Ethnic groups in Indonesia

There are over 300 ethnic groups in Indonesia.^[1] 95% of those are of Native Indonesians ancestry.^[2]

The largest ethnic group in Indonesia is the Javanese who make up 41% of the total population. The Javanese are concentrated on the island of Java but millions have migrated to other islands throughout the archipelago.^[3] The Sundanese, Malay, and Madurese are the next largest groups in the country.^[3] Many ethnic groups, particularly in Kalimantan and Papua, have only hundreds of members. Most of the local languages belong to Austronesian language family, although a significant number, particularly in Papua, speak Papuan languages. The Chinese Indonesian population makes up a little less than 1% of the total Indonesian population according to the 2000 census.^[3] Some of these Indonesians of Chinese descent speak various Chinese dialects, most notably Hokkien and Hakka.

The division and classification of ethnic groups in Indonesia is not rigid and in some case are unclear as the result of migrations, also cultural and lingusitic influences; for example some may agree that Bantenese and Cirebonese are belongs to different ethnic group with their own distinct dialect, however another might consider them as Javanese sub-ethnic, the member of larger Javanese people. The same case also with Baduy people that share soo much similarity with Sundanese people that can be considered as belongs to the same ethnic group. The example of hybrid ethnicity is Betawi people, the result of mixture of different ethnicities in Indonesia also with Arab and Chinese since the era of colonial Batavia (Jakarta).

The proportional populations of Indonesian ethnic groups according to the (2009 census) is as follows:

Indigenous ethnicities

The regions of Indonesia have some of their indigenous ethnic groups. Due to migration within Indonesia (as part of government transmigration programs or otherwise), there are significant populations of ethic groups who reside outside of their traditional regions.

• Java: Javanese, Sundanese, Bantenese, Betawi, Tengger, Osing, Badui
• Madura: Madurese
• Sumatra: Malays, Batak, Minangkabau, Acehnese, Lampung, Kubu
• Kalimantan: Dayak, Banjar
• Sulawesi: Makassarese, Buginese, Mandar, Minahasa, Gorontalonese, Toraja, Bajau
• Lesser Sunda Islands: Balinese, Sasak
• The Moluccas: Nuaulu, Manusela, Wemale
• Papua: Dani, Bauzi, Asmat

Foreign ethnicities

Throughout Indonesian history, waves of migration of foreign origin ethnicites were spread throughout Indonesia, usually inhabit urban centers and seldom reach rural parts of Indonesia.

• Chinese: The most significant foreign origin ethnic minority in Indonesia. Chinese began inhabited Indonesia since 15th century with significant waves in 18th and 19th century. Mostly concentrated in pecinan (chinatowns) in urban Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan , with significant numbers in Jakarta, Medan, Semarang, Surabaya, Cirebon, Bangka island and Pontianak in West Kalimantan.
• Arabs: Historically Arab traders were credited for the spread of Islam in Indonesian archipelago. Many have assimilated into local ethnicities such as Betawi, Malay, Javanese, and Sundanese; however several cities in Indonesia have significant Arabs that preserve their culture, identity, and their links to Arabia. Spread throughout Indonesian cities, yet significant numbers can be found in Surabaya, Gresik, Jakarta, Medan and many coastal cities in Indonesia.
• Indian: Indian people also had settled the Indonesian archipelago, however their number is not as large as that of Chinese Indonesians. Concentrated in urban centers with significant numbers around Pasar Baru area, Jakarta, and in Medan.
• Indos: Indos or Eurasians, of mixed ancestry between the Indonesian native ethnic group and European/Dutch ancestry, they emerge during the Dutch East Indies. Around one million Indonesians with various degree of mixed ancestry today can trace their ancestry to the Europeans. During the colonial time their number where more, but since the Indonesian independence some chose to return to the Netherlands. Eurasian Indonesians dwindle as an ethnic group since major emigration from Indonesia after World War II.
• Japanese: Japanese has migrated to Indonesia since the Dutch East Indies colonial era; however, after their defeat in World War II their number decreased, leaving small numbers of ex-Japanese soldiers that still stayed in Indonesia and became Indonesian citizens. The recent development of Japanese residents in Indonesia was driven by the increase of Japanese business and investment in Indonesia since 1970s, and mostly are expatriates that still maintain their Japanese citizenship. Significant numbers of Japanese expatriates stay in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta and Bali.
• Korean: They are the recent addition of Indonesian foreign origin ethnicities, dated back only several decades ago. Mostly driven by the increase of Korean business and investment in Indonesia, and mostly are expatriates that still maintain their Korean citizenship.

See also

• Demographics of Indonesia
• Alfur people

References