Indonesia is the largest ASEAN member by total area.
Indonesia covers about 1.9 million square kilometres and consists of thousands of islands between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It is the largest country in Southeast Asia and the world’s largest archipelagic state. The country’s principal islands include Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, and New Guinea’s western half.
Indonesia founded ASEAN with Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand in 1967. ASEAN later expanded to include Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. Timor-Leste has been admitted in principle but has followed a separate accession process.
Jakarta is Indonesia’s largest city and has long served as the national capital. Nusantara, on the island of Borneo, was designated as the future capital. Indonesia’s area is often underestimated because it is divided among islands rather than forming one continuous landmass.