Imagine living in a country that’s not just one piece of land, but 17,000 islands. You might have to take a boat to visit your grandmother or even to buy school clothes. Welcome to Indonesia. This country of many islands sits between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Most of the islands are low coastal plains, but the larger islands have mountains and even volcanoes. Indonesia is a hot, tropical place with jungles and exotic animals.
Indonesia Facts For Kids
- Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago.
- It has over 17,000 islands.
- Jakarta is its capital city.
- World’s fourth most populous country.
- Bali is its famous tourist destination.
- It’s home to the Komodo dragon.
- Equator runs through Indonesia.
- Major producer of coffee and spices.
- It has over 700 spoken languages.
- Houses Borobudur, a famous Buddhist temple.
Jakarta
Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital city, is a bustling metropolis teeming with over 10 million people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, making it one of the world’s most populous cities. Nestled on the northern coast of West Java, this vibrant city is a fascinating educational hub for children, offering insights into Indonesian culture and history. Its skyline is adorned with towering skyscrapers, while bustling markets and beautiful historical monuments dot the cityscape.
Children can explore the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, a park that vividly presents the cultural diversity of Indonesia’s 26 provinces through miniature traditional houses, museums, and performances. The city’s rich history is exemplified by iconic landmarks like the Monas Tower, a symbol of Indonesia’s struggle for independence.
Despite its urban bustle, Jakarta maintains green spaces like the Ragunan Zoo, home to over 3,000 species of animals native to Indonesia, offering a refreshing break for kids.
Bali
Bali, a renowned Indonesian island, is celebrated for its stunning beaches, verdant landscapes, and distinctive cultural customs, making it a paradise for children with a fondness for adventure and nature. The island is teeming with diverse wildlife such as monkeys, birds, and tropical fish that contribute to its rich biodiversity.
Bali also provides children the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture through traditional dance performances and craft workshops. What sets Bali apart is the pervasive influence of religion in daily life, with Hinduism being the predominant faith, in contrast to the rest of Indonesia which is primarily Muslim.
The island’s vibrant character is further enhanced by its unique rituals, colorful ceremonies, and intricately designed temples which are a common sight.
Java
Java, the world’s most populated island, is a significant part of Indonesia, known for its rich history and captivating aspects that are particularly intriguing to children. Serving as Indonesia’s economic and political heart, Java houses the capital city, Jakarta.
The island’s breathtaking landscapes, encompassing over 100 active volcanoes like the notorious Mount Merapi, lush rainforests, and expansive rice fields, are a source of its global fame. Java’s vibrant cultural heritage, demonstrated through traditional Gamelan music and the iconic Wayang puppet theatre, is another fascinating aspect for young minds.
A fact that children would find especially astonishing is that Java is the provenance of the ‘Java Man,’ the earliest known human, whose existence was unearthed in the early 20th century.
Komodo dragons
Hailing from Indonesia, the Komodo dragons captivate with their fascinating existence as the largest lizards on Earth, reaching lengths of up to 10 feet and weights of up to 200 pounds. These reptiles, native to the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang, command the attention of both locals and tourists, marking their significance as a major attraction.
Despite their intimidating exterior, these dragons play a fundamental role within their local ecosystems, regulating the population of other animal species. However, they are currently a protected species in Indonesia, as their population suffers a decline due to factors such as habitat loss and poaching.
Borobudur Temple
The Borobudur Temple in Indonesia offers an intriguing learning experience for children. As the world’s largest Buddhist monument, this ancient structure boasts a history of over a millennium and is nestled on the island of Java, distinguished as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Its unique architectural design, modeled after a colossal mandala, symbolizes the universe in Hindu and Buddhist cultures, which adds to its allure for inquisitive young minds.
Adorned with more than 2,600 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues, the temple serves as a visual guide to Buddhist teachings, akin to an expansive, outdoor history book that invites exploration and learning.
Rupiah currency
The Rupiah, denoted as IDR, serves as the unique official currency of Indonesia and is employed in all sorts of transactions, including the purchase of toys or payment for meals. This currency is minted in both coin and paper money formats, with the coinage spanning a range of 100 to 1,000 Rupiah and paper bills varying from 1,000 to 100,000 Rupiah.
