Overview
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a vast country situated in Southeast Asia and Oceania, stretching between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is renowned as the world's largest archipelagic state, comprising approximately 17,000 islands. This immense collection of islands makes Indonesia the 14th-largest country in the world by area, covering roughly 1,904,569 square kilometres.
Geography and Islands
The Indonesian archipelago includes some of the most well-known islands in Southeast Asia, such as Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi. The country also encompasses parts of two other major islands, Borneo and New Guinea, which it shares with neighboring nations.
Given its expansive and fragmented geography, Indonesia maintains a variety of international borders. On land, it borders three countries:
- Papua New Guinea
- Timor-Leste
- Malaysia
In addition to these land borders, Indonesia's island geography means it shares maritime borders with seven other nations, including Australia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
Biodiversity
Indonesia is home to significant areas of wilderness, ranging from dense rainforests to coastal ecosystems. This vast and varied natural environment supports one of the highest levels of biodiversity found anywhere in the world, making the country an important region for global conservation efforts.