Indonesia

The largest island nation — 17,000 islands

Indonesia is a country of 17,000 islands right on the equator. It has 130 active volcanoes — the most in the world! Komodo dragons (3 m lizards), orangutans, the island of Bali, the Borobudur temple — all in Indonesia. It has more Muslims than any other country. Indonesians speak 700 languages. Jakarta is sinking, so the capital is being moved to Borneo.

Capital: Jakarta. Language: Indonesian + 700 local languages.

The Republic of Indonesia has 1.9 million km² of land across 17,508 islands (Sumatra, Java, Borneo/Kalimantan, Sulawesi, New Guinea), stretching 5,100 km west to east (3 time zones), with 279 million people (4th, 56% on Java), 1,300 ethnic groups and 700 languages; the motto 'Bhinneka Tunggal Ika' — 'Unity in Diversity'. Volcanoes: 130 active (Krakatoa 1883 — one of history's most powerful eruptions; Tambora 1815 — the 'year without a summer'); the 2004 Sumatra tsunami. Biodiversity: orangutan, Komodo dragon, Sumatran tiger, rafflesia, the Coral Triangle. History: Srivijaya, Majapahit, Islam (13th–16th centuries via traders), the Dutch East Indies (350 years), independence in 1945 (Sukarno). Economy: G20, palm oil (1st), nickel (1st), coal, tourism (Bali). The capital is moving to Nusantara (Kalimantan) from 2024 (Jakarta sinks 10 cm a year). The world's largest Muslim population (240 million).

Fun facts

• Indonesia has 130 active volcanoes — the most in the world.
• The 1883 Krakatoa explosion was heard 4,800 km away.
• Jakarta sinks 10 cm a year — so the capital is being moved.