indonesia ethnic groups
Maluku is the place of Indonesia where the population seems the most mixed. 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. Most of the smaller islands belong to larger groups, like the Moluccas (Spice Islands). There is ethnic-based violence in Indonesia. Sulawesi. However, more than half of the population can be classified as belonging to two main ethnic groups. As early as the 1st century the population was estimated at 2 million people in this rich tropical environment. The third largest ethnicity is Batak from North Sumatra with 8.5 million people, accounting … 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 … With an ancient culture informed by strong social and agricultural traditions, it includes the Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, and Balinese peoples. Indonesia is home to over 300 ethnic groups and 742 different dialects. Nowadays in general Batak people follow the religion of Islam, Christian, and Catholic. The majority of the population (58%) lives in Java Island. The majority of Sundanese are Muslims with a very few of them being Christians and Buddhists. They identify with the bilateral kinship system that considers both male and female equally important in the society. Accordingly, Java is one of the most densely populated islands on earth. How Many Serial Killers Are On The Loose Today? Most of these ethnic groups are predominantly farmers and a majority of their populations are Muslims. The burial ceremony also includes reburial of bones of ancestors. 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. 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. Typical of the coastal peoples are the Ambonese, who live along the coasts of Ambon and neighbouring islands, including western Ceram. 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). 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 … As released by IDN times in 2016, some bad effects from the stereotype are the battle among other groups. 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. Indonesia was formerly known as the Dutch East Indies (or Netherlands East Indies). Over two thirds of the population resides in Java, the center of the country's economic and political power. Geography - note. In many cases the highland groups of the larger islands—Borneo, Sumatra, and Celebes—were relatively untouched by international influences until the arrival of Christian missionaries during the 19th century; these upland peoples continue to reflect great cultural diversity. The Javanese constitute Indonesia’s largest ethnic group, accounting for roughly one-third of the total population. These ethnic groups are found mainly in the North Sumatra in Indonesia. The tribes that are categorized as Batak are: Batak Toba, Batak Karo, Batak Pakpak, Batak Simalungun, Batak Angkola, and Batak Mandailing. The burial tradition for these ethnic groups is very rich and complex with begu rituals performed on the body. Indonesia is linguistically extremely diverse. 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. Most of these ethnic groups are predominantly farmers and a majority of their populations are Muslims. The diverse ethnic populations of western Indonesia generally may be grouped into three broad categories. Those in the foothills and on the coast have affinities with other Melanesian cultures to the east and south of New Guinea. The Republic of Indonesia, the world’s largest island, is located in Southeast Asia with part of its territory in the Oceania. Rituals evolve around individual’s life cycle from birth to death. Geography - note. New Guinea. 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. To make matter worse, due to these perceptions cling to particular groups, it then triggers riot and encourages tension among ethnic groups in Indonesia. Jakarta. The culture of this ethnic group demonstrates concern for elegance and refinement, courtesy, emotional restraint, politeness and consciousness to one’s social status. The Batak value education and prominent professional positions especially doctors, teachers, lawyers, and engineers. 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. Indonesians are a mix of Chinese, European, Indian, and Malay. Definition: This entry provides an ordered listing of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population. Ethnic groups: Javanese 40.1%, Sundanese 15.5% ... Chinese 1.2%, other 15% (2010 est.) There are two major ethnic groups in the western islands of Indonesia that do not fit into this broad scheme of cultural categorization. Javanese culture flourished in Indonesia and the oldest civilization that has been influenced by other cultures over time. The Menadonese (Minahasan) of northern Celebes are also atypical in that they are a historically Hinduized, predominantly Christian coastal community. Ethnic groups: Javanese 40.1%, Sundanese 15.5%, Malay 3.7%, Batak 3.6%, Madurese 3%, Betawi 2.9%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Buginese 2.7%, Bantenese 2%, Banjarese 1.7%, Balinese 1.7%, Acehnese 1.4%, Dayak 1.4%, Sasak 1.3%, Chinese 1.2%, other 15% (2010 est.) 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. Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the world after China, India and the United States. Toraja, Sulawesi. Many Indonesians may see themselves first by their ethnic and cultural group and secondly as Indonesians. Batak. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2021 worldatlas.com, Largest Ethnic Groups And Nationalities In The United States, 10 Countries Where Women Far Outnumber Men, The Most Famous Serial Killers In America And Their Twisted Crimes. 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 each account for at least 2% of the country’s population. Indonesia is a culturally very diverse nation. Indigenous ethnic groups Best-fit genomic mixture proportions of Austronesians in Island Southeast Asia and their inferred population movements. Since independence, Indonesian (a form of Malay and the official national language) is the language of most written communication, education, government, and business. Batak societies are patriarchally organized around clans called Marga with fierce warriors guarding the clans. Four of the 16 groups of the Malayo-Polynesian family are Malayan. The most prominent of the swiddeners are the Toraja of southern Celebes, the Batak of the highlands of northern Sumatra, and the various communities of the interior of Kalimantan, such as the Kenyah, Kayan, Ngaju, and Embaloh, who officially (and collectively) are called Dayak. Most Javanese live in the densely settled, irrigated agricultural regions of central and eastern Java—the most populous parts of the country. While there may be hundreds of ethnicities in Indonesia, one dwarfs the rest. But it is not tribalism gone mad. 4) Although Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world it also has a large number of Christian Protestants, Catholics, Hindus and … The Javanese, found on the island of Java, make up more than 40% of the population of Indonesia. We Javanese are considered as polite, smooth-speaking people. Indonesians are characterized by smallness of stature, light to dark-brown pigmentation, thick, sleek black hair, broad formation of … Javanese are also found in Malaysia, South Africa, Netherland, and Singapore. The regions of Indonesia have some of their indigenous ethnic groups. 9.87% are Christian, 1.69% are Hindu, 0.72% are Buddhist and 0.56% practice other faiths. Geography of Indonesia. 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. Javanese are known to be diligent, friendly, open-minded / highly tolerant, and good in politic. Batak is a collective name for ethnic groups including Alas, Kluet, Toba, Mandailing, Pakpak, and Karo. The fact that the army (known as ABRI) high command still holds real power behind the new president, B.J. 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… There are underlying issues of political and economic power. Eastern Indonesia is characterized by the traditional Melanesian cultural division between coastal, or “beach,” peoples and interior, or “bush,” peoples. Sundanese cuisine characterized by freshness is popular in most of the cities in Indonesia. 3) In addition there are many cultural influences stemming back from difference in heritage. The country is sandwiched between Pacific and Indian Oceans. Ethnic groups in Indonesia – Indonesia is a large country with an area of 1,990,250 km² with various ethnic groups in it. Indonesia - Ethnic groups. Jakarta. 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. Batam. 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. Like most Indonesian peoples, they are rice farmers; however, they are also maritime peoples with a strong tradition of boat making. Indonesia has more than 13 islands with an estimated population of 237.6 million people spread across the islands. This paper examines and projects the dynamics of ageing in the five largest ethnic groups in Indonesia. English: The map of ethnic groups in Indonesia. 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. Some groups continue to live in remote areas, where interaction with peoples and cultures beyond their proximate surroundings is limited. Though these sub-groups are distinct, their languages and customs are related. 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. The population of Indonesia in 1900 was 38 million inhabitants. How Many Serial Killers Are Active In The UK Now? The Moluccas reflect this pattern, although their proximity to the western islands makes them a more complex ethnographic and linguistic area. 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) These communities tend to be small and relatively isolated, and they represent a wide array of cultures. Sundanese people occupy mainly the western part of Indonesia and numbers approximately 40 million representing 15.5% of the total population. Sumatra. Ethnic Groups in Indonesia. Lombok. Pura Ulun, a Hindu temple on the bank of Lake Bratan, Bali, Indonesia. By 1950 it had reached 77 million. They dominate the government, economy, culture, almost every sector. 