Indonesia Population

Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous state. The country is an archipelago located in an area where three parts of the earth’s crust meet. Earthquakes are a common phenomenon and the tsunami of 2004 hit Indonesia hard.

Key figures and facts

• Capital: Jakarta
• Ethnic groups: Javanese 40.1%, Sundanese 15.5%, Malaysians 3.7%, Madurese 3%, others 37.6% (2010)
• Language: Bahasa Indonesia (official language, modified Malay), English, Dutch, Javanese and other local dialects
• Religion: Muslims 87.2%, Protestants 7%, Catholics 2.9%, Hindus 1.7%, others 1.3% (2010)
• Population: 263 991,000
• Control Form: Republic
• Area: 1 910 930 km2
• Currency: Indonesian Rupiah
• GNP per capita: 11 609 PPP $
• National Day: August 17th

Indonesia’s Population

With 270,630,000 residents (2019), Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country (after China, India and the United States). Population growth was 1.1 percent in 2019. For a long time, the population increased very rapidly. From 1960 to 1982, the number of residents doubled and amounted to 154.4 million in 1982. The population passed 200 and 250 million in 1997 and 2013 respectively. An intensive family planning program under the motto “two is enough” has had some effect, however. From 1974 to 1991, the number of children per woman fell from 5.6 to two, and has remained there ever since. In 2018, 2.08 children were born per woman. The birth and death rates are 15.9 and 6.5 per 1000 residents respectively (2017).

Life expectancy at birth is 76.0 years for women and 70.6 years for men (2018).

Population of Indonesia by Year (Historical)

Year	Population	Annual Growth Rate	Population Density	Global Rank
2020	273,523,504	1.070%	150.9871	4
2019	270,625,457	1.100%	149.3873	4
2018	267,670,432	1.140%	147.7561	4
2017	264,650,852	1.180%	146.0893	4
2016	261,556,270	1.230%	144.3810	4
2015	258,383,145	1.330%	142.6295	4
2010	241,834,104	1.340%	133.4943	4
2005	226,289,359	1.360%	124.9135	4
2000	211,513,712	1.440%	116.7572	4
1995	196,934,149	1.650%	108.7092	4
1990	181,413,291	1.920%	100.1415	4
1985	164,982,340	2.270%	91.0715	4
1980	147,447,725	2.440%	81.3923	4
1975	130,680,616	2.630%	72.1367	5
1970	114,793,067	2.740%	63.3667	5
1965	100,266,951	2.700%	55.3482	5
1960	87,750,957	2.580%	48.4392	6
1955	77,273,314	2.130%	42.6555	6
1950	69,543,205	0.000%	38.3884	7

