ETHNICITY

Ethnicity or ethnic group is a social defined category based on common culture or nationality. Ethnicity can, but doesn't have to, include common ancestry, appearance, cuisine, dressing style, heritage, history, language/dialect, religion, symbols, traditions or others. The term is derived from the Greek word ethos that normally translated as nation. It's refered to people thought to have common ancestry who share a distinctive culture.

In massive Indonesia, which consist of more than 17.000 islands spread from Sabang in Sumatra to Merauke in Papua with its culture richness, there are over 300 ethnic groups that 95% of those are of Native Indonesians ancestry. The largest ethnic group in Indonesia is Javanese who make up 41% of the total population. The Javanese are concentrated on the island of Java but millions have migrated to other islands throughout the archipelago because of the transmigration program. The sundanese, Malay and Madurese are the next largest groups in the country. Many ethnic groups, particularly in Kalimantan and Papua, have only hundreds of members. 

Most of the local languages belong to Austronesian language family, although a significant number, particularly in Papua, speak Papuan languages. The Chinese Indonesian population makes up a little less than 1% of the total Indonesian population according to the 2000 census. Some of these Indonesian of Chinese descent spaek various Chinese dialects, most notably Hokkien and Hakka. 

The classification of ethnic groups in Indonesia is not rigid and in some cases unclear due to migrations, cultural and linguistic influences, for example some may consider Bantenese and Cirebonese to memebers of Javanese people, however some others argue that they are different ethnic groups altogether since they have their own distinct dialects. This is the same case with Baduy people that share many cultural similarities with the Sundanese people. An example of hybrid ethnicity is the Betawi people, descended not only from marriages between different peoples in Indonesia but also with Arab and Chinese migrants since the era of colonial Batavia (Jakarta).

The regions of Indonesia have some of their indigenous ethnic groups. Due to migration within Indonesia (as part of government transmigration programs or otherwise) there are significant populations of ethnic groups who reside outside of their traditional regions.

Java

Javanese, Sundanese, Bantenese, Betawi, Tengger, Osing, Baduy

Madura

Madurese

Sumatra

Malays, Batak, Minangkabau, Acehnese, Lampung, Kubu

Kalimantan

Dayak, Banjar

Sulawesi

Makassarese, Buginese, Mandar, Minahasa, Gorontalonese, Toraja,  Bajau

Lesser Sunda Islands

Balinese, Sasak, Sumbawa, Dawan, Tetun, Helong, Roti, Savu, Sumba, Alor, Flores

Moluccas

Alfur, Nuaulu, Manusela, Wemale

Papua

Dani, Bauzi, Asmat, Amungme

Throughout Indonesian history, waves of migration of foreign origin ethnicities were spread throughout Indonesia, usually inhabit urban centers and seldom reach rural parts of Indonesia.

Chinese

The most significant foreign origin ethnic minority in Indonesia. Chinese began inhabiting Indonesia since 15th century with significant waves in 18th and 19th century. Mostly concentrated in Pecinan (Chinatown) in urban Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan with significant numbers in Jakarta, Medan, Semarang, Surabay, Cirebon, Pekanbaru, Batam, Bangka Island and Pontianak.

Arabs

Historically Arab traders were credited for the spread of Islam in Indonesian archipelago. Many have assimilated into local ethnicities such as Betawi, Malay, Javanese and Sundanese, however several cities in Indonesia have significant Arabs that preserve their culture, identity and their link to Arabia. Spread throughout Indonesian cities, yet significant numbers can be found in Surabaya, Gresik, Jakarta, Medan and many coastal cities in Indonesia.

Indian

Indian people also had settled the Indonesian archipelago, however their number is not as large as that of Chinese Indonesians. Concentrated in urban centers with significant numbers around Pasar Baru in Jakarta and Kampung Keling in Medan.

Indos

Indos or Eurasians, of mixed ancestry between the Indonesian native ethnic group and European/Dutch ancestry, they emerge during the Dutch East Indies. Around one million Indonesians with various degree of mixed ancestry today can trace their ancestry to the Europeans. During the colonial time their number where more, but since the Indonesian independence some chose to return to the Nedherlands. Eurasians Indonesian dwindle as an ethnic group since major emigration from Indonesia after World War II.

Japanese

Japanese has migrated to Indonesia since the Dutch East Indies colonial era, however, after their defeat in World War II their number decreased, leaving small numbers of ex-Japanese soldiers that still stayed in Indonesia and became Indonesian citizens. The recent development of Japanese residents in Indonesia was driven by the increase of Japanese business and investment in Indonesia since 1970's and mostly are expatriates that still maintain their Japanese citizenship. Significant numbers of Japanese expatriates stay in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta and Bali.

Korean

They are the recent addition of Indonesian foreign origin ethnicities, dated back only several decades ago. Mostly driven by the increase of Korean business and investment in Indonesian and mostly are expatriates that still maintain their Korean citizenship.