15 Facts You Need To Know About Indonesia

Who hasn’t heard of Indonesia, with its flora and fauna, sumptuous beaches, unique animals and volcanoes? But did you also know that the country holds many records, some of them unexpected? Intrigued? Read on to discover my 15 favorite facts about this wonderful country!

This post contains affiliate links. Whenever you buy something through one of these, I get a small commission, without any extra cost to you. Thank you!

Save it for later!

1. A country in the top 10 for the number of languages spoken

Second, to be more precise, because with around 750 dialects, Indonesia ranks quite close to the first country (Papua New Guinea) in terms of languages spoken. The official national language, Bahasa Indonesia, is spoken by over 94% of the population. You don’t have to go far to discover other dialects: travel to Bali (Balinese), Java (Javanese, Sundanese) or Suwalesi (Buginese) and you’ll see how local dialects are used in everyday life.

I can’t even imagine speaking one language perfectly, so what about hundreds of dialects in one country??

2. A peculiar tradition

Also known as the “metatah” or tooth filling ceremony, this Balinese Hindu tradition, often practiced as a puberty rite, aims to purify negative human traits (desire, greed, anger, pride, jealousy and confusion) and ward off evil spirits.

As sharp teeth are often associated with the image of the devil, this process is more than a matter of appearance, as it is considered very important to the Balinese from the point of view of their religion.
Yet this ritual is often postponed (though it should be done before the wedding) due to its high cost, while others choose to perform it as a mass ceremony, bringing together many families, thus saving money.

Going to the dentist sounds nicer now, doesn’t it?!?

3. The deadliest volcanic eruption in history

Indonesia sadly experienced a major volcanic eruption in 1815, when Mount Tambora on the island of Sumbawa claimed the lives of over 90,000 people. But even more tragically, most of the deaths (at least 80,000) were caused by famine due to the destruction of crops by toxic fallout from volcanic ash, not by the eruption itself.

4. A library like no other

I’m not a big fan of capital cities (with the exception of a few) and that’s probably why I usually only stay a day or two, as I quickly find them overwhelming. But I’m a bit of a bookworm, so when I heard that Jakarta had the world’s tallest library building, at 24 floors and 126.63 m, I was pretty disappointed, to put it mildly.
I think that’s reason enough for me to go back, don’t you?

Each floor has its own dedicated space: from ancient texts to exhibitions to the children’s section, there’s something for everyone.

So if, like me, you’re keen to explore and devour books, this is the place to be!

5. Indonesia and its thousands of islands

More than 17,000 to be almost exact, as the numbers aren’t really perfectly known yet. And here’s another top 10 for our Indonesian friends!

If you want to know number 1, I’m sure you’ll be shocked, as it’s probably not the country you’d expect. It’s (drum roll please…) Sweden. Yes, the Nordic country is way ahead of its competitors with an impressive 267,570 islands, but the little detail you need to know is that less than 1% of them are actually inhabited.

Enough to put your knowledge to the test on your next Trivia night!

6. A famous temple in The Guinness Book of Records

When I told you that Indonesia holds many world records, I wasn’t kidding, was I? Located near Yogyakarta (see my post on the city here), Borobudur (Candi Borobudur in Javanese) is one of the largest Buddhist temples in the world. Uniquely built, with over 70 stupas and thousands of stories, it’s quite simply a magnificent masterpiece, making it a must-see during a stay on the island of Java.

7. A special and rather expensive drink

For coffee lovers, I’m sure you’ve already heard of this speciality from Indonesia: Kopi Luwak. This product, obtained from coffee cherries previously eaten and defecated by the little creatures known as Asian palm civets (or luwak), is quite unique in the world.

And although the process doesn’t sound very appetizing, I’ve never heard any complaints from friends who’ve tasted it, finding it rather sweet and fruity. Personally, I can’t tell you, as I hate coffee and only drink it once a year, when I’m really tired and with so much sugar that it no longer tastes like coffee.

