ethnic groups in Indonesia

There are more than 600 ethnic groups in the multicultural Indonesian archipelago, making it one of the most diverse countries in the world. The vast majority of these belong to the Austronesian peoples, concentrated in western and central Indonesia (Asia), with a sizable minority are Melanesian peoples concentrated in eastern Indonesia (Oceania). However, genetic studies show that ethnic groups in Java, Bali, and Lombok have significant traces of Austroasiatic ancestry, even though Austroasiatic languages have long been replaced by Austronesian languages in the region.

Based on ethnic classification, the largest ethnic group in Indonesia is the Javanese who make up about 40% of the total population. The Javanese are concentrated on the island of Java, the world's most populous island, particularly in the central and eastern parts, but significant Javanese communities also exist in Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi due to historical migration and government-sponsored transmigration programs. It is also the largest ethnic group in Southeast Asia. The Sundanese are the next largest group; their homeland is located in the western part of the island of Java and the southern edge of Sumatra. The Malays, Batak, Madurese, Betawi, Minangkabau, and Bugis are the next largest groups in the country.

Many ethnic groups, particularly in Kalimantan and Papua, have only hundreds of members. Most of the local languages belong to the Austronesian language family, although a significant number of people, particularly in eastern Indonesia, speak unrelated Papuan languages. Indonesians of Chinese, Arab and Indian descent each make up less than 3% of the total Indonesian population.

The classification of ethnic groups in Indonesia is not rigid and in some cases unclear due to migrations, cultural and linguistic influences; for example, some may consider the Bantenese to be members of the Sundanese people; however, others argue that they are different ethnic groups altogether since they have their own distinct dialects. This is also the case with the Baduy people, who share many cultural similarities with the Sundanese people. An example of hybrid ethnicity is the Betawi people, descended not only from marriages between different peoples native to Indonesia, but also intermarriages with Arab, Chinese and Indian migrants since the era of colonial Batavia (modern-day Jakarta).

Statistics (2010)

The following lists of major ethnic groups in Indonesia are based on the 2010 Indonesian census.

Initial classification

This list was compiled from the raw data of the 2010 census by Statistics Indonesia (''Badan Pusat Statistik'', BPS) based on a preliminary classification, which is not meant to be exhaustive and combined figures for smaller groups in various regions.

New classification

This list was compiled from the same raw data of the 2010 census, according to the "new classification" developed by Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) in collaboration with Statistics Indonesia. The new classification categorized 1,331 coded ethnicities from the census into more than 600 groups instead of just 31 in the initial classification, completely dissolved the placeholder "ethnic groups from X" categories to better capture the diversity of Indonesia's ethnic demography, corrected misplaced groups and subgroups, and attempted to aggregate and separate sub-ethnic groups into ethnic groups by relying on anthropological sources.

Indigenous ethnic groups

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 ethnic groups who reside outside of their traditional regions.

* Java: Javanese ( Tenggerese, Osing, Banyumasan, etc.), Sundanese ( Badui), Bantenese, Cirebonese, Betawi, Madurese ( Bawean)
* Madura: Madurese ( Kangean)
* Sumatra: Acehnese, Gayonese, Alas, Batak, Malay, Minangkabau, Rejang, Palembang, Lampung, Nias, Mentawai, Enggano, Kubu, Musi, Ogan, Komering, Rawas, Bangka, Belitung, and others
* Kalimantan: Dayak, Banjarese, Malays, Kutai, Pasir, and others
* Sulawesi: Makassarese, Buginese, Mandarese, Minahasan, Torajan, Gorontaloan, Bajau, Buton, Tolaki, Kaili, Pamona, Banggai, Saluan, Buol, Tomini, Mongondow, Sangihe, and others
* Lesser Sunda Islands: Balinese, Sasak, Sumbawa, Bimanese, Manggarai, Ngada, Li'o, Lamaholot, Dawan, Tetun, Helong, Roti, Savu, Sikka, Sumba, Alor, Bali Aga, and others
* Moluccas: Ambonese, Alune, Buru, Kei, Manusela, Tanimbar, Saparua, Wemale, Aru, Kisar, Babar, Tobelo, Galela, Ternate, Tidore, Makian, Sula, and others
* Papua: Asmat, Amungme, Bauzi, Dani, Sawi, Yaur, Biak, Sentani, Mimika, Yali, Arfak, Auwye, Dauwa, Ketengban, Mek, Moni, Yapen, Ngalum, Waropen, Maybrat, Mbaham-Matta, Moi, and others (see List of ethnic groups of West Papua, Southwest Papua)

