The 10 Most Common Languages Spoken in Indonesia

As the world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia can claim various spoken languages. The official language, Bahasa Indonesian, has increased in terms of the number of fluent speakers, but there are many other languages with regional importance. Many Indonesians have fluency in multiple languages, making the country of Indonesia a fascinating source for professional and amateur linguists alike. For example, Indonesian has become the common second language to unite the nation of Indonesia.

Most people’s first language, however, more often depends on the ethnic group they are members of. With over 700 indigenous languages spoken throughout 6,000 inhabited islands, Indonesia features a lot of language diversity. Check out the most common spoken languages in Indonesia, including the origins of the language, where most of the speakers live, and future trends. 

10. Balinese – 3.3 million people

Speakers of Balinese live primarily on the island of Bali, an island east of Java. About 3.3 million people speak Balinese, although fewer people use it for everyday activities, unlike Bahasa Indonesian. The language persists despite being displaced by other, more commonly spoken languages. Many Balinese people continue to speak their language when they migrate to other areas of Indonesia and view it as an important aspect of their culture.

9. Acehnese – 3.5 million people

Although another language in the Austronesian language family, Acehnese more closely resembles Malay over Javanese. It is a Chamic language, closely related to languages spoken in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Those who talk to Acehnese in Indonesia typically belong to the Acehnese ethnic minority, who mainly live in the Aceh province in the northern part of the island of Sumatra. About 3.5 million people speak Acehnese as of 2010.

8. Banjarese – 3.65 million people

A language spoken by the Banjarese people in the Indonesian provinces of Borneo, Banjarese is an Austronesian language related to Malay. The origins of the Banjarese people go back to the Dayak, who are one of the major native groups who live in Borneo. However, Sumatran culture and later Javanese culture also influenced Banjarese culture and language developments. About 3.65 million people speak Banjarese in Indonesia.

7. Palembang Malay – 3.9 million people

Around 3.9 million people speak Palembang, or Palembang Malay, in Indonesia. Speakers of Palembang Malay remain concentrated on the island of Sumatra in the southern province along the Musi River. This language shows the influence of Javanese and Malay rule in its vocabulary, with some words being the same. Linguists consider Palembang a variant of Malay, and the people who speak it are a Malay ethnic group. However, it is a distinct language with unique vocabulary and characteristics.

6. Buginese – 5 million people

Speakers of Buginese, or Bugis, live primarily in the southern area of Sulawesi. About 5 million people speak Buginese in Indonesia. However, groups of Buginese speakers exist in other areas of Indonesia due to internal migrations. Buginese speakers used to write down their language using a traditional script called Lontara. Today, people use the Latin script to write the language to simplify things.

5. Minangkabau – 5.5 million people

Another Austronesian language, Minangkabau, is very similar to Malay, with some linguists considering it an earlier form of Malay and others acknowledging it as a separate language. About 5.5 million people speak it, mainly in West Sumatra. 

4. Madurese – 7-13 million people

On the island of Madura in Indonesia, the Madurese people speak another Austronesian language named after the ethnic group. Madurese is also spoken in Eastern Java and by Madurese migrants living in regions across Indonesia. About 7 to 13 million people speak Madurese in Indonesia, although the number of native speakers is shrinking. 

3. Sundanese – 42 million people

The second-largest ethnic group is the Sundanese, who speak an Austronesian language. This language shares a lot of vocabulary with Javanese and Malay. As of 2016, an estimated 42 million people spoke Sundanese. The Sundanese primarily live in the western part of Java in the highlands, making up about 15 percent of the Indonesian population.

2. Javanese – 98 million people

Those who speak Javanese also belong to the largest ethnic group in Indonesia. Javanese belongs to the Austronesian language family. The largest island in the Indonesian archipelago, Java, is named after this group and their language. More than 98 million people speak Javanese as their first language but typically speak Bahasa Indonesian. 

1. Indonesian – 300 million people

Around 300 million people speak Indonesian, or about 94% of the population of Indonesia. It serves as the official language of the nation of Indonesia, with the official name Bahasa Indonesian, which means ‘the language of Indonesia.’ The Indonesian government encourages Bahasa Indonesian language learning and use throughout the country, mainly to showcase national pride. Less than 20 percent of young children speak Bahasa Indonesian at home, but it remains ubiquitous due to its use in schools and media. 

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