Jakarta - The Capital of Indonesia
- Population
- 10,770,487
- Language
- Indonesian
- Continent
- Asia
- Since
- 1945
- Eco Ranking
- 161/195
Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.
About Jakarta
Jakarta has served as the capital of Indonesia since the country's proclamation of independence on August 17, 1945, occupying the site of the Dutch colonial capital Batavia, which the Dutch East India Company (VOC) established in 1619 on an earlier Javanese port settlement. As the administrative center of the Dutch East Indies and then of independent Indonesia, Jakarta grew to become Southeast Asia's largest city. However, the city faces a set of severe structural crises: it is sinking at one of the fastest rates of any city in the world, with some northern areas subsiding by up to 25 centimeters per year due to excessive groundwater extraction, while simultaneously facing rising sea levels. Chronic flooding, traffic paralysis, air pollution, and overpopulation have made governing from Jakarta increasingly untenable. In 2022, the Indonesian parliament approved legislation to relocate the capital to a new city called Nusantara, to be built on the island of Borneo (East Kalimantan). The move is intended to reduce pressure on Jakarta, distribute economic development more broadly across the archipelago, and place the capital more geographically central within the country. Jakarta will retain its function as Indonesia's economic and commercial capital. The timeline for the full transfer of government has faced repeated delays.
About Indonesia
Indonesia is a presidential republic and the world's largest archipelago state, comprising over 17,000 islands and a population exceeding 270 million, making it the fourth most populous country in the world. It gained independence from the Netherlands in 1945, formally recognized in 1949. Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority democracy. The country is governed under a directly elected president and a bicameral legislature. The capital is officially being relocated from Jakarta to Nusantara on the island of Borneo.
View Jakarta on the map
Flight time from Jakarta to other capitals
| City | Distance (km) | Flight Time |
|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 900 | 1h 4m |
| Canberra | 5400 | 6h 21m |
| Tokyo | 5800 | 6h 49m |
| Abu Dhabi | 6600 | 7h 46m |
| Cape Town | 9500 | 11h 11m |
| Rome | 10800 | 12h 42m |
| Paris | 11600 | 13h 39m |
| London | 11700 | 13h 46m |
| Buenos Aires | 15200 | 17h 53m |
| Washington, D.C. | 16400 | 19h 18m |
Capitals with similar population to Jakarta
Capitals with similar eco ranking to Jakarta
Source: Environmental Performance Index 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Indonesia moving its capital from Jakarta?
Jakarta faces critical infrastructure problems including severe land subsidence, parts of the city are sinking by up to 25 cm per year, combined with rising sea levels, chronic flooding, extreme traffic congestion, and overpopulation. The new capital, Nusantara, is intended to distribute development more evenly and place the capital more centrally within Indonesia's vast archipelago.
When did Jakarta become the capital of Indonesia?
Jakarta (then called Batavia under Dutch colonial rule, and briefly renamed Jayakarta) became the capital of independent Indonesia upon the proclamation of independence on August 17, 1945. It had served as the administrative center of the Dutch East Indies since the early 17th century.
Where is Indonesia's new capital Nusantara?
Nusantara is being built in the East Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo, located roughly 2,000 kilometers northeast of Jakarta. Parliament approved the relocation in January 2022, though the full transfer of government functions is subject to ongoing delays.
Will Jakarta stop being important after the capital moves?
No. Jakarta is expected to remain Indonesia's largest city and primary economic and commercial center after the capital transfer. The relocation concerns government and administrative functions, not the economic infrastructure that makes Jakarta the financial hub of Southeast Asia's largest economy.
Is Jakarta the largest city in Indonesia?
Yes, Jakarta is Indonesia's largest city, with a population of approximately 10.7 million within the city boundaries and over 30 million in the broader metropolitan area, making it one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world.
