Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, there are well over 18,000 islands in the Indonesian archipelago ranging from small tiny islands to huge islands like Sumatra. New islands are also being continuously discovered as it appears new islands seem to pop right out of the ocean (sometimes literally as a result of volcanic eruptions). The Indonesian islands span more than 5,000 kilometers from west to east. They stretch along the equator from Sumatra in the west to New Guinea in the east. To fully understand the size of Indonesia, imagine that Indonesia were super imposed on a map of Europe.If this were done, Indonesia would stretch from Ireland to Iran! Indonesia has the second longest coastline in the world (Canada has the largest coastline). Realizing that Indonesia is a pure island nation, we have organized Indonesia by its major Island groups rather than by its true administrative zones.
Indonesia uses three time zones which are:
1. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Barat (WIB):
* West Indonesia Time is officially known in Indonesia as Waktu Indonesia Bagian Barat (WIB). Waktu means time, Bagian means part and Barat means west in the Indonesian language. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Barat therefore means the time in the western part of Indonesia. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Barat is UTC/GMT +7 hours.
2. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Tengah (WITA):
* Central Indonesia Time is officially known in Indonesia as Waktu Indonesia Bagian Tengah (WITA) and as you might guess, Tengah means central. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Tengah is UTC/GMT +8 hours.
3. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Timur (WIT):
* East Indonesia Time is officially known as Waktu Indonesia Bagian Timur (WIT) and in this situation, Timur means east. Waktu Indnosia Bagian Timur is UTC/GMT +9 hours.
For your convenience, we have organized Indonesia into the following sections:
Sumatra:
Sumatra is the world’s fifth largest island and is the size of California. Sumatra is located in the West Indonesia Time zone which is UTC/GMT +7 hours. Part of Sumatra is north of the equator and the other part is located south of the equator. Sumatra has a population in excess of 38 million.
Java:
Java is not Indonesia’s largest island; however, it is the country’s most populous with over 115 million inhabitants (over 9 million people in Jakarta alone). Java is located in the West Indonesia Time zone which is UTC/GMT +7 hours.
Kalimantan:
Kalimantan is the Indonesian portion of the Island of Borneo. Kalimantan is home to famous Dayak tribes. There is in excess of 9 million people living in Kalimantan. West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan are UTC/GMT +8 hours. East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan are UTC/GMT +7 hours.
Sulawesi:
Sulawesi is formerly known as the Celebes. The island is the size of Great Britain, has a population of over 13 million, is located in the Central Indonesia Time zone and is UTC/GMT +8 hours.
Lesser Sundas:
The Lesser Sundas are also known as "Nusa Tenggara". When translated, this simply means "the islands in the southeast". This chain of island stretches from Bali to Timor. This chain includes 5 major islands, a dozen smaller islands and a population in excess of 7 million. Here you will find some famous islands such as Bali, Lombok, Flores and Komodo (home to the Komodo Dragon). Lesser Sundas is located in the Central Indonesia Time zone and is UTC/GMT +8 hours.
Contrary to what most may think, Bali is not a country of its own, but rather part of the Indonesian archipelago. Bali is not a large island, but it is probably Indonesia’s most famous Island. Bali is often referred to as the "Islands of the Gods" for its many deities and Bali–Hindu religious festivals. Bali has a population of over 3 million.
Maluku:
In Bahasa Indonesia (the Indonesian language), this group of islands is known as Maluku. In English, this group of islands is known as Moluccas. Regardless of how you say it, this chain has over 1,000 islands in it. Maluku is famous for being home to the "Spice Islands". Maluku was once the world’s only supplier of cloves, nutmeg and mace. The spices from these islands, before France and Britain smuggled seeds and plants to other locations, were more valuable than gold. Over 2 million people inhabit these islands. Maluku is located in the East Indonesia Time zone which is UTC/GMT +9 hours.
Western New Guinea:
Formerly known as Irian Jaya, Western New Guinea is the western half of New Guinea which is the world’s second largest island. There are over 2 million people living in Western New Guinea. As with Maluku, Western New Guinea is located in the East Indonesia Time zone which is UTC/GMT +9 hours.