Major Cities in Indonesia by Population

Rank	City	Population
1	Jakarta	8,540,010
2	Surabaya	2,374,547
3	Medan	1,750,860
4	Bandung	1,699,608
5	Bekasi	1,520,008
6	Palembang	1,441,389
7	Tangerang	1,372,013
8	Makassar	1,321,606
9	South Tangerang	1,303,458
10	Semarang	1,287,973
11	Depok	1,198,018
12	Batam	1,164,241
13	Padang	840,241
14	Denpasar	834,770
15	Bandar Lampung	800,237
16	Bogor	799,889
17	Malang	746,605
18	Pekanbaru	703,845
19	City of Balikpapan	699,889
20	Yogyakarta	636,549
21	Situbondo	599,889
22	Banjarmasin	572,726
23	Surakarta	555,197
24	Cimahi	493,587
25	Pontianak	455,062
26	Manado	451,782
27	Balikpapan	433,755
28	Jambi City	420,212
29	Ambon	355,485
30	Samarinda	355,049
31	Mataram	318,563
32	Percut	310,952
33	Bengkulu	309,601
34	Jember	298,474
35	Palu	282,320
36	Kupang	282,285
37	Sukabumi	276,303
38	Tasikmalaya	271,032
39	Pekalongan	257,834
40	Cirebon	254,187
41	Banda Aceh	250,646
42	Tegal	236,973
43	Kediri	235,032
44	Binjai	228,652
45	Purwokerto	217,111
46	Purwakarta	215,692
47	Loa Janan	212,705
48	Pematangsiantar	209,503
49	Ciputat	207,747
50	Ciampea	207,101
51	Cileungsir	202,079
52	Rengasdengklok	201,352
53	Sumedang	199,889
54	Kendari	194,895
55	Parung	193,787
56	Tanjung Pinang	192,382
57	Curug	191,295
58	Labuan Bajo	188,613
59	Cibinong	188,552
60	Madiun	185,988
61	Pemalang	184,038
62	Lembang	183,019
63	Probolinggo	181,545
64	Pamulang	174,446
65	Cikupa	173,930
66	Salatiga	172,534
67	Plumbon	166,994
68	Banjaran	164,841
69	Serang	164,656
70	Lawang	159,269
71	Pasuruan	158,489
72	Sunggal	157,803
73	Perbaungan	157,063
74	Pasarkemis	154,123
75	Soreang	150,821
76	Purwodadi	150,095
77	Metro	149,415
78	Lubuklinggau	148,132
79	Palangkaraya	148,028
80	Astanajapura	147,936
81	Cikampek	145,509
82	Gorontalo	144,084
83	Dumai	143,649
84	Tanjungbalai	142,395
85	Parepare	139,889
86	Sidoarjo	139,078
87	Weru	138,893
88	Jayapura	134,784
89	Baturaja	134,648
90	Adiwerna	134,077
91	Singaraja	133,673
92	Blitar	132,305
93	Martapura	131,338
94	Kisaran	129,800
95	Palopo	129,162
96	Teluknaga	128,164
97	Ungaran	127,701
98	Rangkasbitung	126,799
99	Klaten	126,720
100	Jombang	126,354
101	Paseh	126,070
102	Pangkalpinang	125,822
103	Sorong	125,424
104	Padalarang	124,835
105	Ciamis	123,526
106	Lumajang	123,515
107	Indramayu	123,152
108	Pati	122,674
109	Payakumbuh	121,461
110	Bangil	119,889
111	Sepatan	118,328
112	Tebingtinggi	117,419
113	Kedungwuni	117,138
114	Batang	115,426
115	Pamanukan	114,179
116	Sawangan	113,958
117	Mojokerto	112,446
118	Cileunyi	111,365
119	Magelang	111,350
120	Kresek	110,071
121	Citeureup	110,044
122	Banyuwangi	108,055
123	Cikarang	106,368
124	Arjawinangun	105,734
125	Depok	104,416
126	Prabumulih	103,359
127	Rantauprapat	102,898
128	Belawan	102,596
129	Singkawang	101,727
130	Ternate	101,620
131	Bontang	101,580
132	Grogol	100,502
133	Padangsidempuan	100,450
134	Sumedang Utara	99,889
135	Bukittinggi	98,635
136	Dukuhturi	97,963
137	Tarakan	97,367
138	Sungai Penuh	95,802
139	Sumber	93,309
140	Wonosobo	92,879
141	Palimanan	92,489
142	Pamekasan	92,336
143	Pandeglang	92,205
144	Pariaman	92,072
145	Kudus	92,045
146	Caringin	91,734
147	Banjar	88,929
148	Lhokseumawe	88,863
149	Cicurug	88,854
150	Kartasura	88,816
151	Klangenan	88,267
152	Majalengka	87,621
153	Bojonegoro	86,457
154	Kasihan	86,123
155	Sumenep	84,545
156	Ambarawa	84,268
157	Margahayukencana	83,008
158	Galesong	82,939
159	Watampone	81,518
160	Kedungwaru	80,146
161	Serpong	80,082
162	Sibolga	79,603
163	Genteng	79,541
164	Gedangan	79,119
165	Ponorogo	78,915
166	Ciranjang-hilir	77,647
167	Ende	77,094
168	Tuban	76,131
169	Kebomas	75,871
170	Karangsembung	75,745
171	Tarub	75,628
172	Batu	75,520
173	Sungailiat	74,608
174	Gresik	73,518
175	Sewon	73,474
176	Jatibarang	72,899
177	Kuningan	71,974
178	Sragen	71,411
179	Pagar Alam	70,275
180	Mertoyudan	69,760
181	Bondowoso	69,672
182	Nganjuk	68,900
183	Melati	66,979
184	Bima	66,859
185	Sokaraja	66,371
186	Gamping Lor	65,999
187	Sampit	65,942
188	Lahat	65,795
