Republik Indonesia

Political Status: Independent republic established August 17, 1945; original constitution reinstated by presidential decree in 1959; under modified military regime from March 12, 1966, until democratic multiparty system reinvigorated following change of government on May 21, 1998.

Area: 735,354 sq. mi. (1,904,569 sq. km.).

Population: 206,264,595 (2000C); 234,423,000 (2008E). Both figures exclude East Timor, which became the independent country of Timor-Leste in 2002.

Major Urban Centers (2005E): JAKARTA (8,455,000), Surabaya (2,675,000), Bandung (2,179,000), Medan (2,009,000), Palembang (1,648,000), Tangerang (1,590,000), Semarang (1,524,000), Ujung Pandang (formerly Makassar, 1,190,000), Malang (789,000), Padang (762,000), Yogyakarta (390,000).

Official Language: Bahasa Indonesia (a form of Malay).

Monetary Unit: Rupiah (market rate December 1, 2009: 9,445.00 rupiahs = $1US).

President: Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (Democratic Party); elected in runoff balloting on September 20, 2004, and inaugurated ...