Which is the most populous island in Indonesia?

Java is the most populous island in Indonesia.

The island is home to more than half of Indonesia’s population despite covering only a small share of the country’s land area. Its extraordinary population density grew from fertile volcanic soils, reliable agricultural regions, long-established kingdoms, and the concentration of modern government and industry.

Jakarta, Indonesia’s national capital and largest metropolitan center, is on Java’s northwestern coast. Other major urban areas include Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang, and Yogyakarta. Java also contains six provinces, while the Jakarta metropolitan region extends across several densely settled districts.

A common mix-up is confusing Java’s population with its size. Sumatra, Borneo, and New Guinea are much larger islands, but Java has far more residents. Java is also commonly described as the world’s most populous island, although population totals can vary depending on whether nearby Madura is counted with it.