Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. The name Indonesia derives from the Latin and Greek Indus, and the Greek nèsos, meaning "island". Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 17,508 islands, with Jakarta as nation’s capital city. The Indonesian archipelago has been an important trade region since at least the 7th century. It has 34 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country.

 

Indonesia has declared independence from colonialism on 17 August 1945 with Proklamasi Kemerdekaan Indonesia (translate: Thnie Proclamation of Indonesian Independence). Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and president. Indonesia is a founding member of ASEAN and a member of the G-20 major economies.

 

Across its many islands, Indonesia consists of hundreds of distinct native ethnic and linguistic groups. A shared identity has developed, defined by a national language, ethnic diversity, religious pluralism, and a history of colonialism and rebellion against it. Indonesia's national motto, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" ("Unity in Diversity" literally, "many, yet one"), articulates the diversity that shapes the country. Despite its large population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that support the world's second highest level of biodiversity.