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 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. The people of the interior, such as the Asmat and the Dani, on the other hand, remained isolated for a longer period of time. Indonesia Ethnic groups. Ethnic groups are a group of people who have something in common between one member and another. Javanese values are promoted by cultural expressions such as dance, batik, gamelan, and wayang. Most Javanese live in the densely settled, irrigated agricultural regions of central and eastern Java—the most populous parts of the country . Some of the people living in the mountainous interior regions have been relocated to coastal areas, but—unlike the coastal peoples—they do not usually engage in fishing activities. Factbook > Countries > Indonesia > Demographics. Indonesia includes numerous ethnic, cultural and linguistic groups, some of which are related to each other. Indonesia - Ethnic groups Photo by: erwinova 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. Batak tribe is one of the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia. Indonesia has the largest Muslim population of any country in the world, and many ethnic groups are exclusively Muslim. 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. In addition to cultivating wet-rice paddies, many Madurese raise cattle. Indonesia was formerly known as the Dutch East Indies (or Netherlands East Indies). Europe Map. These ethnic groups each account for at least 2% of the country’s population. The third largest ethnicity is Batak from North Sumatra with 8.5 million people, accounting … Major ethnic groups include Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese and Malay. The ethnic group has borrowed a lot of its culture from the Javanese except for the less rigid systems. 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 … As one of the most ethnically diverse societies, Indonesia consists of 1,300 ethnic groups with at least 95 percent native to the archipelago. The ethnic group is largely agricultural with rice being the main crop cultivated. In addition, Indonesians from the western islands have mixed with indigenous peoples in the coastal trading settlements. As one of the most ethnically diverse societies, Indonesia consists of 1,300 ethnic groups with at least 95 percent native to the archipelago. These ethnic groups collectively account for 3.65% of the total population in Indonesia. 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. The Makassarese and Bugis live primarily in the coastal regions of southern Celebes. They occupy mainly the central and eastern parts of the island. Bali. 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. Borneo. These are the inland wet-rice (irrigated rice) societies, the coastal trading, farming, and fishing peoples, and the inland societies of shifting cultivators. The majority of these sub-groups are Muslims while a minority identify with Christianity. 271 million (2019). Batak’s major occupation is agriculture, fishing, and hunting. Other ethnic groups in Indonesia include Madurese, Betawi, Minangkabau, Buginese, Malay, and Bantenese. Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. The local inhabitant highlands of the island of central Sulawesi, Toraja tribe are … Dutch policy allowed proselytization by Protestants and Catholics among separate groups who followed traditional religions; thus today many ethnic groups are exclusively Protestant or Roman Catholic. Usually the similarity is in terms of heredity, language, biological characteristics, or behavior and culture. Photo by: erwinova. 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. Java. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Each island or group of islands east of Java also has maintained its own distinct character, in many cases strongly influenced by different religions. The islands are populated by a number of distinct ethnic groups. Indonesia's motto "Unity in Diversity'" signifies the country's myriad of cultures and ethnicities with all its people living together largely in peace. The barriers of the mountains and the sea have protected the character and traditions of many groups. Indonesia Religion, Economy and Politics. Of the historically Hinduized communities in Indonesia, the Balinese are the only nonimmigrant practitioners of Hinduism. 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. Total Area of Indonesia is 1,919,440 sq km (Land Area: 1,826,440 sq … The Balinese, who live just to the east of Java on Bali, are known for their intricate irrigation systems and terraced rice fields. The Makassarese and Bugis have a pronounced presence in coastal towns throughout Indonesia, although their influence has been strongest outside Java. Kenyah men planting a rice swidden in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The latest count at the end of 1995 showed it had 195.3 million inhabitants. The island of Madura, northeast of Java, is the homeland of the Madurese, Indonesia’s third largest ethnic group. Its ethnic composition is characterized by variety, in fact wide variety, as the country contains hundreds of different ethnic groups and cultures. Indonesia's motto "Unity in Diversity'" signifies the country's myriad of cultures and ethnicities with all its people living together largely in peace.