189	Tulungagung	65,151
190	Muncar	64,426
191	Tulangan Utara	63,778
192	Godean	63,053
193	Tanjung Pandan	62,263
194	Abepura	62,137
195	Bangkalan	62,067
196	Slawi	61,095
197	Pecangaan	60,935
198	Kertosono	60,671
199	Barabai	60,081
200	Boyolali	59,740
201	Sengkang	59,412
202	Lamongan	59,113
203	Baki	58,798
204	Bantul	58,542
205	Weleri	58,337
206	Polewali	58,079
207	Jatiwangi	57,862
208	Baekrajan	57,809
209	Singosari	57,682
210	Kabanjahe	57,048
211	Purbalingga	56,792
212	Pare	56,588
213	Balaipungut	56,341
214	Mendaha	56,157
215	Sleman	56,104
216	Pandak	55,932
217	Amuntai	55,449
218	Besuki	55,354
219	Wedi	55,189
220	Cepu	54,944
221	Langsa	54,354
222	Sampang	53,158
223	Manokwari	53,079
224	Tanjungagung	53,006
225	Sumbawa Besar	52,543
226	Terbanggi Besar	52,455
227	Kepanjen	51,808
228	Blora	51,700
229	Comal	50,981
230	Karanganom	50,559
231	Kawalu	50,430
232	Jatiroto	49,948
233	Labuhan Deli	49,557
234	Gampengrejo	49,007
235	Dompu	48,889
236	Gatak	48,848
237	Singaparna	48,771
238	Waingapu	48,717
239	Banyumas	48,267
240	Solok	48,261
241	Pameungpeuk	48,183
242	Buduran	48,041
243	Luwuk	47,667
244	Sungai Raya	47,624
245	Amahai	47,542
246	Balung	47,520
247	Maumere	47,487
248	Poso	46,999
249	Singkil	46,689
250	Curup	46,134
251	Candi Prambanan	44,814
252	Muntilan	44,748
253	Berastagi	44,654
254	Bambanglipuro	44,602
255	Ketanggungan	44,177
256	Rembangan	43,919
257	Nabire	43,787
258	Gebog	43,645
259	Kencong	42,935
260	Pelabuhanratu	42,890
261	Panji	42,678
262	Katabu	42,639
263	Baturaden	42,283
264	Kotabumi	42,255
265	Diwek	41,608
266	Kijang	41,233
267	Sinjai	40,686
268	Rantepao	40,327
269	Reuleuet	40,282
270	Juwana	40,066
271	Pekan Bahapal	39,889
272	Rajapolah	39,729
273	Tual	39,391
274	Wiradesa	39,296
275	Majenang	38,786
276	Buaran	38,659
277	Krian	38,492
278	Wonopringgo	38,318
279	Pangkalanbuun	37,946
280	Majene	37,604
281	Jekulo	37,410
282	Banjar	37,152
283	Simpang	36,541
284	Srono	36,149
285	Sofifi	36,086
286	Atambua	35,682
287	Kualakapuas	35,521
288	Wangon	35,419
289	Sumberpucung	35,174
290	Praya	35,072
291	Meulaboh	34,951
292	Ruteng	34,458
293	Manggar	34,409
294	Pandaan	34,073
295	Pemangkat	33,918
296	Kuala Tungkal	33,572
297	Tabanan	33,556
298	Lebaksiu	33,495
299	Labuan	33,465
300	Mlonggo	33,431
301	Tondano	33,206
302	Negara	33,080
303	Tanggulangin	32,755
304	Jaten	32,267
305	Boyolangu	32,176
306	Gombong	31,854
307	Amlapura city	31,758
308	Amlapura	31,758
309	Bandar	31,331
310	Kutoarjo	31,241
311	Karangampel	31,123
312	Panarukan	30,638
313	Sidareja	30,202
314	Pakisaji	30,102
315	Selogiri	30,069
316	Kuta	29,901
317	Maros	29,889
318	Srandakan	29,418
319	Kefamenanu	29,379
320	Singojuruh	29,307
321	Wongsorejo	29,082
322	Trenggalek	28,972
323	Lasem	28,837
324	Ceper	28,535
325	Randudongkal	28,421
326	Balapulang	28,372
327	Ubud	28,262
328	Kraksaan	28,137
329	Jogonalan	28,003
330	Mranggen	27,915
331	Deli Tua	27,829
332	Klungkung	27,725
333	Margasari	27,703
334	Sijunjung	27,675
335	Soe	27,606
336	Tomohon	27,513
337	Bulakamba	27,256
338	Demak	27,140
339	Paciran	26,961
340	Babat	26,927
341	Stabat	26,751
342	Driyorejo	26,716
343	Muntok	26,598
344	Tayu	26,302
345	Ngunut	26,186
346	Colomadu	26,163
347	Wanaraja	26,129
348	Welahan	26,052
349	Bireun	25,682
350	Pangkalan Brandan	25,431
351	Soko	25,383
352	Teluk Nibung	25,035
353	Tanjungtiram	25,007
354	Seririt	24,889
355	Sabang	24,408
356	Delanggu	24,329
357	Prigen	24,053
358	Pundong	23,970
359	Kalianget	23,786
360	Ngemplak	23,639
361	Trucuk	23,473
362	Mojoagung	23,423
363	Kroya	23,144
364	Dampit	22,983
365	Ngoro	22,760
366	Gambiran Satu	22,414
367	Kamal	22,404
368	Gongdanglegi Kulon	22,357
369	Ngawi	22,301
370	Kebonarun	21,634
371	Manismata	18,777
372	Sigli	17,393
373	Tongging	15,889
374	Mamuju	14,889
375	Sinabang	14,889
376	Legian	9,889
377	Lembar	9,889
378	Labuan Lombok	9,889
379	Tobelo	9,889
380	Parapat	9,889
381	Tomok Bolon	9,889
382	Laikit, Laikit II (Dimembe)	7,889
383	Bejubang Dua	7,846
384	Munduk	6,089

