Religion in Indonesia (2023)[1][2]
Religion by country |
---|
![]() |
Part of a series on the |
Culture of Indonesia |
---|
![]() |
People |
Languages |
Mythology and folklore |
Cuisine |
Literature |
Music and performing arts |
Sport |
Several different religions are practised in Indonesia. Indonesia is officially a presidential republic and a unitary state without an established state religion.[3][4] The first principle of Indonesia's philosophical foundation, Pancasila, requires its citizens to state the belief in "the one and almighty God".[5][6] 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.[7] 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.[8] In addition, the Aceh province officially applies Sharia law and is notorious for its discriminatory practices towards religious and sexual minorities.[9]
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,[10] 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.[11] [12] In that same year, the government specified that it will not ban other religions, specifically mentioning Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Shinto, and Taoism as examples.[11] 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).[13][14] Based on data collected by the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP), there are about 245 unofficial religions in Indonesia.[15]
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.[16] However, since 2017, citizens who do not identify with those religions have the option to leave that section blank on their identity card.[8] 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.[17] According to Ministry of Home Affairs data in 2023, 87.06% of Indonesians identified themselves as Muslim (with Sunnis about 99%,[18] Shias about 1%[19]), 10.47% Christians (7.41% Protestants, 3.06% Roman Catholic), 1.68% Hindu, 0.71% Buddhists, 0.03% Confucians and 0.05% others.[20]
Muslim 241 Million (87), Christianity 29.1 Million (10.5), Hindu 4.69 million (1.7), Buddhist 2.02 million (0.7), Folk, Confucianism, and others 192.311 (0.1), Total 277.749.673 Million