The Context: A Brief Overview of Indonesia

Indonesia at a glance
Government Type: Independent Republic
Languages: Indonesian (official), local languages, the most prevalent of which is Javanese
Ethnic Groups: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, others 26%
Religious beliefs: Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist and other 1%
Labor Force: Agriculture 46.5%, Industry 11.8%, Services 41.7%

Total population: 225.5 million
Percent of the population under the age of 15: 29%
Urban population: 42%
Life expectancy: 69 years

Focus on reproductive health
Total fertility rate (average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime): 2.4
Contraceptive prevalence rate (among married women ages 15-49): 57% (modern methods); 60% (all methods)
Maternal mortality rate (maternal deaths per 100,000 live births): 230
Abortion is legal in Indonesia to save the life of the woman.

Focus on young women
Percentage of females ages 15-19 who have ever been married: 15%
Percentage of females who have given birth by age 18: 12%

Focus on HIV/AIDS
*Percentage of adult population (ages 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS: 0.1%
*Percentage of adult population (ages 15+) living with HIV/AIDS who are women: 17%
*Number of HIV-positive adults (ages 15+): 170.000
*Number of HIV-positive women (ages 15+): 29.000

Focus on gender
Literacy rate for women (ages 15-24): 98%
Literacy rate for men (ages 15-24): 99%
Women as a percent of parliament: 11%
From 1995-2002, 52% of females ages 15+ were economically active compared to 85% of males ages 15+


Source: Population Reference Bureau, www.prb.org

*Source: UNAIDS, www.unaids.org

Page last updated 8/28/07.