Settlement of the population

56 percent of the population lives in urban areas (2019). The largest city is Jakarta. The urban area has a population of 31.7 million (2015).

The average population density is 149 residents per square kilometer. This is not particularly high, but is highly misleading. 56.7 percent of the population lives on the island of Java (with Madura), which with 1,160 residents per square kilometer is among the most densely populated areas in the world (2019). By comparison, Indonesia’s largest island, Sumatra, has 131 residents per square kilometer. A costly migration program (transmigration), which started in the colonial period, has since 1969 transferred more than two million from Java, Bali and Lombok to Sumatra, Kalimantan, Papua and the Moluccas. The project has mostly included poor farmers and some homeless urban dwellers. So far, the project has had little effect, primarily because it is physically difficult to transfer many enough people. In many places, the transmigrants have come into conflict with the local people groups. The project has also caused environmental problems in that wet rice cultivation has been attempted in areas unsuitable for this. It is estimated that 3.5 million hectares of rainforest has been cut down to accommodate the transmigrants.

Indonesia is a country of villages, which vary greatly in shape and size. The villages of Java are large, compact and densely situated in the populous countryside. In the outer islands, the villages are more diverse and reflect the great differences in regional culture. A large relocation from rural areas to the capital of Jakarta and the largest regional cities has led to a strong increase in the population of the cities. The problems that this has caused for Jakarta were the reason why President Joko Widodo announced in 2019 that the government plans to move the country’s capital from Jakarta to the eastern part of Kalimantan.

Composition of the population

Many immigration waves since prehistoric times have left a complicated pattern with many ethnic groups and languages. Most of the residents are Malays, which encompass widely different cultures. Larger groups are Javanese (40.1 percent) in Central and Eastern Java, Balinese, Old Malay Dajaks in the interior of Kalimantan, Sundanese (15.5 percent) in West Java, Madurese in East Java and Madura, the Menang Kebabs at The west coast of Sumatra, the Acehnese on North Sumatra and the Buginese on southern Sulawesi.

The complicated ethnic pattern has created the basis for separatist movements both in Aceh (North Sumatra, North Sulawesi, Southern Moluccas) and Papua. Nevertheless, the suppression under the Dutch colonial rule and the problematic liberation helped to unite large parts of the people into a national unity.

The largest non-local population is the Chinese, which in 2010 made up 1.2 percent of the population. The figure is very uncertain as many will not admit Chinese origin. Most Chinese live on the west coast of Kalimantan, the east coast of Sumatra and the islands (Bangka, Belitung, Bintan). Virtually the entire Dutch population (60,000 in 1957) left the country after independence. Indigenous peoples are among others the esteem in the interior of Sumatra and Papuan-speaking people in the Moluccas.