Non-indigenous ethnicities

Throughout Indonesian history, various ethnic groups of foreign origin spread throughout Indonesia in several migration waves, and usually established themselves in urban centres, seldom settling rural parts of the country.
* Arabs: The Arabs have settled and lived in Indonesia for a long time and have played a major role on the spread of Islam in Indonesia, The Arabs have also contributed to founding several major Sultanates in the region; a large number of them however, have fully assimilated within the greater Indonesian society. With one source estimating anywhere between 4 and 5 million of ethnic Arabs and those who are of mixed Arab ethnicity living in the country;

They are mostly concentrated around Pasar Kliwon in Surakarta, also at Jakarta, Ampel in Surabaya, Malang, Tegal, Probolinggo, Pekalongan, and various other coastal cities and towns in Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan.
* Chinese: The most significant ethnic minority of foreign origin in Indonesia, officially amounting to around 2.8 million, with other sources estimating them at anywhere between 2 and 4 million, with one estimation being as high as 8 million. Chinese people began migrating to Indonesia in the 12th century, with significant waves in the 16th and 18th centuries. They are mostly concentrated within chinatowns, also known as "Pecinan" in Indonesian, Pecinans can be found on almost every urban centers in Indonesia, the most notable however are located in Bogor, Jakarta, Malang, Semarang, Surakarta, Surabaya, Tangerang, Yogyakarta, North Sumatra, Riau, Riau Islands, Bangka-Belitung Islands, and West Kalimantan. The relationship between the ethnic Chinese and the Natives have been mostly peaceful. Albeit more complex in comparison to the Arabs and the Indians. Few cities in Indonesia have also preserved their heritage links to China, the most notable being Singkawang. They are spread throughout the Indonesian archipelago and found on almost every urban centers in Indonesia.
* Indians: Indians (mostly Tamils and to a lesser extent, Gujaratis) have also settled the Indonesian archipelago for a long time, they played a huge role on the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism within the region, and has been a major influence on the Indonesian culture as a whole, just like the Arabs however, a significant portion of the community have fully assimilated within the greater Indonesian society; They are mostly concentrated in urban centres, with significant numbers around Pasar Baru in Jakarta, and the most well known at Kampung Madras in Medan. Almost 95% of all Indian Indonesians are living in the province of North Sumatra.
* Indos: Indos or Eurasians are people of mixed native Indonesian and Dutch/European ancestry. They emerged in the Dutch East Indies colonial era. Today, less than one million Indonesians with varying degrees of mixed ancestry can trace their ancestors to Europeans (mostly Dutch and Portuguese). Nowadays, Indos are mostly found within the Greater Jakarta metropolitan area, particularly within the Puncak area, and other urban centers of the country such as Bandung, Medan, Surabaya and Semarang. Many of them also held dual citizenship. As of 2011, an estimated 124,000 Indos live outside the Netherlands (including Indonesia).
* Japanese: Japanese people who initially migrated to Indonesia after the defeat of the Japanese empire in World War II. In the years following, the percentage of Japanese people decreased as they had migrated back to Japan, with only small numbers of ex-Japanese soldiers remaining in Indonesia and becoming Indonesian citizens. The recent increase of Japanese residents in Indonesia has been driven by the increase of Japanese business and investment in the country since the 1990s, with majority of those residents being expatriates who retain their Japanese citizenship. They live mostly in Jakarta and Bali.
* Mardijkers: Their name means "freeman" and derives from the Dutch pronunciation of the Malay word "merdeka", which means "free". The ancestors of the Mardijkers were captured as slaves from Portuguese controlled territories in India, Malacca, and Africa by the Dutch East India Company with varying ethnic origins, Including Europeans and various Portuguese speaking Natives, and were freed right after being settled here. Over long periods of time, they have gradually returned to their respective home countries. However, significant populace still exist in the capital region as of this day and retains its own distinct culture characteristic of the Mardijker people, which are heavily influenced by Portuguese culture.
* Peranakans: The Peranakans are a people of mixed native-Indonesian and Chinese ancestry. Particularly, descendants of the first wave of Southern Chinese settlers who had arrived in the Indonesian Archipelago during the 14th-17th century. A lot of these Chinese settlers are single men who intermarried with the local population, creating an ethnic group who are now known as Peranakans.

Migrants

According to the United Nations, there were 355,505 international migrants in Indonesia in 2020. Their most common countries of origin were as follows:

See also

* Demographics of Indonesia
* Proto-Malay
* List of ethnic groups of West Papua

References

Notes

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