Indonesia Country Report
The Republic of Indonesia is a transcontinental country and an archipelago in Southeast Asia. It is the largest Muslim-majority country and the fourth most populous country in the world. Since the end of the dictatorship in the late 1990s, the country has experienced significant economic and political development and is now the largest economy in the region. Growth has been largely driven by the extractive and agricultural sectors, but corruption, weak rule of law, and sectarian friction remain major obstacles to the country’s continued development.
The biggest threat to travelers is opportunistic crime. Despite significant efforts by authorities over the past decade to reduce the threat posed by extremist groups, terrorism remains a constant concern. In addition, the country has an active protest culture and a strong organizational level of labor unions, leading to regular civil unrest and labor uprisings that can cause significant disruption.
Some areas of Indonesia are prone to strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and large parts of the country are prone to flooding during the monsoon season. Access to health care outside of large urban centers is limited, and there are concerns about the prevalence of counterfeit drugs.
Indonesia is currently facing an outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the number of infected people is the highest in Southeast Asia. The central government’s move to reopen the economy instead of maintaining stricter protocols may cause the number of infections to remain high. Containment also varies by region, depending on the effectiveness of restrictions imposed by local governments.
Last updated: April 11, 2022
Security
The main threat to travelers comes from opportunistic crimes that are prevalent in Indonesia’s major population centers. There is also the risk of local conflicts due to armed uprisings in the Papua and West Papua regions, while other parts of the country experience occasional incidents of violence due to regional and sectarian conflicts. Despite extensive efforts by local authorities to stamp out local extremist groups, Indonesia remains a constant threat from terrorism, and major urban centers such as Jakarta and Surabaya have come under attack in recent years.
Last updated: April 26, 2022
Infrastructure
There are concerns about air travel.
Land travel is considered dangerous for several reasons.
Some states do not have a stable electricity supply. However, while most cities are known for having reliable cell phone coverage and internet connectivity, the average speed of cities in Southeast Asia is among the lowest.
Cybercrime is gradually becoming a concern.
Last updated: April 26, 2022
Environment
Indonesia is located in a seismically active region and is vulnerable to destructive earthquakes as well as volcanic activity. Coastal areas are also at risk of tsunamis. Similarly, rain-induced floods and landslides occur frequently in many parts of the country during the monsoon season. In addition, haze caused by forest fires is an annual concern in various parts of the country.
Last updated: March 14, 2022
Health and Medical
The main health concerns usually arise from mosquito-borne diseases. Medical care outside of Jakarta and other urban centers is very limited. Counterfeit drugs are also increasing rapidly in government hospitals.
Last updated: September 7, 2022
Political
Indonesia has a stable political system and there is no major threat to the current government of Joko Widodo. However, high levels of corruption in the public sector and weak rule of law also remain problems.
Last updated: March 25, 2022