Sample :
Jakarta (Dutch Batavia) Java 1:42 PM — Sun
Banjarmasin Kalimantan 2:42 PM — Sun
Denpasar Lesser Sunda Islands 2:42 PM — Sun
Ambon Maluku Islands 3:42 PM — Sun
Medan Sumatra 1:42 PM — Sun
Makassar (Ujung Pandang) Sulawesi 2:42 PM — Sun
Manado Sulawesi 2:42 PM — Sun
Jayapura Western New Guinea 3:42 PM — Sun
Time........ Abbr..... Name English equivalent
UTC+7..... WIB...... Waktu Indonesia Barat (Western Indonesia Standard Time)
UTC+8..... WITA... Waktu Indonesia Tengah (Central Indonesia Standard Time)
UTC+9..... WIT...... Waktu Indonesia Timur (Eastern Indonesia Standard Time)
Indonesia uses three time zones which are:
1. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Barat (WIB):
* West Indonesia Time is officially known in Indonesia as Waktu Indonesia Bagian Barat (WIB). Waktu means time, Bagian means part and Barat means west in the Indonesian language. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Barat therefore means the time in the western part of Indonesia. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Barat is UTC/GMT +7 hours.
2. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Tengah (WITA):
* Central Indonesia Time is officially known in Indonesia as Waktu Indonesia Bagian Tengah (WITA) and as you might guess, Tengah means central. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Tengah is UTC/GMT +8 hours.
3. Waktu Indonesia Bagian Timur (WIT):
* East Indonesia Time is officially known as Waktu Indonesia Bagian Timur (WIT) and in this situation, Timur means east. Waktu Indnosia Bagian Timur is UTC/GMT +9 hours.
For your convenience, we have organized Indonesia into the following sections:
Sumatra:
Sumatra is the world’s fifth largest island and is the size of California. Sumatra is located in the West Indonesia Time zone which is UTC/GMT +7 hours. Part of Sumatra is north of the equator and the other part is located south of the equator. Sumatra has a population in excess of 38 million.
Java:
Java is not Indonesia’s largest island; however, it is the country’s most populous with over 115 million inhabitants (over 9 million people in Jakarta alone). Java is located in the West Indonesia Time zone which is UTC/GMT +7 hours.
Kalimantan:
Kalimantan is the Indonesian portion of the Island of Borneo. Kalimantan is home to famous Dayak tribes. There is in excess of 9 million people living in Kalimantan. West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan are UTC/GMT +8 hours. East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan are UTC/GMT +7 hours.
Sulawesi:
Sulawesi is formerly known as the Celebes. The island is the size of Great Britain, has a population of over 13 million, is located in the Central Indonesia Time zone and is UTC/GMT +8 hours.
Lesser Sundas:
The Lesser Sundas are also known as "Nusa Tenggara". When translated, this simply means "the islands in the southeast". This chain of island stretches from Bali to Timor. This chain includes 5 major islands, a dozen smaller islands and a population in excess of 7 million. Here you will find some famous islands such as Bali, Lombok, Flores and Komodo (home to the Komodo Dragon). Lesser Sundas is located in the Central Indonesia Time zone and is UTC/GMT +8 hours.
Contrary to what most may think, Bali is not a country of its own, but rather part of the Indonesian archipelago. Bali is not a large island, but it is probably Indonesia’s most famous Island. Bali is often referred to as the "Islands of the Gods" for its many deities and Bali–Hindu religious festivals. Bali has a population of over 3 million.
Maluku:
In Bahasa Indonesia (the Indonesian language), this group of islands is known as Maluku. In English, this group of islands is known as Moluccas. Regardless of how you say it, this chain has over 1,000 islands in it. Maluku is famous for being home to the "Spice Islands". Maluku was once the world’s only supplier of cloves, nutmeg and mace. The spices from these islands, before France and Britain smuggled seeds and plants to other locations, were more valuable than gold. Over 2 million people inhabit these islands. Maluku is located in the East Indonesia Time zone which is UTC/GMT +9 hours.
Western New Guinea:
Formerly known as Irian Jaya, Western New Guinea is the western half of New Guinea which is the world’s second largest island. There are over 2 million people living in Western New Guinea. As with Maluku, Western New Guinea is located in the East Indonesia Time zone which is UTC/GMT +9 hours.
Sample :
Jakarta (Dutch Batavia) Java 1:42 PM — Sun
Banjarmasin Kalimantan 2:42 PM — Sun
Denpasar Lesser Sunda Islands 2:42 PM — Sun
Ambon Maluku Islands 3:42 PM — Sun
Medan Sumatra 1:42 PM — Sun
Makassar (Ujung Pandang) Sulawesi 2:42 PM — Sun
Manado Sulawesi 2:42 PM — Sun
Jayapura Western New Guinea 3:42 PM — Sun
Time........ Abbr..... Name English equivalent
UTC+7..... WIB...... Waktu Indonesia Barat (Western Indonesia Standard Time)
UTC+8..... WITA... Waktu Indonesia Tengah (Central Indonesia Standard Time)
UTC+9..... WIT...... Waktu Indonesia Timur (Eastern Indonesia Standard Time)
