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      Location and importance of Indonesia

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can describe Indonesia's location and explain why it is important in its region and globally.

      Key learning points

      1. Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia and is an archipelago consisting of over 17 000 islands.
      2. Indonesia is important regionally and globally.
      3. Indonesia is placed within a wider political, social, cultural and environmental context.

      Keywords

      • ASEAN - the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a group of 10 nations who cooperate on trade and security with the aim of boosting their economic, social and cultural development

      • Context - the background conditions and situation that help explain what is happening in a country

      Common misconception

      Indonesia is made up of small islands and has a small population.

      In fact, Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country and while its 17 000 islands do include many small islands, it has many large islands too: for example, Java is around the same size as England and Borneo's size is similar to France.

      Teacher tip

      The ASEAN website includes information about ASEAN's aims and history, as well as the flags of its members (which some students may enjoy identifying), and a video of the ASEAN anthem which could be an interesting resource to use in starting the lesson.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the capital city of Indonesia?

      Correct answer: Jakarta
      Bali
      Surabaya
      Manila

      Q2.
      Which continent is Indonesia part of?

      Africa
      Correct answer: Asia
      Europe
      Australia

      Q3.
      What is Indonesia mostly made up of?

      Desert
      Landlocked
      Correct answer: Islands
      Mountains

      Q4.
      What is the name of the ocean to the south of Indonesia?

      Atlantic Ocean
      Arctic Ocean
      Southern Ocean
      Correct answer: Indian Ocean

      Q5.
      Which famous island in Indonesia is known for its tourism and beaches?

      Sumatra
      Borneo
      Correct answer: Bali
      Java

      Q6.
      What natural hazard is common in Indonesia because of its location on the Ring of Fire?

      Droughts
      Correct answer: Earthquakes
      Tornadoes
      Correct answer: Volcanoes

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Where is Indonesia located?

      In South America
      In Africa
      Correct answer: In Southeast Asia
      In Eastern Europe

      Q2.
      What is ASEAN?

      A mountain range in Indonesia
      A group of schools in Southeast Asia
      A political party in Indonesia
      Correct answer: A group of 10 Southeast Asian countries working together on trade & development

      Q3.
      What does the word "context" mean when studying a country like Indonesia?

      The exact number of people in a country
      Correct answer: The background conditions that help explain what is happening
      A type of government
      The name of a region

      Q4.
      Which of the following best describes Indonesia?

      It has a small population and only a few small islands
      It is a landlocked country with a low population
      Correct answer: It has thousands of islands and one of the largest populations in the world
      It is made up of one large island with no people

      To help you plan your 11 geography lesson on: Location and importance of Indonesia, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...