An interesting and educational aspect for children is the colorful designs of the Rupiah notes, which frequently depict significant elements from Indonesia’s rich history such as national heroes, monuments, and traditional dances.
Archipelago
Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago, boasts an impressive 17,000 islands, although only around 6,000 of these are inhabited. Each island is a unique ecosystem, contributing to the country’s rich biodiversity and wildlife.
Moreover, Indonesia is globally recognized for having the most active volcanoes, some of which are found on these islands. Among these is Komodo Island, the only place in the world where the legendary Komodo Dragons can be spotted in the wild, a fact that is sure to enthuse young explorers.
In addition, Indonesia’s vast island collection earns it the title of the second longest coastline globally, providing an array of stunning beaches and diverse marine life.
Sumatra
Sumatra, a significant Indonesian island and the world’s sixth-largest boasts a unique biodiversity that includes the world’s largest flower – the Rafflesia Arnoldii, which can reach up to a meter in diameter.
This island, celebrated for its diverse flora, is also characterized by its exclusive fauna comprising endangered species like the Sumatran tiger, rhinoceros, orangutan, and elephant, making it an intriguing learning destination for kids. Sumatra’s distinctiveness extends to its geological features, notably Lake Toba, the world’s most expansive volcanic lake, created by a colossal volcanic eruption about 70,000 years ago.
Batik
Batik, a traditional Indonesian art form passed down through generations and recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is a unique method of dyeing cloth to create colorful and intricate patterned textiles.
The process involves applying wax to specific areas of the fabric before dyeing, which prevents the dye from coloring the wax-covered areas, thus creating the distinctive Batik designs. These designs, often used in clothing, wall hangings, and other decorative items, vary by region in Indonesia, each telling a unique story or symbolizing different cultural aspects.
The tradition of creating Batik is often imparted to Indonesian children in schools, ensuring the preservation and continuation of this beautiful art form.
Spice Islands
Famous for its Spice Islands, including Ternate, Tidore, and Banda, Indonesia played a pivotal role in world history. These islands were the exclusive source of highly sought-after spices such as nutmeg and cloves, which prompted countries like Portugal, Spain, and England to send explorers on perilous voyages during the 15th and 16th centuries.
Their aim was to reach these islands and dominate the spice trade. Today, these Spice Islands still significantly contribute to Indonesia’s culture and economy, mirroring the country’s rich legacy of trade and exploration. They serve as important learning tools for children, helping them understand their historical importance in shaping the world’s economy and navigation.
Indonesia was ruled by the Netherlands until 1945. Since then, the country has had wars and conflicts. Today, the country is a democracy and the government is trying to improve living conditions for its residents. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. Sometimes Christians and Muslims have disagreements.
The islands of Indonesia were affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. An earthquake in the Indian Ocean sent 50 foot waves crashing into the islands. Over 150,000 people died in the tsunami, which affected countries from southern Asia to Africa.
Fun Facts about Indonesia for Kids
- 221,932,000 people live in Indonesia. Most of them live on the island of Java, which is about the size of New York State.
- Indonesia has 742,308 square miles of land.
- People speak Bahasa Indonesian, English, Dutch and local dialects.
- People are Muslim, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Buddhist or Hindu.
- People in Indonesia can expect to live to be 68 years old.
- 89 percent of adults can read.
Indonesia Vocabulary
- Coastal: flat, level land near the ocean
- Tropical: in the tropics near the equator; hot, humid, sunny
- Democracy: government system organized around leaders who have been elected by the people
- Tsunami: huge sheets of ocean water caused by an earthquake
Learn More All About Indonesia
Check out this cool video all about Indonesia for kids:
A video showcasing the culture of Indonesia.
Indonesia Q&A
Question: What do people in Indonesia do for fun?
Answer: People play games, just like you do. They like to watch bull fights or play football or basketball.
Map of Indonesia
Here’s a map of the country of Indonesia and all its cities and villages. Zoom in to get into street level or zoom out to see other countries around Indonesia! You can see the terrain, but also see the roads, images of the buildings and even take a 3D tour through the streets of the cities of Indonesia, as though you are actually there!
