Unique Facts | Amazing Facts about Indonesia

It’s not surprising that Indonesia’s national motto is ‘Unity in Diversity’ since there are few places in the world that offer such cultural variety and geographical complexity as Indonesia.

Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world with 18,108 islands (based on 2003 satellite imaging data), stretching along the equator for more than 5,000 km. Superimposed on the United States or Europe, Indonesia would stretch roughly from San Francisco to New York or from Madrid to Moscow. Nearly 60% of Indonesia’s land is forested and a significant portion is mountainous and volcanic. Some mountains on Sumatra and Irian Jaya exceed 3,000 metres in height. Mt Merapi, on Java, is regarded as the most volatile of Indonesia’s 500 volcanoes – 12% of which are still active!
Population

Indonesia is the fourth most heavily populated country in the world after China, India and the United States with 228 million people (2002), comprising some 300 ethnic groups who speak an estimated 583 languages and dialects. The majority is concentrated on Java , Bali and Madura (60%). A government transmigration policy resettles people on the less populated islands, and Indonesians have been alerted to the importance of only two children to a family to control the birth explosion.