Indonesia Country Information

Fact & Figures

Location - Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

Capital - Jakarta

Population - 242.9 million

People - Javanese 41%, Sundanese 15%, Madurese 3%, Minangkabau 3%, Betawi 2%, Bugis 2%, Banten 2%, Banjar 2%, other 30%

Language - Bahasa Indonesia, English, Dutch, indigenous languages

Religion - Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 1.8%, other 3.4%

Literacy rate - 90.4%

Life expectancy - 71 years

% Living below $1.25/day - 21%

Sources The CIA World Fact Book 2008, Compassion International, www.news.bbc.co.uk

Indonesia

Indonesia is home to the largest Muslim population in the world and consists of more than 17,000 islands, of which 6,000 are inhabited.

Steady economic improvement came to a halt in the Asian economic crisis which began in 1997 and recovery has been hampered by natural disasters, corruption, violence and terrorist attacks.

The economic disruption is posing a serious threat to the lives of children. Increasing living costs are putting strain on impoverished families and over a quarter of children under the age of five are already malnourished. In addition, millions of Indonesians do not have access to adequate sanitation or safe drinking water.

Human trafficking is also a serious problem. Each year, thousands of women and children are forced or lured into the sex trade and nearly three million children are working in the labour force, often in very dangerous conditions.

Compassion’s work in Indonesia began in 1968. Currently, more than 76,780 children participate in 451 child development centres. Compassion partners with churches to help them provide Indonesian children with the opportunity to rise above their circumstances and become all God has created them to be.

Compassion Indonesia currently has 17 Child Survival Programmes.

Over 76,780 children are currently being assisted in more than 451 Child Sponsorship Programmes in Indonesia.

Compassion Indonesia currently has 116 active Leadership Development Programme students.