Indonesian Culture

Around 40% of the population are Javanese, followed by Sundanese at about 16%. The third largest ethnic group is Batak from North Sumatra, accounting for almost 4% of the total population. Read more about six largest ethnic groups in Indonesia here.

The majority of the population is Muslim, while in Bali the Hindu religion is predominant. Whereas in areas like the Minahasa in North Sulawesi, the Toraja highlands in South Sulawesi, in the East Nusatenggara islands and in large parts of Papua, in the Batak highlands as well as on Nias island in North Sumatra, the majority are either Catholics or Protestants. On the whole, Indonesian people are religious in nature.

Bahasa Indonesia is the official and national language of Indonesia.

Most Indonesians, aside from speaking the national language, are fluent in at least one of the more than 700 indigenous local languages; examples include Javanese and Sundanese, which are commonly used at home and within the local community. However, most formal education and nearly all national mass media, governance, administration, and judiciary and other forms of communication are conducted in Indonesian.

The cuisine of indonesia has been influenced by Chinese culture and Indian culture, as well as by Western culture. Most native Indonesians eat rice as the main dish, with a wide range of vegetables and meat as side dishes. However, in some parts of the country, such as Papua and Ambon in the East, the majority of the people eat sago (a type of tapioca) and sweet potato.

The most important aspect of modern Indonesian cuisine is that food must be halal (no pork and alcohol), conforming to Islamic food laws. However, in some regions where there is a significant non-Muslim population such as Bali, non-halal foods are also commonly served.

Indonesian dishes are usually spicy, using a wide range of chilli peppers and spices. Food from some regions such as West Sumatra and Sulawesi are spicier than others, while Javanese food tends to be sweet.