Discover the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia that dominate the population, as well as the unique culture, traditions and heritage that reflect the richness of this nation.
Indonesia is a country with unmatched cultural diversity, where each ethnic group contributes its own color and uniqueness.
Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), there are several ethnic groups that dominate the population in Indonesia, each with its own rich culture, language, and traditions.
Here are the 10 largest ethnic groups in Indonesia, based on their population and the richness of their culture.
1. Javanese tribe
The Javanese are the largest ethnic group in Indonesia, with a population of 95,217,022 people or around 40.22 percent of the total population of Indonesia.
Most of this tribe lives on the island of Java, especially in Central Java, East Java, and DI Yogyakarta. The Javanese are also spread across various other regions in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Banten, Lampung, and several countries abroad such as Suriname and Malaysia.
The Javanese have a very rich culture, especially in art and customs. The famous cultural heritage of this tribe includes wayang kulit, gamelan, batik, and various traditional ceremonies, such as Javanese traditional weddings and selamatan rituals.
In addition, the Javanese language is known for its levels of word use, namely ngoko, krama, and krama inggil, which are used according to social status and the relationship between speakers.
Similarly, the Sakti Tribe has its own unique cultural traditions and heritage, reflecting the rich diversity of Indonesia’s indigenous communities.
2. Sundanese people
With a population of around 36,701,670 people, the Sundanese are the second largest ethnic group in Indonesia, representing around 15 percent of the total population of Indonesia.
Most of the Sundanese people live in West Java, Banten, and DKI Jakarta. The Sundanese people are famous for their very unique cultural richness, which includes art, music, dance and other traditions.
Some famous Sundanese cultures are the lute musical instrument, dance arts such as the jaipong dance, sisingaan (traditional vehicle festival), and wayang golek (wooden puppets used in wayang performances).
Sundanese has a very wide and complex vocabulary, and is the mother tongue for many people in the western region of Java.
3. Batak Tribe
The Batak tribe originates from North Sumatra and has a population of around 8,466,969 people, which is equivalent to 3.58 percent of the population of Indonesia.
The Batak tribe consists of several sub-ethnicities, such as the Toba Batak, Karo Batak, Mandailing Batak, and Simalungun Batak, each of which has its own unique culture and traditions.
The Batak tribe is known for its very strong customs, especially in wedding ceremonies and religious rituals.
The Batak tribe is also famous for its gondang (drum) musical instrument and tortor dance which is usually performed in various traditional ceremonies. In addition, Batak cuisine such as saksang and arsik are very famous among Indonesian culinary lovers.
4. Tribes of Origin of Sulawesi
The ethnic group of Sulawesi has a population of around 7,634,262 people, or 3.22 percent of the total population of Indonesia.
Sulawesi is home to various ethnic groups, including the Bugis, Makassar, Toraja, Mandar, Buton, Minahasa, Talaud, and Balaesang, who have very varied cultures.
The Toraja tribe, for example, is known for its very unique burial tradition, namely placing the body in a cave or stilt house in the mountains.
The Bugis people have a complicated marriage tradition with several stages, and are known for their unique inheritance distribution system. Each tribe in Sulawesi has customs and arts and culture that are very interesting to learn and appreciate.
5. Madurese tribe
The Madurese have a population of around 7,179,356 people, representing 3.03 percent of the total population of Indonesia.
The majority of the Madurese live on Madura Island, which is located east of Java Island, precisely in the East Java region. Madura Island has four main districts: Bangkalan, Sampang, Pamekasan, and Sumenep.
The Madurese people are famous for their culinary specialties, especially the widely known Madurese satay.
In addition, the Madurese language has its own uniqueness with dialects that vary according to region and social status. The Madurese tribe also has traditional values that are highly respected in everyday life.
6. Betawi Tribe
The Betawi tribe, which originates from the Jakarta area, has a population of around 6,807,968 people or 2.88 percent of the total population of Indonesia.
The Betawi tribe is a mixture of various ethnic groups who came to Batavia (now Jakarta) during the Dutch colonial period.
Betawi culture is very diverse and rich, including tanjidor music, ondel-ondel (large puppets), traditional dance, and culinary specialties such as kerak telor and oxtail soup.
Betawi language is a unique dialect and is often used in everyday life in Jakarta. Betawi culture is a blend of various cultural elements that developed in Batavia, including Arab, Chinese and European cultural influences.
7. Minangkabau Tribe
The Minangkabau tribe originates from West Sumatra with a population of around 6,462,713 people or 2.73 percent of the population of Indonesia.
The Minangkabau tribe is famous for its matrilineal system, namely inheritance of property that prioritizes the maternal line. This is one of the characteristics that distinguishes them from other tribes in Indonesia.
The Minangkabau people are also known for their spice-rich cuisine, such as rendang, chicken curry, and Padang satay, which have become world-famous. The Minangkabau language also has a major influence on other regional cultures, especially in the culinary and art worlds.
8. Bugis Tribe
The Bugis tribe originates from South Sulawesi and has a population of around 6,359,700 people or 2.69 percent of the total population of Indonesia.
The Bugis tribe is known for its strong maritime culture, as well as a wedding tradition that has several complicated stages, including a door-knocking ceremony.
The Bugis traditional house, called “Balla Lompoa”, is a very iconic traditional stilt house. In addition, the Bugis sailing tradition with their traditional ships is very famous, and the Bugis people have a very structured customary system.
9. Malay Tribe
The Malay ethnic group has a population of around 5,365,399 people or 2.27 percent of the population of Indonesia.
This ethnic group comes from the Austronesian group which has a long history and plays an important role in the history of Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.
Malay culture is famous for its dance, music, and culinary rich in spices, such as nasi lemak, sambal, and satay. Malay is a language used in Indonesia, Malaysia and several other countries, and is a link between nations in the Southeast Asia region.
10. Tribes of Origin of South Sumatra
The tribe from South Sumatra, which has a population of around 5,199,581 people or 2.16 percent of the total population of Indonesia, is home to various ethnic groups. Some of them are the Palembang Malay Tribe, the Minangkabau Tribe, the Chinese Tribe, and other tribes.
South Sumatra is famous for its culinary specialties such as pempek, tekwan, and mpek-mpek. The Palembang Malays have a rich artistic and cultural tradition, with distinctive musical instruments and captivating performing arts.
Indonesia is home to various ethnic groups, each of which has very rich cultures, languages and traditions. This diversity makes Indonesia a country with invaluable cultural riches.
From the dominant Javanese to the Bugis and Madurese who have unique traditions, every tribe in Indonesia plays an important role in shaping the identity of this nation.
The Asmat Tribe, renowned for its intricate woodcarving art and strong spiritual traditions, also contributes to Indonesia’s rich cultural landscape. As a country with extraordinary cultural diversity, Indonesia remains committed to preserving and appreciating existing cultures.