Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago, consisting of 17 500 islands spanning a distance of 6 400 kilometres from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. It's geostrategic positioning as a bridge between Asia and Australia/ Oceania significantly influences the nation's culture, politics and economy. Jakarta is the capital city and one of the most populated urban regions of the world, located on the island of Java. Other major islands of Indonesia are Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Papua and Timor.
Although not officially an Islamic state, Indonesia is home to more Muslims than any other country. Other religions including Hindu, Buddhism, Confucianism and Christianity have a presence in various regions. Bahasa Indonesia is the official national language, but most citizens are multilingual in speaking their local dialects also. More than 700 languages are spoken there today, and English is a growing influence.