Java is the world’s most populous island, with more than 150 million residents.
Java is part of Indonesia and contains Jakarta, the country’s capital, on its northwestern coast. The island covers about 128,000 square kilometres, yet its population is exceptionally concentrated because of fertile volcanic soils, extensive rice agriculture, and centuries of political and economic importance.
Java’s landscape is dominated by a chain of volcanoes running east to west. Mount Semeru, at 3,676 metres, is the island’s highest point. The island is also the historical centre of several Indonesian kingdoms, including Mataram and Majapahit.
A common mix-up is confusing Java with Sumatra or Borneo, which are larger Indonesian islands by area. Java is smaller, but its population is far greater. Indonesia’s administrative regions on Java include West Java, Central Java, East Java, Banten, and the Special Regions of Jakarta and Yogyakarta.