Discover the celebrities's religion of Indonesia
3 Referenced celebrities
Indonesia holds a unique place in the world’s religious landscape. With more than 270 million people spread across over 17,000 islands, this Southeast Asian country has the largest Muslim population in the world. However, Indonesia is not an Islamic state.
Its Constitution defines it as a secular state. It is based on a national philosophy called Pancasila, which officially recognizes six religions. It also requires every citizen to believe in one supreme God.
As a result, Indonesia is a very unusual case. It is a deeply religious country shaped by centuries of contact between Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity. Yet it does not fit the model of an Islamic state. Nor does it follow the strict French model of secularism.
Religion is visible everywhere in Indonesia. It appears in daily life, politics, culture, and personal identity. Therefore, understanding religion is essential for understanding Indonesian society.
This page explains the place of religion in Indonesia today. It also looks back at the main stages of the country’s religious history. Finally, it explores how Indonesian celebrities and public figures relate to faith, whether publicly or more discreetly.
Indonesia is overwhelmingly Muslim. According to civil registration data from the Indonesian Ministry of Home Affairs, around 87.09% of Indonesians are Muslim. This represents about 242 million people.
Because of this, Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. It ranks ahead of Pakistan and Bangladesh in terms of the number of Muslim believers.
Christians form the second-largest religious community in the country. They represent around 10.45% of the population. Among them, Protestants account for about 7.38% of the total population. Roman Catholics represent around 3.07%.
Overall, this means that nearly 29 million Christians live in Indonesia, according to Pew Research Center estimates published in March 2024.
Hindus form the third major religious minority. They represent around 1.67% of the population. This community is mainly present in Bali, where Hinduism plays a central role in local culture and identity.
Buddhists represent around 0.71% of the population, or about 1.7 million people. They are mainly found in Riau, the Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung, North Sumatra, West Kalimantan, and Jakarta.
Confucians form a much smaller minority. They represent around 0.03% of the population. Folk religions and other beliefs account for around 0.04%, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
However, these figures must be read with caution. They vary depending on the source and the method used. The official 2010 census already reported that around 87% of the population was Muslim. The U.S. Department of State used a similar figure in its 2020 report on international religious freedom.
By contrast, a 2023 Pew Research Center report stated that 93% of Indonesian adults identified as Muslim. This difference may come from the gap between official census data and survey-based research.
The situation is even more difficult when it comes to people with no religion. Indonesian law does not officially allow citizens to declare themselves as having no religion. Therefore, official statistics probably underestimate the number of atheists, agnostics, and people without a formal religious affiliation.
As a result, this group remains largely invisible in official data.
The religious history of Indonesia is one of the richest and most complex in the world. Since the first centuries of our era, the archipelago has received and transformed several major spiritual traditions.
The first major religions to take root in the archipelago were Hinduism and Buddhism. These traditions arrived in Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi between the second and fourth centuries CE. Indian merchants helped spread them through the maritime trade routes of the Indian Ocean.
The Shaivite branch of Hinduism began to develop in Java as early as the fifth century. By the ninth century, Hinduism and Buddhism coexisted as court religions. At that time, Shiva and Buddha were often seen as two expressions of the same spiritual reality.
This deep syncretism continued until the fourteenth century. During this period, great empires such as Srivijaya and Majapahit embodied this fusion between Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
The arrival of Islam in the archipelago is explained by several historical theories. According to one theory, Islam reached Indonesia directly from the Arabian Peninsula as early as the ninth century. This would have happened during the time of the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates.
Another theory emphasizes the role of Sufi travelers. They may have introduced Islam between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, either from Gujarat in India or from Persia.
In any case, Islam spread gradually. It first took root in coastal ports. Then, it moved inland. Over time, several sultanates emerged. Some declared Islam the state religion. Others came into conflict with Hindu, animist, or rival Muslim groups.
In some regions, local populations kept part of their older beliefs. Consequently, they adopted a syncretic form of Islam. This blended Muslim practices with pre-Islamic local traditions.
Christianity arrived later with European colonial powers. The Portuguese brought it in the sixteenth century. The Dutch then expanded their influence from the seventeenth century onward.
Dutch colonization lasted until the twentieth century. During this period, some parts of the archipelago were evangelized, especially in the eastern islands. The Moluccas and parts of Sulawesi were particularly affected.
Today, some provinces in eastern Indonesia still have Christian majorities. This reflects the legacy of colonial and missionary history.
After independence was proclaimed in 1945, Indonesia faced a major question. What place should religion have in the new nation?
The answer was Pancasila. This national philosophy required belief in one supreme God. However, it did not make Islam the official religion of the state.
In 1965, under Soekarno and later within the framework of Soeharto’s regime, the government limited official recognition to six religions. These were Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
This decision had long-lasting consequences. Many minority beliefs and traditional religious practices did not fit into these six official categories.
To understand religion in contemporary Indonesia, it is important to understand the Indonesian model. The country is not an Islamic state like Saudi Arabia or Iran. However, it is not secular in the Western sense either.
Instead, Indonesia follows the project imagined by its founders. It is a religiously diverse nation united by a common philosophy. The first principle of that philosophy is belief in God.
Pancasila deeply shapes the relationship between the state and religion. Civil servants must pledge allegiance to the nation and to the ideology of Pancasila. Moreover, the state does not recognize the right to believe in no God.
