The Republic of Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic state and a country in Southeast Asia. Comprising 17,508 islands, with an estimated population of around 237 million people, of course it’s become the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia also the most populous Muslim-majority nation even no reference is made to Islam in the Indonesian constitution. The nation's capital city is Jakarta. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Malaysia. Other neighbouring countries include Singapore, Philippines, Australia, and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Indonesian history has been influenced by foreign powers drawn to its natural resources. Muslim traders brought Islam, and European powers fought one another to monopolize trade in the Spice Islands of Maluku during the Age of Discovery. Following three and a half centuries of Dutch colonialism, Indonesia secured its independence after World War II. In past world history, The Indonesian archipelago has been an important trade region since at least the seventh century. when the Srivijaya Kingdom traded with China and India. Local rulers gradually adopted Indian cultural, religious and political models from the early centuries CE, and HinduBuddhist kingdoms flourished. and
Across its many islands, Indonesia consists of distinct ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. Until now The Javanese are the largest and most politically dominant ethnic group. As a unitary state and a nation, Indonesia has developed a shared identity defined by a national language, ethnic diversity, religious pluralism within a majority Muslim population.
Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that support the world's second highest level of biodiversity. The country is richly endowed with natural resources, yet poverty is a defining feature of contemporary Indonesia.
