Religion in Indonesia

Religion in Indonesia (2024)^[1]

Islam (87.09%)
Christianity (10.45%)
Hinduism (1.67%)
Buddhism (0.71%)
Confucianism (0.03%)
Folk/Other (0.04%)

Several different religions are practised in Indonesia. Indonesia is officially a presidential republic and a unitary state without an established state religion.^[2]^[3] The first principle of Indonesia's philosophical foundation, Pancasila, requires its citizens to state the belief in "the one and almighty God".^[4]^[5] Although, as explained by the Constitutional Court, this first sila of Pancasila is an explicit recognition of divine substances (i.e. divine providence) and meant as a principle on how to live together in a religiously diverse society.^[6] Blasphemy is a punishable offence (since 1965, see § History) and the Indonesian government has a discriminatory attitude towards its numerous tribal religions, atheist and agnostic citizens.^[7] In addition, the Aceh province officially applies Sharia law and is notorious for its discriminatory practices towards religious and sexual minorities.^[8]

Several different religions are practised in the country, and their collective influence on the country's political, economic and cultural life is significant. Despite constitutionally guaranteeing freedom of religion,^[9] the government back in 1965 recognises only six religions: Islam, Christianity (Catholicism, under the label of "Katolik", and Protestantism, under the label of "Kristen" are recognised separately), Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism.^[10]^[11] In that same year, the government specified that it will not ban other religions, specifically mentioning Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Shinto, and Taoism as examples.^[10] According to a 2017 decision of the Constitutional Court of Indonesia, "the branches/flows of beliefs" (Indonesian: aliran kepercayaan) - ethnic religions with new religious movements - must be recognised and included in an Indonesian identity card (KTP).^[12]^[13] Based on data collected by the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP), there are about 245 unofficial religions in Indonesia.^[14]

From 1975 to 2017, Indonesian law mandated that its citizens possess an identity card indicating their religious affiliation, which could be chosen from a selection of those six recognised religions.^[15] However, since 2017, citizens who do not identify with those religions have the option to leave that section blank on their identity card.^[7] Although there is no apostasy law preventing Indonesians from converting to any religion, Indonesia does not recognise agnosticism or atheism, and blasphemy is considered illegal.^[16] According to Ministry of Home Affairs data in 2024, 87.09% of Indonesians identified themselves as Muslim (with Sunnis about 99%,^[17] Shias about 1%^[18]), 10.45% Christians (7.38% Protestants, 3.07% Roman Catholic), 1.67% Hindu, 0.71% Buddhists, 0.03% Confucians, 0.04% Folk and others.^[1]

^ ^a ^b "Population Geographic Information System". Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil). Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
^ Da Costa, Agustinus Beo (12 October 2019). "Indonesia urges public to report civil servants over 'radical' content". Reuters. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
^ Hosen 2005, pp. 419–40; Intan 2006, p. 40; Seo 2013, p. 44; Ropi 2017, p. 61 etc.
^ Prinada, Yudi (2 December 2020). "Beda Isi Piagam Jakarta dan Pancasila Sejarah Perubahannya". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 June 2022.
^ Lindsey & Pausacker 1995; Intan 2006, p. 18.
^ "Indonesia Negara Ketuhanan" (PDF). mkri.id. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
^ ^a ^b US State Dept 2022 report
^ Pringle 2010, pp. 154–55; Buehler 2016.
^ Article 29 of The 1945 Constitution of The Republic of Indonesia – via Wikisource.
^ ^a ^b Penjelasan atas Penetapan Presiden Republik Indonesia Nomor 1 Tahun 1965 [The explanatory memorandum for Article 1 of Presidential Edict No 1 of 1965 on the Prevention of Abuse and/or Blasphemy of Religion] (in Indonesian) – via Wikisource.
^ Hosen 2005, pp. 419–40; Shah 2017; Marshall 2018, pp. 85–96.
^ Sutanto, Trisno S. (26 April 2018). "The Decolonization of Adat Communities: Notes from PGI's 2018 Seminar on Religions". Center for religions and cross-cultural studies Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
^ Marshall 2018, pp. 85–96.
^ Aritonang, Margareth S. (7 November 2014). "Government to recognise minority faiths". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2 October 2006.
^ "International Religious Freedom Report 2008. Indonesia". US Department of State. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ "Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
^ "Sunni and Shia Muslims". Pew Research Center. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
^ Atjeh 1977; Lindsey & Pausacker 1995, p. 271.

[auto-1] "Population Geographic Information System". Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil). Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Retrieved 23 March 2025.

[2] Da Costa, Agustinus Beo (12 October 2019). "Indonesia urges public to report civil servants over 'radical' content". Reuters. Retrieved 14 June 2022.

[FOOTNOTEHosen2005419–40Intan200640Seo201344Ropi201761_etc-3] Hosen 2005, pp. 419–40; Intan 2006, p. 40; Seo 2013, p. 44; Ropi 2017, p. 61 etc.

[4] Prinada, Yudi (2 December 2020). "Beda Isi Piagam Jakarta dan Pancasila Sejarah Perubahannya". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 9 June 2022.

[FOOTNOTELindseyPausacker1995Intan200618-5] Lindsey & Pausacker 1995; Intan 2006, p. 18.

[6] "Indonesia Negara Ketuhanan" (PDF). mkri.id. Retrieved 8 March 2023.

[US2022-7] US State Dept 2022 report

[FOOTNOTEPringle2010154–55Buehler2016-8] Pringle 2010, pp. 154–55; Buehler 2016.

[9] Article 29 of The 1945 Constitution of The Republic of Indonesia – via Wikisource.

[PNPS-10] Penjelasan atas Penetapan Presiden Republik Indonesia Nomor 1 Tahun 1965 [The explanatory memorandum for Article 1 of Presidential Edict No 1 of 1965 on the Prevention of Abuse and/or Blasphemy of Religion] (in Indonesian) – via Wikisource.

[FOOTNOTEHosen2005419–40Shah2017Marshall201885–96-11] Hosen 2005, pp. 419–40; Shah 2017; Marshall 2018, pp. 85–96.

[Trisno_S_Sutanto-12] Sutanto, Trisno S. (26 April 2018). "The Decolonization of Adat Communities: Notes from PGI's 2018 Seminar on Religions". Center for religions and cross-cultural studies Graduate School, Universitas Gadjah Mada. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.

[FOOTNOTEMarshall201885–96-13] Marshall 2018, pp. 85–96.

[14] Aritonang, Margareth S. (7 November 2014). "Government to recognise minority faiths". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2 October 2006.

[Report2008-15] "International Religious Freedom Report 2008. Indonesia". US Department of State. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[Third_UPR_Summary_of_stakeholders’_submissions_on_Indonesia-16] "Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.

[pewforum.org-17] "Sunni and Shia Muslims". Pew Research Center. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2014.

[FOOTNOTEAtjeh1977LindseyPausacker1995271-18] Atjeh 1977; Lindsey & Pausacker 1995, p. 271.

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