Land area

1,904,443 sq km

Sea area (exclusive economic zone)

3,166,163 sq km (before deductions for sea area now under the control of Timor-Leste)

Total area

5,070,606 sq km

Population

240m (US Census Bureau 2009 estimate)

Main towns

Population in '000 (2000 census)

Jakarta (capital): 8,385 Medan: 1,792

Surabaya: 2,589 Palembang: 1,442

Bandung: 2,142 Semarang: 1,345

Climate

Tropical

Weather in Jakarta (altitude 8 metres)

Hottest months, April-May, 24-31°C (average daily minimum and maximum); coldest months, January-February, 23-29°C; wettest months, January-February, 300 mm average rainfall

Languages

Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia), as well as some 250 other regional languages and dialects. English has replaced Dutch as the main second language and is widely spoken in government and business circles

Measures

Metric system

Currency

Rupiah (Rp). Average exchange rate in 2010: Rp9,088:US$1

Time

Western Zone 7 hours ahead of GMT, Central Zone 8 hours ahead, Eastern Zone 9 hours ahead

Fiscal year

January 1st-December 31st (since 2001)

Public holidays

New Year, January 1st; Chinese New Year, February 3rd; Mouloud, February 15th; Hindu New Year, March 5th; Good Friday, April 22nd; Waisak Day, May 17th; Ascension Day, June 2nd; Lailat Al Miraj, June 29th; Independence Day, August 17th; Eid al-Fitr, August 30th-31st; Eid al-Adha, November 6th; Islamic New Year, November 27th; Christmas Day, December 25th