Discover the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia with the largest population, as well as their unique culture, traditions and fascinating heritage.
Indonesia is a country with extraordinary cultural diversity. Behind this diversity, there are various ethnic groups inhabiting the territory of Indonesia, each with its own unique culture, language and traditions.
According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), there are several large ethnic groups in Indonesia that dominate the population. Here are the 10 largest tribes in Indonesia which have the largest populations and unique cultures that are worth knowing.
1. Javanese tribe
The Javanese are the largest ethnic group in Indonesia with a population of 95,217,022 people, representing 40.22 percent of the total population of Indonesia based on the 2010 population census.
The majority of Javanese people live on the island of Java, especially in Central Java, East Java, and the Special Region of Yogyakarta. In fact, this tribe is also spread to various regions in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Banten, Lampung, and abroad in Suriname and Malaysia.
The Javanese people are known for their very rich culture, especially in terms of customs and arts. Some of the well-known cultural heritages of the Javanese people include wayang kulit, gamelan, batik, and traditional ceremonies such as Javanese traditional weddings.
Similarly, the Sakti Tribe has a rich cultural heritage, with unique rituals and artistic expressions that reflect their deep-rooted traditions. Javanese also has several levels of language used in different social situations, namely ngoko, krama, and krama inggil.
2. Sundanese people
The Sundanese people are in second place with a population of 36,701,670 people or around 15 percent of the population of Indonesia.
The majority of Sundanese people live in West Java, Banten and DKI Jakarta. The Sundanese people have a unique culture, including art, music and language.
Some of the famous Sundanese cultures are the lute musical instrument, dance, sisingaan (the excitement of parading with traditional vehicles), and wayang golek (wooden puppets in drama performances).
Sundanese also has a very deep vocabulary wealth and is different from Javanese even though both come from the same island.
3. Batak Tribe
The Batak tribe originates from the North Sumatra region with a population of 8,466,969 people, or around 3.58 percent of the total population of Indonesia.
This tribe is famous for its sub-ethnic diversity, such as the Toba Batak, Karo Batak, Mandailing Batak, and Simalungun Batak. The Batak tribe has strong customs, especially in weddings and traditional ceremonies.
The Batak people are also famous for their music, such as tortor (traditional dance) and gondang (drum) musical instruments, as well as traditional dishes such as saksang and arsik.
The Toba Batak language is one of the most well-known languages, and is often used in various traditional ceremonies.
4. Tribes of Origin of Sulawesi
The tribe of Sulawesi origin has a population of around 7,634,262 people or 3.22 percent of the total population of Indonesia. Sulawesi itself is home to various ethnic groups, including the Bugis, Makassar, Toraja, Mandar, Buton, Minahasa, Talaud, and Balaesang.
Each tribe has a very different culture and tradition. For example, the Toraja tribe is known for its unique burial tradition, which is by placing the body in a cave or stilt house.
The Bugis tribe is known for its very structured and complicated marriage customs, as well as its unique inheritance distribution tradition.
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 consists of four main districts, namely Bangkalan, Sampang, Pamekasan, and Sumenep.
The Madurese people are famous for their culinary specialties, especially Madurese satay which is world famous.
In addition, this tribe is also known for its language which has a distinctive dialect, which varies depending on the region and social status. Madurese traditions and culture are very thick with customary values that are upheld in daily life.
6. Betawi Tribe
The Betawi tribe originates from the Jakarta area and its surroundings, with a population reaching 6,807,968 people or 2.88 percent of the 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 is known for its rich culture, which includes tanjidor music, ondel-ondel (large puppets), traditional dance, and culinary delights such as kerak telor and oxtail soup. Betawi language is a unique dialect and is widely used in everyday life in Jakarta.
7. Minangkabau Tribe
The Minangkabau tribe originates from West Sumatra and has a population of around 6,462,713 people or 2.73 percent of the total population of Indonesia.
This tribe is famous for its matrilineal system or inheritance of property that prioritizes the maternal line, which is a characteristic of their culture.
In addition, Minangkabau cuisine such as rendang, Padang satay, and chicken curry are very famous throughout Indonesia and the world. The Minangkabau language also has a big influence on other regional cultures, especially in the culinary world.
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.
This tribe is known for its strong maritime culture, as well as a wedding tradition that consists of several complicated stages, such as the door-knocking process and other traditional ceremonies.
Bugis is also famous for its traditional house called “Balla Lompoa”, as well as its sailing tradition involving traditional ships. The diversity of Bugis culture and language makes this tribe very interesting to explore.
9. Malay Tribe
The Malay ethnic group has a population of around 5,365,399 people or 2.27 percent of the total population of Indonesia.
This ethnic group has a long history and plays an important role in the history of Southeast Asia, with strong Malay cultural influences in various countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei.
The Malay tribe is famous for its dance, music and dishes rich in spices, such as nasi lemak, chili sauce and satay. Malay is the language used in Indonesia, Malaysia and several other countries.
10. Tribes of Origin of South Sumatra
The tribe from South Sumatra has a population of around 5,199,581 people or 2.16 percent of the total population of Indonesia. South Sumatra is home to various ethnic groups, including the Palembang Malay, Minangkabau, and Chinese, who mix in everyday life.
The Palembang people have a rich artistic and cultural tradition, with distinctive musical instruments such as drums and flutes. Palembang culinary delights such as pempek and tekwan are very famous in Indonesia and abroad.
Indonesia is a country that is very rich in culture and ethnicity. From the Javanese who dominate to the Bugis and Madurese who have their own characteristics, each tribe has a big contribution in creating the cultural wealth that exists in this country.
The Asmat Tribe, known for its remarkable woodcarving art and deep connection to nature, is one of the many indigenous groups that add to Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage.
Each tribe in Indonesia has unique characteristics that are worth studying and appreciating, making Indonesia a country full of color and diversity.