| Indonesia (official name: Republic of Indonesia (Indonesian: Republik Indonesia) is the largest state in South East Asia & 16th largest in the world with respect to area. Indonesia is located on islands of Zondsky archipelago and is the largest island state in the world. With population of about 230 million, Indonesia takes the fourth place in the world according to this parameter (after Peoples Republic of China, India & USA). Indonesia has rich & contradicting history.
Indonesia - one of the few countries of the world, whose population has had time to change several religions within rather shortest time period. As a whole, it is the most densely populated Muslim country in the world, though the population of some islands also profess many other religions.
By its centralization, modern Indonesia, in many respects, owes much to the colonial activities of Kingdom of Netherlands, which managed to combine majority of islands under its crown in a bitter battle with Portugal, which still managed to retain its sovereignty over part of island of Timor (present-day East Timor) during the period from 1610 to 1942. Defeat of Japan during the World War II out an end to Dutch rule. Official independence of Indonesia has been proclaimed on 27 December 1949. Territorial & religious conflicts within independent Indonesia are still continuing. In 2002, Indonesia released East Timor, which it occupied in 1975.
Population - 242.97 million (4th place in the world, estimate of July 2010).
Annual gain - 1.1 % (fertility - 2.3 births per female).
Average life expectancy - 68.5 years in men & 73.6 years in women.
Ethnic composition in population - Javanese 40.6 %, Sundanese 15 %, Madurese 3.3%, & also Badui, Tenggers, Malay of Indonesia, Balinese, Minangkabau, Acehnese, Banjar, Dayak, Makassarese, Buginese, Minahasa, Galela & others (according to 2000 census).
State language is Indonesian (it is developed on the basis of Malayan language). Appreciable part of population use local languages (mostly - Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Batak).
Religions: Muslims - 86.1 %, Protestants -5.7 %, Catholics - 3 %, Hindus 1.8 %, others & undefined - 3.4 % (according to 2000 census).
Indonesia is the most densely populated Muslim country in the world. Islam followers in Indonesia is estimated to be around 190 million.
Indonesian language is official language of Republic of Indonesia & belongs to Indonesian branch of Austronesian language family.
Administrative-territorial division: 31 provinces & 2 special administrative units, with equal status of provinces - Special capital district Jakarta & Special district Yogyakarta.
Political structure:
Highest legislative body of Indonesia - People's Consultative Assembly (which meets once in five years).
Parliament - Council of People's Representatives (550 seats), works on current legislative issues.
Head of the state & government - President.
Geography of Indonesia:
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago. More than 13667 islands form the composition of archipelago: 5 main & 30 small archipelagos. Big islands are New Guinea, Kalimantan (Borneo), Sumatra, Sulawesi & Java. Other islands are of much smaller area. Country stretches on 5120 km between Asian Continent & Australia. Here, equator divides the Pacific and Indian ocean.
Indonesia is a member of so-called "Pacific Fire Ring", being a large tectonic fault. Owing to this, large & destructive earthquakes often occur on the islands. So, one of the largest earthquakes, caused by huge wave of tsunami, occurred in 2004 and as a result of which hundreds of thousands of people died. In 2010, earthquake with magnitude of 7.7 Richter Scale was also caused by Tsunami. More than 300 people died in this earthquake.
Economy of Indonesia:
Indonesia - industrially-agrarian country, with largest plantation sector and developed mining industry in Asia. Gross national product in 2009 (as per purchasing power capacity) - 969 billion dollars (16th place in the world). Per Capita GDP was 4000 dollars in 2009 (155th place in the world).
42% population is into agriculture (14 % GDP), in sphere of services - 39 % (39 % GDP), in industry - 19 % (47 % GDP).
Economy is based on extraction & refining of oil and gas (mainly for export) on Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan & in Western New Guinea (Jayapura). Petrochemical industries are controlled by state company "Pertamina". Main industrial centres: Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Palembang (petroleum and oil refining, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemical industries etc). 2/3 of the employed are engaged in flavouring and textile industries.
Irrigation is done on almost 1/3 of treated soils. Main export plantings: rubber plants (one of the leading places in the world), coconut & oil palms, tea, coffee, tobacco, cocoa, pepper, silk cotton (kapok), agave (sisal hemp); spices - nutmegs, cloves etc.; cortex of cinchona (Indonesia - main supplier in the world). Main food products: rice (staple food of population), corn, Brazilian arrowroot, sweet potato, peanut, soya & sugarcane. Indonesia has poorly developed animal husbandry. Significant value has fishery, crabs, sock lobsters, shrimps & trepangs. Indonesian industries cultivate valuable type wood.
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