Indonesia
Repubic of Indonesia Republik Indonesia Southeastern Asia AREA 734K mi2; 1.9M km2 ARABLE 13% POP 282M (381/mi2; 148/km2) GOV’T Presidential republic CAPITAL Jakarta (11.4M) GDP/CAPITA $13,900 UNEMPLOYMENT 3.4% IN POVERTY 9.4% LIFE EXP 74 years MEDIAN AGE 32 yrs INFANT MORT 19/1K live births (80th) LITERACY 96% INTERNET USERS 69% LANGUAGES Bahasa Indonesia (official, form of Malay), English, Dutch, Javanese; Indonesia has more than 700 languages and local dialects RELIGIONS Muslim 87%, Protestant 8%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, other 1% (incl Buddhist & Confucian) HEALTH 3.4% of GDP EDUCATION 3.5% of GDP (141st) MILITARY 0.8% of GDP (137th) PCVs 1963–1965, 2009–present CURRENT: 80, TTD: ±600 | ![]() Indonesia Waiting to join their fathers for noon prayers in the nearby mosque, these Javanese boys enjoyed posing for pictures. While the V gesture is almost universal today, other gestures are more specific: a thumb up with the index finger extended straight suggests "looking good," and crossed wrists near the face signals "keep smiling." After a few friendly snapshots, the boys cheerfully ran off when called to join their fathers in the mosque. The boys' hats, called songkoks or peci, are made of black felt, cotton, or velvet, and are worn by Muslim men. The songkok is also a symbol of Indonesian national identity and is seen throughout Indonesia. |
Adult Books

By David Van Reybrouck
2024
Summary:
This is a narrative nonfiction account of Indonesia’s complex, conflicted, and inspiring path to freedom. It’s a comprehensive and detailed book that reiterates and deciphers a critical chapter in Asian and global history. Despite being the fourth most populous country in the world, Indonesia often seems to float on the periphery, unknown and ignored. Before the Dutch arrived with imperial dreams in the 19th century, Indonesia was a sprawling archipelago of disparate kingdoms and sultanates. The Japanese took over during World War II but their rule was worse than Dutch colonialism. Sukarno emerged as a populist leader who unified the communists, nationalists, and Islamists, although once the colonists had been expelled, the coalition fell into disarray, leading to a cycle of violence and retribution. Sukamo was displaced by an American-sponsored coup, and another round of bloody strife followed. This historical account is punctuated by interviews with contemporary political figures. These interviews enliven and ground the historical account. Those who want to understand Asian political development and the process of decolonization will find this book a useful, important text.
Shortlisted for the Cundill History Prize • Shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize
A New Yorker Best Book of 2024 • An Economist Best Book of the Year • A Financial Times Best Book of the Year • A Marginal Revolution pick for Best Nonfiction of the Year • A Chicago Public Library Must-Read for 2024 • A Five Books Best Book of the Year • A Prospect Magazine Best Book of 2024
Kids' Books

By Janine M. Fraser; illustrated by Kim Gamble
Publisher: Australia: Angus & Robertson (Harper Collins), 2001.
Format: 72 pgs; col illus.
ISBN: 978-0-207-19914-1
Age Range: 8-12 yrs.
Summary:
Films

Film:Bu Tejo Sowan Jakarta
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Director:Andibachtiar Yusuf
Release Date: 2024
Language:Indonesian
Run Time:1 hr 33 minutes
Synopsis:
Teddy wants to get married to fulfill his mother's wishes. His mother, Bu Tejo goes on a road trip to attend his engagement party in Jakarta, carrying with her a secret that may threaten to end her son’s happiness and his relationship with his fiancée, Vanessia, who is of Chinese descent. Teddy invites the whole village to Jakarta so they can get married.
Music
Recipes
Indonesia Cultural Resources