Batak is a collective name for ethnic groups including Alas, Kluet, Toba, Mandailing, Pakpak, and Karo. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population of any country in the world, and many ethnic groups are exclusively Muslim. Batak societies are patriarchally organized around clans called Marga with fierce warriors guarding the clans. The Minangkabau, a community of devout Muslim wet-rice farmers in west-central Sumatra, hold a unique position in Indonesia as a matrilineal society, whereby inheritance and descent are reckoned through the female line. Sundanese people are of Austronesian origin who migrated from Taiwan through the Philippines in the 1500BC. Geography of Indonesia. Batam. The third largest ethnicity is Batak from North Sumatra with 8.5 million people, accounting … The third group, the inland shifting cultivators, plant swiddens—fields that are cleared, cultivated for a few seasons, and then abandoned for several years to allow the soil to regenerate—in areas where the climate will not support wet-rice farming. How Many Serial Killers Are On The Loose Today? English: The map of ethnic groups in Indonesia. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, The archipelago: its prehistory and early historical records, The arrival of Hindu religious conceptions, Growth and impact of the Dutch East India Company, The French and the British in Java, 1806–15, Indonesia from the coup to the end of the New Order, Economic crisis, public unrest, and the fall of Suharto. Away from the major cities and areas of dense population, there are significant variations from one valley to the next and almost from one village to the next. Java’s western region, including the city of Bandung, is the homeland of the Sundanese, who are related to but quite distinct from the Javanese in language and tradition. Over two thirds of the population resides in Java, the center of the country's economic and political power. With an ancient culture informed by strong social and agricultural traditions, it includes the Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, and Balinese peoples. Its ethnic composition is characterized by variety, in fact wide variety, as the country contains hundreds of different ethnic groups and cultures. The Sumatran Malays inhabit Aceh, a strongly Muslim region at the extreme northern tip of Sumatra that has long been noted for its resistance to European influence; a rich plantation area to the south of Aceh, along Sumatra’s northern coast; and Bangka and Belitung (Billiton), two primarily agricultural islands off the southeastern coast of Sumatra. The second group, the more strongly Islamized coastal peoples, is ethnically heterogeneous and includes the Malays from Sumatra and, from southern Celebes, the Makassarese and Bugis. Ethnicity used to be a political taboo in Indonesia, a country with more than 600 ethnic groups, but this has changed since the advent of the Reform era (1998). To make matter worse, due to these perceptions cling to particular groups, it then triggers riot and encourages tension among ethnic groups in Indonesia. Java. The distinction between coastal and interior peoples is especially salient in western New Guinea, where maritime trading communities live along the coast, while agrarian, noncommercial societies with strongly developed and highly localized customs inhabit the interior. The Javanese, found on the island of Java, make up more than 40% of the population of Indonesia. The territory of the Republic of Indonesia stretches from 6°08′ N latitude to 11°15′ S latitude, and from 94°45′ E to 141°05′ E longitude. Factbook > Countries > Indonesia > Demographics. Indonesia's motto "Unity in Diversity'" signifies the country's myriad of cultures and ethnicities with all its people living together largely in peace. Indonesia’s islands are homes to a diverse ethnic and religious group which have given rise to a large number of cultural practices. Indonesians are a mix of Chinese, European, Indian, and Malay. Indonesia Religion, Economy and Politics. Indonesia also has the largest diaspora with over 8 million people spread across the world especially in countries such as Malaysia, UAE, US, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Australia. These ethnic groups are found mainly in the North Sumatra in Indonesia. As one of the most ethnically diverse societies, Indonesia consists of 1,300 ethnic groups with at least 95 percent native to the archipelago. This name is a collective theme to identify some ethnic groups who live and come from the West Coast and the East Coast in North Sumatra Province. They dominate the government, economy, culture, almost every sector. Javanese are known to be diligent, friendly, open-minded / highly tolerant, and good in politic. There is ethnic-based violence in Indonesia. Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. The Moluccas reflect this pattern, although their proximity to the western islands makes them a more complex ethnographic and linguistic area. The Sundanese are the second largest ethnic group in Indonesia. Each island or group of islands east of Java also has maintained its own distinct character, in many cases strongly influenced by different religions. Geography - note. The burial tradition for these ethnic groups is very rich and complex with begu rituals performed on the body. Indonesia - Ethnic groups. Ethnic Groups in Indonesia. Javanese culture flourished in Indonesia and the oldest civilization that has been influenced by other cultures over time. Pura Ulun, a Hindu temple on the bank of Lake Bratan, Bali, Indonesia. The cities of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo), in the centre of the island, are strongholds of Javanese culture and maintain traditional rulers, although these leaders have no real political power. Sumatra. In some areas of the country the conflicts between ethnic groups are more pronounced and, as we have seen in the news of recent years, quite brutal and violent. Visit the UNICEF websitefor some very interesting statistics covering population, health… It consists of five major … Usually the similarity is in terms of heredity, language, biological characteristics, or behavior and culture. Bali. We Javanese are considered as polite, smooth-speaking people. Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the world after China, India and the United States. These are the inland wet-rice (irrigated rice) societies, the coastal trading, farming, and fishing peoples, and the inland societies of shifting cultivators. Most Javanese live in the densely settled, irrigated agricultural regions of central and eastern Java—the most populous parts of the country. note 1: according to Indonesia's National Coordinating Agency for Survey and Mapping, the total number of islands in the archipelago is 13,466, of which 922 are permanently inhabited (Indonesia is the world's largest country comprised solely of islands); the country straddles the equator and occupies a strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from the … Indonesia is linguistically extremely diverse. Indonesians are characterized by smallness of stature, light to dark-brown pigmentation, thick, sleek black hair, broad formation of … The first group, the historically Hinduized (but now primarily Muslim) wet-rice growers of inland Java, Madura, and Bali, make up nearly three-fifths of the national population. Definition: This entry provides an ordered listing of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population. Family portrait, Tana Toraja; People of Angguruk, Papua; People from Waur, Kei Besar, Maluku; The ethnic diversity of Indonesia may be staggering, but the demography is dominated by a few main groups (more details in this article) Most of these ethnic groups are predominantly farmers and a majority of their populations are Muslims. The map was redrawn and made based on a large map of "Peta Suku Bangsa di Indonesia" displayed in Ethnography Room in National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta. These communities tend to be small and relatively isolated, and they represent a wide array of cultures. Other ethnic groups in Indonesia include Madurese, Betawi, Minangkabau, Buginese, Malay, and Bantenese. The people of the interior, such as the Asmat and the Dani, on the other hand, remained isolated for a longer period of time. On bad side, Javanese are tend to hide our true feeling, we talk about people behind them, and one day — the emotions are exploding like an erupting volcano. The largest economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia – a diverse archipelago nation of more than 300 ethnic groups – has charted impressive economic growth since overcoming the Asian financial crisis of … The islands are populated by a number of distinct ethnic groups. They occupy mainly the central and eastern parts of the island. They identify with the bilateral kinship system that considers both male and female equally important in the society. Of the historically Hinduized communities in Indonesia, the Balinese are the only nonimmigrant practitioners of Hinduism. You also begin throughout Indonesia to get real resentment of local indigenous populations to the transmigration policies of the Suharto government, which often meant moving Muslim Javanese into areas where another ethnic group was dominant and this led to competition for land, resources, and eventually for power. Accordingly, Java is one of the most densely populated islands on earth. The population of Indonesia in 1900 was 38 million inhabitants. The Batak value education and prominent professional positions especially doctors, teachers, lawyers, and engineers. 