ABSTRACT
The Republic of Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. It has over 17 500 islands of which 6000 are inhabited (see Figure 1, the map of Indonesia). It has a total area of approximately 1.9 million km2 and in 2002 the estimated population was approximately 213.6 million, making it the fourth most populated country in the world. Its urban population of 74 million (35% of the total population) has a growth rate more than twice the overall country population growth rate of 1.5% per annum. Administratively, the country is divided into 30 provinces, about 400 districts (or regencies), 55 municipalities, 35 administrative cities and 16 administrative municipalities. In addition, it has two special regions and one special capital city district. The districts have become the chief administrative units for the provision of most government services. In 2001, life expectancy in Indonesia was 66.3 years, the infant mortality rate was 33% per 1000 live births (compared with 41.6 in 1997 and 35 in 2000), and the child mortality rate (for children under 5 years) was 45 per 1000 children compared with 48 in 2000. Its illiteracy rate is approximately 12%. The Republic carries a national philosophy ‘Unity in Diversity’ with five principles of state, i.e. in God we trust, humanitarian, unity of nation, people representation and social justice.
