What is the world's largest archipelago country?
Quick answer
Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic country, made up of more than 17,000 islands stretching about 5,000 km between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Official counts vary; in recent years, Indonesia has registered roughly 17,000 named islands with the United Nations. Only around 6,000 are inhabited.
Key facts
- Islands
- More than 17,000
- Population
- About 280 million, the 4th largest in the world
- Capital
- Jakarta (moving to Nusantara)
- Width
- About 5,000 km from east to west
The main islands
| Island | Notes |
|---|---|
| Java | Home to over half of Indonesia’s people and the capital, Jakarta |
| Sumatra | Large western island with rainforests and orangutans |
| Borneo (Kalimantan) | Shared with Malaysia and Brunei; see which island three countries share |
| Sulawesi | Distinctive shape with four long peninsulas |
| New Guinea (western half) | Papua provinces, with Indonesia’s highest mountains |
| Bali | Famous for Hindu culture and tourism |
Why counting islands is hard
Tides, tiny rocks and disputes about definitions all make island counts tricky. For years, Indonesia cited 17,508 islands. More recent government surveys registering named islands with the UN have produced figures around 17,000.
Archipelago countries compared
| Country | Approximate islands |
|---|---|
| Indonesia | 17,000+ |
| Philippines | 7,600+ |
| Japan | About 14,000 (2023 count) |
Some countries, such as Sweden and Norway, have even more islands in total, but most are small coastal islets, and those countries aren’t archipelagic states in the legal sense.
Life across thousands of islands
Indonesia has more than 700 languages, but Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) unites the country. Its motto is Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, “Unity in Diversity.” It has the largest Muslim population of any country.
Volcanoes and a new capital
Indonesia sits on the Ring of Fire; see which country has the most active volcanoes. Because Jakarta is sinking and crowded, Indonesia is building a new capital, Nusantara, on the island of Borneo.
Famous Indonesian traditions include batik; see where batik comes from.
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