The Common Problems Of Indonesia Population

Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the world after China, India and the United States with estimated population of more than 238 millions. As a Matter of fact, Indonesia is a vast country consists of thousands of islands (there are about 17,000 islands) that spread out nationwide. This unique country has a national motto that truly describes its existence that is to say “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” of which meaning is “Unity in Diversity due to its hundreds of ethnic groups living in those thousands of islands. Such hundreds numbers of ethnic groups in Indonesia are the results of its distinguish history as well as its geography. Bahasa Indonesia as the national language and Pancasila as the national philosophy are the two crucial things that bind all of those different ethnics.

The Indonesia population is consisting of Malay extraction as the majority residents, native residents or so-called pribumi who live in Papua and eastern islands, Chinese ethnics, Arab and Indians. The major ethnic group in Indonesia population is Javanese that reach up to 45% of the Indonesia population, followed by Sundanese, Madurese, Coastal Malays and other Indonesia population spread out throughout the country.

However, there is a central problem in this Indonesia population that is to say the density of population. The island of Java is the most populous island in Indonesia where it becomes the center of the political power and economy of Indonesia. The fact is that Java of which area is only about 7% of total Indonesia land area consists of about 59, 5% o the total Indonesia population. On the contrary, large island as Papua (the western half of Papua New Guinea) of which area represents 22% of the total Indonesia landmass is only inhabited by 1% of the total Indonesia population. Other vast area in Indonesia such as Kalimantan and Sulawesi has relatively low population level since the majority of Indonesia population lives in Java and Bali.

To control the Indonesia population explosion, the government of Indonesian has established a comprehensive family planning program since 1972. It is very important for the citizen to realize the importance of control the birth rate since high population will greatly influence the quality of life as well as the progress of the country. Besides, a family planning program could help the people to reduce poverty trap. However, the explosion of Indonesia population is not only becomes the government’s responsibility but it rather the responsibility of every Indonesia citizen.