Geography & environment — Indonesia
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Indonesia: Southeast Asia
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Southeast Asia
- Geographic Coordinates
5 00 S, 120 00 E
- Total Area
735,354 Square Miles 1,904,569 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
699,447 Square Miles 1,811,569 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
35,907 Square Miles 93,000 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
1,758 Miles 2,830 Kilometers
- Border Countries
East Timor 228 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
- Coastline
33,999 Miles 54,716 Kilometers
Physical geography
- Terrain
mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
- Highest Point
5,030 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
- Lowest Point Location
Indian Ocean 0 m
- Natural Resources
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
- Irrigated Land
25,954 Square Miles 67,220 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) note: Indonesia has three time zones
Climate
- Climate
- The tropical climate varies with location, season, and altitude. Jakarta lies in the lowlands. Spanning the Equator, Indonesia experiences no real seasons. However, a wet season begins in November and lasts until March, followed by a dry season from April to October. Days and nights each last 12 hours. The tropical climate and rich soil support abundant flora and fauna. Mangrove swamps and marshes flourish along the coast
- tropical rain forests cover most of the terrain up to 3,000 feet
- and abundant subtropical vegetation, such as oak, pine, and hardwoods, thrives at higher altitudes. The abundant forest cover and favorable climate have stimulated a diverse animal life. Many endangered and unique animals, such as single‑horn rhinoceroses, orangutans, saltwater crocodiles, Komodo "dragons," Sumatran tigers, giant monitor lizards, and anoa, the pygmy buffalo of Celebes, still find a home in Indonesia. Many species of snakes, insects, and birds abound.
- Terrain
mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
- Location
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
- Total Area
735,354 Square Miles 1,904,569 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
East Timor 228 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
- deforestation
- water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage
- air pollution in urban areas
- smoke and haze from forest fires
- Environment - International Agreements
- party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed,
- but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation