Here are 25 facts that you might not know about Indonesia…

Fact 1)

Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium is one of the largest stadium in the world. When it was completed in 1962 to host the Asian Games it’s original capacity was 120,800 people, which would have made it the second largest today.

Fact 2)

The Komodo dragon, found in Indonesia, is the largest lizard in the world, growing up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) in length.





Fact 3)

The world’s largest flower, Rafflesia Arnoldi, weighs up to 7 kg (15 pounds) and only grows on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Its petals grow to 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) long and 2.5 cm (1 inch) thick.

Fact 4)

According to the 2004 Global Corruption Report, former Indonesian President Suharto was the most corrupt leader of all time, embezzling between 15 billion and 35 billion USD.

Fact 5)

Indonesia has the largest ‘young’ population in the world with 165 million people under the age of 30, whereas only 8% of the population is aged over 60 years (National Bureau of Statistics, August 2001).

Fact 6)

Indonesia has the second longest coastline in the world (over 54,000km), after Canada (CIA World Factbook).

Fact 7)

Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world.

Fact 8)

Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world with more than 18,000 islands.





Fact 9)

Indonesia was once home to ‘Dolly’, the largest red-light district in Southeast Asia, housing up to 2,000 sex workers in one centralised location. It was shut down in June 2014.

Fact 10)

Indonesia is the 4th largest country in the world, with a population of around 250 million (World Bank, 2013).

Fact 11)

The Grasberg mine, located near Puncak Jaya, is the largest gold mine and the third largest copper mine in the world.

Fact 12)

Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world. The lake’s supervolcanic eruption that occurred 70,000 years ago was the largest known explosive eruption on Earth in the last 25 million years. According to the Toba catastrophe theory, it killed most humans living at that time.

Fact 13)

Borobudur temple in Central Java is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.





Fact 14)

The second, third, and sixth largest Islands in the world consist of parts of Indonesia. Guinea (the entire island, including West Papua and Papua New guinea) is the second largest. Borneo, (across the island, including Brunei and Malaysia Sarawak) is the third largest. The island of Sumatra is the sixth largest and is located entirely in Indonesia. (UN System-Wide Earthwatch, 1998).

(Excluding continental landmasses).

Fact 15)

The most odorous flower on Earth, Amorphophallus titanum, is found in Indonesia and can grow to an average height of two meters. When it blooms, it releases a foul odour comparable to rotten meat, which can be smelled from half a mile away. Also known as the “devil’s tongue”, it was originally discovered in 1878 in the rainforest of central Sumatra island, by the Italian botanist and explorer Dr Oroardo Beccari.

Fact 16)

One of the longest snakes ever found was discovered in Sulawesi, Indonesia in 1912. According to the Guinness World Records, the snake had a length of 10 meters (or about 32 ft 9.5 in).

Fact 17)

Jakarta is the 13th largest city in the world with a population of around 11.3 million people (BPS, 2010).

Fact 18)

That the highest number of deaths as a result of a natural disaster was the December 2004 Tsunami which predominantly affected Aceh, Indonesia. The total death toll was estimated at 230,000 people.





Fact 19)

Indonesia, under the name Dutch East Indies, was the first Asian team to participate in the FIFA World Cup. They qualified in 1938, but lost 6-0 against Hungary, in Reims, France.

Fact 20)

Indonesia and Monaco have the same flag but Indonesia’s is slightly wider.

Fact 21)

Java is the world’s most populous island, with a 2014 population of around 139 million people.

Fact 22)

The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa was one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history, with 36,417 deaths being attributed to the eruption itself and the tsunamis it created. Significant additional effects were also felt around the world.

Fact 23)

In 2005, Indomie broke the Guinness Book of World Records category for “The Largest Packet of Instant Noodles”, creating a packet that was 3.4m x 2.355m x 0.47m, with a net weight of 664.938 kg, which is about 8,000 times the weight of a regular pack of instant noodles. It was made using the same ingredients as a regular pack of instant noodle and was certified fit for human consumption.

Fact 24)

After first launching ‘Palapa’ in July 1976, Indonesia became the first developing country to operate their own domestic satellite system.

Fact 25)

The composer of the Singaporean National Anthem was Zubir Said, originally from the highlands of West Sumatra.