The islands of Indonesia, also known as the Indonesian Archipelago (Kepulauan Indonesia) or Nusantara, may refer either to the islands composing the country of Indonesia or to the geographical groups which include its islands. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state, stretching from Sumatra in Asia to the western part of New Guinea in Oceania.

History

The exact number of islands composing Indonesia varies among definitions and sources. According to the Law No 9/1996 on Maritime Territory of Indonesia, of 17,508 officially listed islands within the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. According to a geospatial survey conducted between 2007 and 2010 by the National Coordinating Agency for Survey and Mapping (Bakorsurtanal), Indonesia has 13,466 islands. However, according to earlier survey in 2002 by National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), the Indonesian archipelago has 18,307 islands, and according to the CIA World Factbook, there are 17,508 islands. The discrepancy of the numbers of Indonesian islands is due to the earlier surveys including "tidal islands"; sandy cays and rocky reefs that appear during low tide and are submerged during high tide. As of 2023, 17,024 island have been named by Geospatial Information Agency and published in Indonesian Gazetteer.

Major islands

List of islands

The following islands are listed by province:

Java

Banten

Central Java

Special Capital Region of Jakarta

East Java

West Java

Sumatra

Aceh

North Sumatra

West Sumatra

Bengkulu

Lampung

Riau

Riau Islands

Bangka-Belitung Islands

Kalimantan

Central Kalimantan

East Kalimantan

North Kalimantan

South Kalimantan

West Kalimantan

Sulawesi

Central Sulawesi

North Sulawesi

South Sulawesi

Southeast Sulawesi

Lesser Sunda Islands

Bali

East Nusa Tenggara

West Nusa Tenggara

Maluku Islands

Maluku

North Maluku

Western New Guinea

Islands near the Indonesian half of New Guinea island.

West Papua

Southwest Papua

Papua