However, Kopi Luwak is not only renowned for its taste and manufacturing process, but also for its price, which is usually around $100 a kilo. That’s quite a deterrent. I think I’ll stick to tea!

But if you’re still curious, why not give it a try next time you’re in Indonesia and let me know what you think!

8. A diversity of cultures

Perhaps the most distinctive feature of Indonesia is its diversity of cultures, and that’s no surprise when you consider that there are 300 ethnic groups and more than double the number of languages spoken (as we saw above).

And if you think that with such diversity there could be conflict, you’d be wrong, because I’ve never seen such a strong sense of community and unity where everyone, whatever their religion or language, is accepted in the same way.

A life lesson for us all!

9. A one-of-a-kind New Year in Bali

Nyepi or Balinese New Year can be translated as “Day of Silence”, because for 24 hours, it’s forbidden to go out, shops are closed and airports are closed. The Balinese like to spend the day meditating, enjoying the company of their families and recharging their batteries.

On the eve of Nyepi, giant papier-mâché sculptures called Ogoh-Ogoh are carried by the locals in a festive parade before being finally burned to rid them of misfortune and evil spirits before the start of the New Year.

This unique tradition is an experience I’d recommend to anyone, as it will immerse you in Bali’s folklore and give you a peaceful yet spiritual experience!

10. A beautiful volcanic lake (but not only)

On the island of Sumatra lies the magnificent volcanic Lake Toba, the largest in the world, covering 1,140 km² and 450 meters deep. I don’t know about you, but the facts combined with the captivating photos have already convinced me to put this place on my bucket list!

11. Indonesia and its unique animals

Indonesia’s flora and fauna are already amazing, but wait until you see its animals. Between Javan rhinos, Orangutans, pygmy tarsiers, Komodo dragons (found only in the country) and many more, you’ll soon be at a loss for words.

Unfortunately, as in many countries around the world, a lot of them are endangered due to deforestation and poaching.

12. Largest exporter of frogs’ legs

France may be one of the countries known to love frogs’ legs – although I don’t understand the craze – but Indonesia is actually the world’s biggest exporter. And yet, when you consider the cruelty that these poor animals endure before ending up on the menu of a chic restaurant, you think twice before considering buying this dish.

What’s more, this once again creates a threat to the animal, with the possibility of endangering its species, even though frogs are also important to the ecosystem as they regulate the insect population.

Save the frogs!!

13. A lovely but pungent-smelling flower

Found in the rainforests of Indonesia, the rare Rafflesia arnoldii flower is the tallest in the world (up to a meter) and while it’s really beautiful, you might want to take a step back if you come across it, as it emits an odor similar to rotting flesh. Charming…

So, if you’re walking through the Sumatran rainforest, be warned, although I’m pretty sure you’ll smell it before you see it!

14. Indonesia, the world’s first trilingual country

This may not surprise you after reading about the number of dialects spoken in Indonesia. That’s how the country earned the title of the world’s first trilingual country, the languages being Bahasa Indonesian, Javanese and English.

So, if you were worried about how difficult it would be to travel in Indonesia, don’t, because they speak very good English, sometimes even better than most foreigners!

15. Birthday traditions are a bit different

Who doesn’t love receiving gifts and being honored for a whole day, right? But here’s the thing: in Indonesia, not only will you receive gifts to wish you a long life, but you’ll probably also have to treat your friends to a meal.

This tradition truly represents the Indonesian values of kindness and community, because even if you’ve received a gift, the right thing to do is to reciprocate.

Another way of wishing a happy birthday, especially when you’re a teenager, is to have your friends throw eggs, flour or other objects at you, depending on how cute and kind they are.

It’s a pretty touching and interesting way to celebrate a birthday, don’t you think?

Any other experiences you’ve had in Indonesia? Any tips for future travelers? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments!

Love it? Feel free to share it!