Economics Essay on the change of the demographic characteristics of indonesia

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Introduction:-

Indonesia’s population in 1990 was 182 million.17000 islands out of which only 3000 islands are inhabited. Due to proximity of Malaysian/ Singaporean ports patrolling of islands is difficult so control of trade and financial flows are impossible. Java and Madura, account for 50% of the total population making the islands the most densely populated areas in the world. Land in java is more suitable for wet rice cultivation. Java and Sumatra receive abundant rainfall, reasonably well distributed throughout the year. Indonesia is endowed with significant resources such as fish, oil and gas, tin, copper, coal, gold, and the variety of other minerals. Long term success depends on proper management of these resources. The dominant ethnic groups are Javanese concentrated in central and east java, Sudanese pre dominantly in west java and malayo Polynesian groups spread across Sumatra and java islands. People of the Chinese origin account for only about 3 % of the total population but hold more than 80% of the corporate assets.

Rate of population growth:-

Indonesia happens to be the fourth most populous country in the world behind China, the U.S and India. The population of Indonesia in the year 2000 was 205.1 million. By 2010 it has gone up to 237.6 million, representing an increase of 32.5 million over 10 years at the rate of 1.58% per annum. The combined population of Jakarta, west, central, and east java totals more than 140 million representing approximately 60% of the country’s total population.

Even though the growth rate itself is not alarming, what concerns Indonesia is the anomalous distribution of the population biased towards Java, Madura and Bali. The rest of the other islands in the archipelago are so scarcely populated forcing the government to undertake structured transmigration efforts.

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Age Distribution:-

Comparing the positions of age distribution pyramid between 2000 and 2010, we understand the following:-

  • Indonesia has got a young population with an average age of 27 years
  • The percentage of population below the age of 20 is still significantly high above 40%
  • This would mean that the country will have sufficient work force to support the growth phase in the future. With increasing govt. spend on education and urbanization, the country can look forward to managing its economic growth in a ...

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