For this reason, atheism is legally problematic in Indonesia. The blasphemy law, inherited from Decree 1/PNPS/1965, criminalizes criticism of recognized religions. It also criminalizes the promotion of atheism or beliefs considered deviant.
In addition, this law allows the president to dissolve organizations that promote teachings viewed as deviant from the six official religions.
In daily life, Islam is very visible in Muslim-majority regions. The five daily prayers structure social time. Mosques are present in every neighborhood. Ramadan is also widely observed by the population.
Bali is a major exception. This Hindu-majority island follows its own ritual calendar. Ceremonies and offerings play a central role in both public and private life.
Religion also plays an important role in politics. Large Islamic organizations, especially Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, have major influence in civil society. They are active in education, social life, and sometimes politics.
Both organizations have often defended a moderate and tolerant interpretation of Islam. In this way, they support the values of Pancasila. They have also helped promote national unity within religious diversity.
Interestingly, Christians represent around 15% of members of Indonesia’s House of Representatives. This is notable because they form a much smaller share of the total population. Therefore, this figure reflects a certain degree of religious pluralism in national politics.
Nevertheless, religious debates remain lively in Indonesia. These debates often concern Islam and democracy, tensions between communities, and the blasphemy law. They also involve the status of religious minorities that are not officially recognized.
For this reason, religion acts both as a source of national cohesion and as a possible source of social tension.
In Indonesia, religion is fully part of public life. Public figures often speak about faith, thank God, or use religious greetings. In many cases, this is expected by the public.
Therefore, celebrities also operate within this cultural and political context. Their relationship with religion can influence their public image.
Most Indonesian public figures are Muslim. This reflects the country’s demographic reality. All Indonesian presidents since independence have been Muslims.
This list includes Soekarno, Soeharto, B. J. Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid, Megawati Soekarnoputri, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Joko Widodo.
This continuity is not only due to the demographic weight of Islam. It also shows the symbolic importance of religious identity in Indonesian politics.
Abdurrahman Wahid, known as Gus Dur, holds a special place in this history. He was Indonesia’s fourth president. He was also one of the country’s most influential Islamic intellectuals.
Before becoming president, he led Nahdlatul Ulama. His vision of Islam was open, pluralist, and humanist. As a result, he remains an important reference for those who defend a tolerant form of Islam in Indonesia.
Religion also appears in Indonesian sport. In a country where most people are Muslim, high-level athletes often refer to faith in public.
Badminton is Indonesia’s leading sport. It has produced many world champions and Olympic medalists. In this environment, thanking God after a victory is seen as natural by much of the public.
However, caution is necessary. For many Indonesian athletes, reliable sources do not always confirm their personal religious affiliation or spiritual practice.
Therefore, ReligionStars.com avoids making assumptions based only on family background, name, or nationality. Confirmed information is always preferred to deduction.
Indonesia has one of the most dynamic entertainment industries in Southeast Asia. Music, cinema, television, and series are very popular throughout the archipelago. Some Indonesian artists are also known internationally.
Here again, caution is essential. Most Indonesian artists may be Muslim, given the country’s demographics. However, a celebrity’s religion cannot be stated only from their first name, regional origin, or appearance.
Without a clear interview, a public statement, or a reliable journalistic source, ReligionStars.com does not assign a religion to Indonesian actors or singers.
Still, religion is clearly present in Indonesian entertainment. Some artists wear the veil. Others speak about faith in interviews. In addition, many take part in religious-themed productions, especially during Ramadan.
During this period, Indonesian television channels often broadcast programs with Islamic content.
Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, was Indonesia’s seventh president from 2014 to 2024. He came from a modest background and first worked as a carpenter. His rise to the presidency made him an unusual figure in Indonesian political history.
His Islamic faith is public and documented. However, many observers have described him as a Muslim with a broadly secular approach. In 2019, he said that religion and politics should be separated. This statement sparked a major public debate in Indonesia.
Jokowi has also appeared in some international rankings of the world’s most influential Muslim figures.
Prabowo Subianto, elected president in 2024, has a more complex religious profile. According to available information, he is not especially known for displaying strong public piety.
His family background is interreligious. His father, the economist Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, was Muslim. His mother, Dora Marie Sigar, was a Christian nurse and activist.
Prabowo grew up in his father’s religious tradition. During his 2019 and 2024 campaigns, he referred to Islam as a religion shared with the Indonesian people. He also regularly opened his speeches with an Islamic greeting.
His Sunni Muslim affiliation is documented. However, his personal practice is usually described as discreet.
Islam is by far the dominant religion in Indonesia. According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Home Affairs, approximately 87% of the population is Muslim, representing more than 240 million people. Indonesia is thus the country with the largest Muslim population in the world.
Since 1965, the Indonesian government has officially recognized six religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Beliefs that do not fall into these six categories do not enjoy official legal recognition.
Christianity is the second-largest religion in Indonesia, accounting for approximately 10.45% of the population, or nearly 29 million people. The Christian population is divided into Protestants, who make up the majority of Indonesian Christians, and Catholics. Certain regions in the eastern part of the archipelago have Christian majorities, a legacy of the country’s colonial and missionary history.
No, atheism is not legally protected in Indonesia. Under the blasphemy law and the provisions of Decree 1/PNPS/1965, the promotion of atheism is a criminal offense. Indonesian citizens must officially declare affiliation with one of the six religions recognized by the state. The first principle of Pancasila requires belief in one God.
The predominant religion in Bali is Hinduism.