Dancers in traditional costume in Borneo

    Social situation Regional disparities not yet overcome

    Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands, at least 6,000 of which are inhabited. Notwithstanding the fact that, generally, developments in the past few years have been positive, there are still considerable disparities between the different regions of Indonesia. Java, the central island, is the political and economic hub of the Indonesian archipelago.

    In the past, there has been little investment on the other islands in infrastructure, education or basic social protection. However, during the last ten years that has changed, although the differences in development are far from having been eradicated.

    The current government is able to show that it has achieved considerable progress all over the country, especially in terms of reducing poverty and in the health and education sectors. However, compared with other countries in the region, and with other G20 members, Indonesia still shows development deficits. Almost one Indonesian child under five out of every three is undernourished.

    According to World Bank figures, 9.5 per cent of Indonesia’s population was living in poverty in 2022; this had still been 20 per cent in 2000. However, estimates suggest that about one quarter of the country’s inhabitants are only just above the national poverty line. According to the World Bank, the COVID-19 pandemic has plunged many people back into poverty.

    The current Human Development Index (HDI) ranks Indonesia 112th out of 193 countries.


    The role of religious communities

    Women reading and interpreting the Koran in the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia

    Women reading and interpreting the Koran in the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia

    With almost 90 per cent of Indonesian people adhering to Islam, Indonesia is home to the largest Islamic community in the world.

    Indonesia’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion within the scope of six officially recognised religions (Islam, Buddhism, Protestant and Catholic Christianity, Confucianism and Hinduism). However, shortcomings in the protection of minority groups and in the rule of law mean that, in some regions, persons belonging to religious minorities frequently experience disadvantages and even face threats and violence from Islamist groups.

    The government is expressly committed to the moderate form of Islam that has traditionally been practised in the country. It has been fighting Islamist terrorism with determination. Large sections of civil society, too, are actively fighting the tendency towards Islamisation of society and growing religious intolerance.

    As at: 18/10/2023