Introduction
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago; it achieved independence from the Netherlands in 1949. Current issues include: alleviating widespread poverty, preventing terrorism, effecting a transition to a popularly-elected government after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing reforms of the banking sector, addressing charges of cronyism and corruption, holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations, and resolving separatist pressures in Aceh and Papua.
Location
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates
5 00 S, 120 00 E
Area
total: 1,919,440 sq km
water: 93,000 sq km
land: 1,826,440 sq km
Land boundaries
total: 2,830 km
border countries: East Timor 228 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Maritime claims
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
Natural resources
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Irrigated land
48,150 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards
occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, forest fires
Environment - current issues
deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note
archipelago of more than 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
Population
238,452,952 (July 2004 est.)