Ethan Walker
Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, with approximately 280 million people, and has the largest Muslim population in the world. Indonesia recognizes six main religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. More than 10% of the population is Christian, with 20 million Protestants and 8 million Catholics. Catholicism in Indonesia began with the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century. The religion is dominant in certain areas of the country, such as East Nusa Tenggara and South Papua province, with significant populations in North Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, and Central Java. The number of Catholics in Indonesia has grown significantly over time, with Jakarta's Catholic population increasing elevenfold between 1960 and 2000.
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What You'll Learn
- Catholicism is one of six approved religions in Indonesia
- The Catholic population in Jakarta increased elevenfold between 1960 and 2000
- Indonesia's Catholic community is a minority but particularly dynamic
- Catholicism was brought to Indonesia by Portuguese colonisers in the 16th century
- Catholics in Indonesia make up 3.01% to 3.12% of the population
Catholicism is one of six approved religions in Indonesia
Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, with around 280 million people, and has the largest Muslim population globally. While 87% of its people are Muslim, Indonesia officially recognises six religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
Catholicism is a minority religion in Indonesia, with around 8.3 million Catholics in the country, constituting 3.01% to 3.12% of the population as of 2018. However, it is the dominant faith in certain areas of the country, particularly in the regions to the east of the Sunda archipelago, where Catholic missions were pushed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The Indonesian Catholic Church is organised into one military ordinariate, 10 archdioceses, and 27 to 28 dioceses, all of which are members of the Indonesian Catholic Bishops Conference (KWI).
The history of Catholicism in Indonesia dates back to the 16th century when Portuguese traders and missionaries brought the religion to the region. The first baptisms were carried out by a lay Portuguese trader, Gonzalo Veloso, in Mamuia, Halmahera, in 1534. Catholic communities were established in the Moluccas, Amboina, and Ternate. In the 1590s, the Portuguese and local Catholic population in Solor was thought to number 25,000.
In the 19th century, Catholic missionary societies contributed to the rapid growth of Christianity in Indonesia, with both Protestant and Catholic missionaries active during this period. Since the mid-to-late 1960s, between 2 and 2.5 million Muslims have converted to Christianity in Indonesia, making it home to the largest Christian community of converts from Islam.
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The Catholic population in Jakarta increased elevenfold between 1960 and 2000
Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, with Muslims comprising 85.1% of the population according to the 2000 census. However, it also has a significant Christian minority, which includes a large Catholic community.
Catholicism is one of the six approved religions in Indonesia, the others being Islam, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. While the Catholic Church is a minority in the country, it is particularly dynamic and has experienced significant growth over the years, especially in areas with large numbers of Chinese Indonesians and ethnic Javanese.
The growth of the Catholic population in Jakarta between 1960 and 2000 is a striking example of this trend. In 1960, there were only 26,955 Catholics in Jakarta, but by 2000, this number had increased to 301,084, an elevenfold increase. During the same period, the overall population of Jakarta merely tripled, growing from 2.8 million to 8.3 million.
This dramatic increase in the number of Catholics in Jakarta may be attributed to several factors. One factor is the increased migration of Christians to the capital from other parts of Indonesia. Additionally, there has been a significant number of conversions to Christianity from Islam and other religions in Indonesia since the mid-1960s, with sources estimating that between 2 and 2.5 million Muslims have converted to Christianity during this period.
The large and growing Catholic community in Jakarta, and Indonesia more broadly, has not been without its challenges. The rapid growth of the Christian population, including Catholics, has led to tensions and allegations of "Christianization". Violence against Catholics and Christians has also occurred, particularly in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Despite these challenges, the Indonesian model of religious tolerance and coexistence is notable, as evidenced by the Pope's visit to the country, which was described as important for all religious communities.
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Indonesia's Catholic community is a minority but particularly dynamic
Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, with a population of around 280 million people. It is the world's most populous Muslim country, with 87% of its population identifying as Muslim, mostly Sunni. However, Indonesia recognizes six main religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
Catholicism is a minority religion in Indonesia, with around 8.3 million Catholics, constituting 3.01% to 3.12% of the population as of 2018. Despite being a minority, Indonesia's Catholic community is particularly dynamic and has experienced significant growth over time, especially in areas with large numbers of Chinese Indonesians and ethnic Javanese. The Catholic Church in Indonesia is organized into one military ordinariate, 10 archdioceses, and 27 to 28 dioceses, all of which are members of the Indonesian Catholic Bishops Conference (KWI).
