6 Fun Facts about the Indonesian Island of Java

Practically lying on the equator, Java Island is the world’s most populous island with an estimated population of 143.1 million people. It is home to 57% of the Indonesian population and was the center for Hindu-Buddhist empires. Being on of the most dense places of the world it holds must of Indonesia’s history as well as it’s center of politics, economic growth, and culture.

6Fun Facts about Java, the Indonesian Island

Mount Merbabu surrounded by rice fields on the island of Java, Indonesia. Photo by by Merbabu Sawah.

1. By land mass size, Java is the world’s 13th largest island, and fifth largest Indonesian Island. It was formed mainly by volcanic eruptions and has an east-west chain of them along the island.

2. Java is split into four provinces. East Java, Central Java, West Java, and Banten. Javanese and Indonesian are spoken there.

The 9th century Borobudur Buddhist stupa in Central Java is the world’s largest Buddhist monument, built in the 8th century by the Sailendra dynasty. Photo by Gunawan Kartapranata

3. The Indonesian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion but the government only recognizes six official religions (Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism).  On the island of Java, more than 90 percent of the people are Muslims, on a broad continuum between abangan (more traditional) andsantri (more modernist). Some parts of south-central Java are strongly Roman Catholic and Buddhist communities exist in Java’s major cities.

4. With more than 450 different bird species, Java is a bird watcher’s paradise.

5. During the colonial periods of the 17th century, the Dutch introduced the cultivation of commercial plants in Java, including sugarcane, rubber, tea and coffee. In the 19th and early 20th century, Javanese coffee gained global popularity. This is in fact why the name “Java” is commonly considered being synonymous with coffee .

Central Jakarta during monthly Car Free Day, on the last Sunday every month. The Thamrin and Sudirman avenue from National Monument to Senayan area is closed from cars and any motorized vehicles from 6 AM to 12 AM, except for TransJakarta Bus Rapid Transit system. Photo by Gunawan Kartapranta.

6. Located on the northwest coast of Java, Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and it’s largest city. With a population of more than 10 million, Jakarta is one of the world’s most densely populated cities, leading to Car Free Days on certain Sundays, and the world’s longest bus rapid transit routes.