Page 43 - The World About Us

Mount Kelimutu
1.1.1
2.2.3

Indonesia: a nation of islands, a country of contrasts.

Indonesia is the fourth most South Pacific Ocean
populous na on on Earth, with over China
263 million inhabitants in 2017. Sea
Straddling the Equator, Indonesia Republic of
Indonesia
contains over 14,000 islands stretching
5,120km from east to west and 1,760km Equator
from north to south. Kalimantan
(Borneo) Sulawesi
Some of Indonesia's islands are West
Sumatra
huge. New Guinea, which Indonesia Indian Ocean Papua
shares with Papua New Guinea, is the Jakarta Bali
world's second largest island a er Java
Greenland. Borneo, which Indonesia
shares with Malaysia and Brunei, is the
world's third largest. En rely within INDONESIA 500km
Indonesia are Sumatra (6th largest), fig.109 Map of Indonesia.
Sulawesi (11th largest) and Java (13th
largest). In contrast, some islands are rises 4,884 metres above West Papua.
ny. Gili Air, popular with tourists, is just Just 4 south of the Equator, the slopes
200 metres wide. on Puncak Jaya s ll have glaciers. Sadly
these are rapidly disappearing as a result
Indonesia has around 95,000 km of
coastline and it also contains the world's of global warming and may be
completely melted by 2020.
highest island mountain. Puncak Jaya
The people of Indonesia are as
diverse as its islands. Over 300 different
fig.110 Gunung Paluweh erupts. ethnic groups make up the popula on,
speaking over 700 languages. While
Indonesia's na onal mo o is “Unity in
Diversity”, the country has had a
turbulent and divided history since
independence in 1945. fig.111 Jakarta, capital of Indonesia.
In this sec on, we will inves gate
Indonesia's physical geography as well as INDONESIA FACTFILE
its poli cal and economic development.
We will look at how health, educa on
Popula on (2017): 263 million
and employment for Indonesia's growing
popula on has changed over me. Land Area : 1,904,569 km² (plus
4,000 reefs and cays exposed at low
RECORD BREAKING NATION These rainforest ecosystems are now de)
threatened as Indonesia has become the Permanently inhabited islands : 922
Not only does Indonesia contain the largest producer and consumer of palm
world's highest island mountain, as well oil. Indonesia also holds the dubious Capital city : Jakarta
as the world's second and third largest record for the fastest rate of Currency : Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
islands, it holds many more records as deforesta on in the world.
well. Java is the world's most populous Gross Na onal Income per capita :
island. Its 145 million people live in just The islands of Indonesia contain 127 $3,440
138,000 km2 (60% of the size of UK). ac ve volcanoes, more than any other Gross Na onaI Income per capita
na on on the planet. While these
Indonesia's tropical seas are the volcanoes have contributed to (purchasing power parity): $11,699
most bio-diverse on Earth, with over Indonesia’s fer le soils and drama c Gross Na onal Income (2016) :
3,500 species found in the coral reefs landscapes, they have also claimed $940,953 billion
around the Raja Ampat islands. many thousands of lives. Gross Na onal Income (purchasing
The rainforests of Sumatra (see Today, 5 million people live within power parity): $3,027 trillion
pages 23-25) are the second most bio- ac ve danger zones on the slopes of
diverse terrestrial ecosystem on Earth, Indonesian volcanoes. Gini Coefficient : 35.6 (medium)
a er that of the Amazon basin. HDI : 0.689 (rank 113/188)

43

Many factors contribute to a country’s economic development.