4) Although Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world it also has a large number of Christian Protestants, Catholics, Hindus and … Batak. Sundanese cuisine characterized by freshness is popular in most of the cities in Indonesia. Many Indonesians may see themselves first by their ethnic and cultural group and secondly as Indonesians. Indonesia includes numerous ethnic, cultural and linguistic groups, some of which are related to each other. Ethnic groups in Indonesia – Indonesia is a large country with an area of 1,990,250 km² with various ethnic groups in it. Most Papuans of the interior regions live in small communities and maintain a complex of dialects, customs, and social structures that is distinct from that of the coastal peoples. Sundanese people occupy mainly the western part of Indonesia and numbers approximately 40 million representing 15.5% of the total population. Those in the foothills and on the coast have affinities with other Melanesian cultures to the east and south of New Guinea. Indonesia was formerly known as the Dutch East Indies (or Netherlands East Indies). Indonesia was formerly known as the Dutch East Indies (or Netherlands East Indies). The indigenous peoples, ethnologically referred to as Malays or Indonesians, also are found on the neighboring islands of the Philippines, in Peninsular Malaysia, and even as far away as Taiwan and Madagascar. Sulawesi. Indonesia is home to over 300 ethnic groups and 742 different dialects. Indonesia has more than 300 distinct ethnic and linguistic groups, although the largest and most dominant in terms of politics are the Javanese at over 40% of the population. Toraja, Sulawesi. Indonesia is a sovereign archipelago in Southeast Asia and the fourth most populous country on earth after China, India, and the United States.. Indonesia Demographics. 9.87% are Christian, 1.69% are Hindu, 0.72% are Buddhist and 0.56% practice other faiths. However, more than half of the population can be classified as belonging to two main ethnic groups. Photo by: erwinova. Their language has heavily influenced the Indonesian language, while like many other Indonesians, they follow a heavily adapted version of Islam that is dependent on l… Ethnic groups are a group of people who have something in common between one member and another. Jakarta. In particular, Bali—with its long tradition of Hindu and Buddhist influences rooted in local religious practices—is quite different in character and customs from any other part of Indonesia. Major ethnic groups include Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese and Malay. Indonesia is a culturally very diverse nation. Most Javanese live in the densely settled, irrigated agricultural regions of central and eastern Java—the most populous parts of the country . New Guinea. The regions of Indonesia have some of their indigenous ethnic groups. These ethnic groups each account for at least 2% of the country’s population. Like most Indonesian peoples, they are rice farmers; however, they are also maritime peoples with a strong tradition of boat making. Batak tribe is one of the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia. These ethnic groups include; Javanese people are the largest ethnic group in Indonesia with a population of over 100 million (40.2%) according to the 2011 census. The Javanese constitute Indonesia’s largest ethnic group, accounting for roughly one-third of the total population. The glue that binds the people together is the usage of the Bahasa Indonesia, the national language, and Pancasila, the national philosophy, which stresses the doctrine of unity and universal justice for all Indonesians. The ethnic group is divided into sub-groups including Mataram, Osing, Cirebonese, Samin, Tenggerese, Naganese, and Boyanese. While there may be hundreds of ethnicities in Indonesia, one dwarfs the rest. Types Of Crimes By Number Of Offenses In The US, The 10 Biggest Shopping Malls In The World. The barriers of the mountains and the sea have protected the character and traditions of many groups. In addition to this diverse population, Indonesia is also the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, as just over 87% of Indonesians declared Muslim on the 2010 census. 271 million (2019). Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The Menadonese (Minahasan) of northern Celebes are also atypical in that they are a historically Hinduized, predominantly Christian coastal community. There are two major ethnic groups in the western islands of Indonesia that do not fit into this broad scheme of cultural categorization. Javanese values are promoted by cultural expressions such as dance, batik, gamelan, and wayang. Indonesia's motto "Unity in Diversity'" signifies the country's myriad of cultures and ethnicities with all its people living together largely in peace. Javanese are also found in Malaysia, South Africa, Netherland, and Singapore. The majority of these sub-groups are Muslims while a minority identify with Christianity. There are 1,340 recognised ethnic groups in Indonesia.The vast majority of those belong to the Austronesian peoples.. Based on ethnic classification, the largest ethnic group in Indonesia is the Javanese who make up about 40% of the total population. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Batak’s major occupation is agriculture, fishing, and hunting. The largest economy in Southeast Asia, Indonesia – a diverse archipelago nation of more than 300 ethnic groups – has charted impressive economic growth since overcoming the … These ethnic groups collectively account for 3.65% of the total population in Indonesia. The ethnic group has borrowed a lot of its culture from the Javanese except for the less rigid systems.