Home
# Travel >> Destinations >> Caribbean

Indonesia's Four Largest Islands: Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Papua

Indonesia comprises 17,504 islands (official count). The four largest dominate land area, population, and economy.

IslandArea (km²)PopulationKey Features
Java128,297~152M (56% of national)Capital Jakarta; megacities Bandung, Surabaya, Yogyakarta; volcanic soil, rice bowl, dense infrastructure.
Sumatra473,481~58MMedan, Palembang, Padang; oil/gas/coal, palm oil, rubber; Bukit Barisan mountains, Lake Toba.
Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo)539,460~16MPontianak, Banjarmasin, Balikpapan; rainforests (orangutan), coal, gold, Dayak cultures.
Papua (Western New Guinea)421,981~5.5MJayapura, Merauke; highlands, glaciers, coral triangle, copper/gold (Grasberg), high cultural diversity.

Notes

  • Kalimantan > Sumatra > Papua > Java by area; Java > Sumatra > Kalimantan > Papua by population.
  • Sulawesi (174,600 km², ~20M) is 5th largest.
  • Indonesia spans 5,120 km E-W (like London to Baghdad), 3 time zones.

These four islands contain ~80% of Indonesia's people and GDP—geography is destiny.

Caribbean
Caribbean
Wanderlust World
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Caribbean
  • Central America
  • Europe
  • Ireland
  • Mexico
  • New Zealand
  • North America
  • Other Destinations
  • South America
  • South Pacific
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
    • Wanderlust World
    Copyright Wanderlust World © https://www.ynyoo.com