Indonesia is also known as the Republic of Indonesia,
Is a transcontinental sovereign island country (the country crosses a continent) located in the Southeast region of Asia while some small parts of the country are in Oceania around the pacific oceans and the Indian Ocean.
Indonesia Facts for Kids:
- The country is the 14th largest in the world with a total land area of 1,904,569 sq km (735,358 sq miles) and it is the largest island country in the world with over thirteen thousand islands known.
- The capital city is Jakarta and it is also the largest city.
- The official language of the country is Indonesian while it does speak other languages like Sundanese, Minangkabau, Javanese, Madurese and others.
- There are over 700 different languages spoken in the country.
- The total population of the country is 260,580, 739 (est in july 2017).
- Indonesia gained independence on the 17 august 1945 from the Dutch.
- The national anthem is called Indonesia Raya (Great Indonesia).
- The national animal is a garuda (mythical bird).
- The national motto is Bhinneka Tunggal ika (“unity in diversity” literally “many, yet one”)
- The people of Indonesia are called Indonesian with the country having several religions like Catholicism, Buddhism, Islam, Protestantism, Confucianism and Hinduism.
- The currency used is called Indonesian repiah (Rp) (IDR).
- The natural resources of the country include timber, capper, fertile soils, silver, tin, coal, petroleum, tin, bauxite, nickel, timber and gold. The major industries are textiles, mining, footwear, automotive, medical instruments and appliances, electrical appliances, plywood, processed food, chemical fertilizers, rubber, jewelry, tourism, petroleum and natural gas.
- Indonesia makes $168.8 billion (est. in 2017) on exportation of machinery and mechanical appliance parts, electrical machinery, mineral fuels, rubber and animal or vegetable fats (includes palm oil).
- The country’s importation spends $149.9 billion (est. in 2017) on foodstuff, Iron and steel, boiler, mineral fuels, electric machinery, machinery and mechanical part.
- In the 16th century, the Portuguese ruled Indonesia because of the high demand of spices at the time around Europe could have been gotten in the country before the Dutch took over.
- After Australia, Indonesia has the most endemic species of birds and mammals with more than 35% in the world to have such array of native species.
- The former United State president, Barack Obama spent part of his childhood in Indonesia
- The Homo erectus which is the java man, is said to have lived in Indonesian Archipelago around 1.5 million years and 35,000 years ago.
- More than 165 million people are under the age of 30 in Indonesia so even despise the country’s history, the country is considered very young.
- From the age of 12 to 16, girls are not to be seen by the outside world. This is an old Indonesian tradition.
- Hotels in the country have “ladies only floors” where you can book a room and all the staffs and caretakers are women.
- The country has the largest instant noodle producer in the world and the second largest producer of instant noodles after china.
- One volcanic eruption per year happens in Indonesia.
- The Indonesian flag and Monegasques flag are very similar to one another and the only difference being the size of the flag.
- The world’s largest Buddhist temple is in Indonesia which is a UNESCO world Heritage Site; the Borobudur temple has 504 statues of Buddha.
- 147 volcanoes exist in the country with the most explosive volcano in History being located in Indonesia with an eruption heard 1930 km away at the island of Sumatra and killed near 70,000 people. The volcano is named Mt. Tambora and has the tallest peaks in all of the island of Indonesia.
- The largest volcanic lake in the world is called Lake Toba and it has a 100 km and 30 km width, the lake which is the largest in Indonesia also consist of an island named “Pulao Samosir” which was just formed.
- The Amorphophallus titanium is a flower located on the island of Sumatra which is in Indonesia, it is said to be the most odorous flower on the planet and can be smelt from half a mile away. It grows to about two meters in height and is called “the devil’s tongue”
