5 Facts of Indonesia

The capital of Indonesia is Jakarta

A rich culture and a idyllic landscape often comes to mind when someone thinks about Indonesia. Yet this vibrant country has many interesting facts that are not really all that well known that the potential visitor might find useful to know. Above all, they can help break some unflattering stereotypes of this diverse and unforgettable land.

5 Facts You Might Not Know

1

Indonesia is the most populous Muslim country in the world. Even though the Hindu dancers of Bali may be the most internationally recognized aspect of Indonesian culture, over 80% of the population has been of the Sunni Muslim faith since the late middle ages, when Arab traders brought their faith with them. Perhaps because the faith was brought there peacefully, Indonesia's brand of Islam is very tolerant and people of all faiths co exist there with little friction.

2

Indonesia has more Facebook users (Over 40 million) than any country on earth except for the United States,. This one was a surprise. For a country better known for a relative lack of technological sophistication when compared to the nearby 'tiger' economies of Taiwan and Singapore, the Indonesian youth have taken a great liking to Facebook. This is useful if a visitor wants to keep track of acquaintances made during a visit there, although we would ask that you exercise caution over any social network before you get to know them in person!

3

It is the largest island nation on Earth. With maritime boundaries exceeding the length of the continental United States, it is commonly known that Indonesia sports a lot of Islands. The exact number is an astounding 6,000 inhabited islands. Add the uninhabited ones, and there are over 18,000 islands in the whole archipelago.

4

Indonesia is a leader in natural biodiversity. While some readers may be familiar with some exotic species such as the Komodo dragon or the highland orangutan, very few laypeople know that Indonesia ranks second only to Brazil in estimated biodiversity. The internal rain forests of Sumatra and Borneo still contain may unclassified species awaiting discovery.

5

Badminton is the national sports obsession. While football is very popular, (just witness all 100,000 fans chanting the 'Garuda' song when the national team plays!) badminton matches are religiously followed and the top players are major celebrities.