The history of Catholicism in Indonesia dates back to the 16th century when Portuguese missionaries, including St. Francis Xavier, first brought the religion to the region. Catholic communities were established in the Moluccas, Amboina, and Ternate. However, after the Portuguese were expelled from Ternate in 1574, many Catholics in the northern Moluccas were killed. In the 19th century, both Protestant and Catholic missionary societies contributed to the large historical growth of Christianity in Indonesia. During this period, there were conversions from tribal religions, Chinese Buddhism, and Islam. It is estimated that between 2 and 2.5 million Muslims have converted to Christianity since the mid to late 1960s.
The Indonesian Catholic community has played a pivotal role in the country's independence struggle, and both Catholics and Protestants were accepted as integral parts of the independent state. The Catholic Party, founded in 1923, was led by Ignatius Josep Kasimo for 32 years with the support of the first Indonesian bishop, Albert Soegijapranata SJ of Semarang. The Indonesian Catholic community actively engages in interreligious dialogue and promotes friendship and respect between different religious traditions. Pope Francis' visit to Indonesia and his participation in an interfaith meeting at the Istiqlal mosque, located near Jakarta's cathedral, Our Lady of the Assumption, underscores the importance of religious harmony and coexistence in the country.
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Catholicism was brought to Indonesia by Portuguese colonisers in the 16th century
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country, with Islam being the dominant religion. However, it recognises six main religions, including Catholicism.
Catholic missionaries soon arrived in the region, most notably Francis Xavier, who worked in Ambon, Ternate and Morotai (Halmahera) in 1546–1547. In the 1590s, the Portuguese and local Catholic population in Solor was thought to have numbered 25,000. Dominican missionaries also converted many in Solor, and by 1800, there were approximately 11,000 Catholics in East Flores and the surrounding islands.
In the 17th century, the Dutch, who were predominantly Protestant, took over the archipelago. They pushed the Portuguese and Catholic missions to the east of the Sunda archipelago, where Protestant missions were also active. This led to the expulsion of Catholics from Makassar in 1660, and the decline of Catholic missions in Flores and Timor.
Today, Catholicism is the dominant faith in certain areas of Indonesia, such as East Nusa Tenggara and South Papua province, with significant Catholic populations in several other regions. While Indonesia is primarily Muslim, the Catholic community is dynamic and has experienced enormous growth, especially in areas with large numbers of Chinese Indonesians and ethnic Javanese.
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Catholics in Indonesia make up 3.01% to 3.12% of the population
Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country, with approximately 280 million people. It is also the country with the largest Muslim population. Indonesia recognizes six main religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. More than 10% of the population is Christian, with 20 million Protestants and between 8 and 8.3 million Catholics, constituting 3.01% to 3.12% of the population.
Catholicism in Indonesia began with the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century. The Spaniard Francis Xavier, a co-founder of the Jesuit Order, worked in the Maluku Islands from 1546 to 1547 and baptised several thousand locals, laying the foundations for a permanent mission. Following his departure, others carried on his work and by the 1590s there were 50,000 to 60,000 Catholics in the area.
Today, the largest concentrations of Catholics can be found in the regions to the east of the Sunda archipelago, where Protestant missions were also active. This includes the island of Flores, where over 90% of the population is Catholic. East Nusa Tenggara and South Papua province are the only places where Catholicism is the dominant faith, with around 55% and 50% of the population, respectively. There are also significant Catholic populations in North Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Maluku, and Central Java.
Catholics in Indonesia are part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the pope in Rome. The Church is organized into one military ordinariate, 10 archdioceses, and 27 to 28 dioceses, all of which are members of the Indonesian Catholic Bishops Conference (KWI). There are several Catholic religious institutes active in the country, including the Jesuits, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC), and the Divine Word Missionaries.
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Frequently asked questions
Catholicism is one of the six approved religions in Indonesia, but it is a minority religion. In 2018, Catholics made up 3.12% of the population, or 8.3 million people. Indonesia is primarily Muslim.
Catholicism is the dominant faith in East Nusa Tenggara and South Papua province, with around 55% and 50% of the population following the religion, respectively. There are also significant Catholic populations in North Sumatra, West Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, Maluku, and Central Java.
Catholicism in Indonesia began with the arrival of Portuguese colonizers in the 16th century. The number of Catholics in Indonesia grew from 1.3 million in 1960 to 5 million in 1990. In 2000, there were 301,084 Catholics in Jakarta, an elevenfold increase from 1960.
