world. It lies between the Indian and Pacific oceans off the mainland of Southeast Asia, occupying most of the Malay Archipelago. Indonesia extends some 3,200 miles (5,150 km) along the Equator and consists of nearly 13,700 islands. Celebes, Java, Sumatra, and Timor and portions of Borneo and New Guinea make up most of the country. The area is 735,358 square miles (1,904,569 km2)—roughly one-fifth that of the United States. Malaysia and Papua New Guinea are the only nations that border on Indonesia.

Separating the islands are numerous seas and straits, largest of which are the Banda, Celebes, Flores, Java, and Molucca seas. Some of the straits, especially the Strait of Malacca, are of great strategic importance.

Indonesia in brief
General information
Capital: Jakarta.
Official language: Bahasa Indonesia.
Official name: Republic of Indonesia.
National anthem: "Indonesia Raya" ("Great Indonesia").
Largest cities: (2000 census) Jakarta (8,389,443); Surabaya (2,610,477); Bandung (2,138,066); Medan (1,911,997); Palembang (1,458,664).
Symbols of Indonesia: Indonesia's flag, adopted on Independence Day, Aug. 17, 1945, has a red horizontal stripe on top and a white horizontal stripe on bottom. The red stands for courage, and the white stands for purity. The coat of arms is a golden eagle holding a ribbon that bears the national motto of Indonesia, Unity Through Diversity. The motto dates from the 1920's.
Land and climate
Land: Indonesia is made up of more than 17,500 islands that lie along the equator. About two-thirds of Indonesia's land is forested, and much of it is mountainous and volcanic.
Area: 735,358 mi2 (1,904,569 km2). Greatest distances—east-west, about 3,200 mi (5,150 km); north-south, about 1,200 mi (1,930 km). Coastline–22,888 mi (36,835 km).
Elevation: Highest—Puncak Jaya, 16,503 ft (5,030 m) above sea level. Lowest—sea level along the coasts.
Climate: Indonesia has a tropical climate, with hot, humid weather and heavy rainfall most of the year. The average temperature is 80 degrees F (27 degrees C).
Government
Legislature: House of Representatives consisting of 550 members.
Executive: President and Cabinet. The Cabinet is appointed by the president, who serves as both head of state and head of government.
Judiciary: Highest court is the Supreme Court.
Political subdivisions: 33 provinces.
People
Population: Current estimate—232,269,000. 2000 census—206,264,595.
Population density: 316 per mi2 (122 per km2).
Distribution: 52 percent rural, 48 percent urban.
Major ethnic groups: About 45 percent Javanese, 14 percent Sundanese, 8 percent Madurese, and 8 percent Malay. Smaller ethnic groups include Arabs, Balinese, Chinese, Dayaks, and Papuans.
Major Religions: About 87 percent Muslim and 10 percent Christian. The remainder are Hindu, Buddhist, or followers of local religions.
Economy
Chief products: Agriculture—bananas, cassava, coconuts, coffee, corn, hogs, palm oil, poultry and eggs, rice, rubber, sheep, spices, sweet potatoes, tea, tobacco. Fishing—shrimp, tuna. Forest industry—plywood, teak, timber. Manufacturing—cement, chemicals, cigarettes, clothing, fertilizers, footwear, processed rubber products, steel products, textiles, wood products. Mining—aluminum, bauxite, coal, copper, gold, natural gas, nickel, petroleum, silver, tin.
Money: Basic unit—Indonesian rupiah.
Foreign trade: Major exported goods—coffee, natural gas, palm oil, petroleum, rubber, tea, textiles, tobacco, wood and wood products. Major imported goods—chemicals, machinery, mineral products, transportation and electrical equipment. Main trading partners—Japan is Indonesia's most important trading partner by far. Other major partners of Indonesia include Australia, China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and the United States.