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German Indonesians

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German Indonesians are people in Indonesia who are of German ancestry or are German nationals living there. In 2020, about 19,879 Germans were recorded in Indonesia. Most live in Jakarta, Bogor, Puncak, Bali, and Surabaya. They speak Indonesian and German and follow various religions, including Christianity (Lutheran, Catholic, Protestant, Calvinist), Islam (Sunni), or they are irreligious or Jewish.

History in brief:
- German traders arrived in the East Indies in the 16th century, traveling with Dutch and Portuguese ships.
- Under Dutch rule (VOC), thousands of Germans came to Indonesia to work as officials, engineers, researchers, scientists, and soldiers.
- The Württemberg Regiment, also called the Contract Army, had about 2,000 German soldiers serving from 1790 to 1808.
- In the 19th century, German-speaking doctors were the largest group of non-Dutch European physicians in the Dutch East Indies, with more than 300 Germans, Swiss, and Austro-Hungarian doctors serving in colonial health services, mainly in the Dutch Colonial Army or civil health services.
- German industry has been present in Indonesia since the mid-19th century.

After 1945, German entrepreneurs and experts in development, education, and research continued strong ties with Indonesia. German schools, such as the German School Jakarta, operate in the country.


This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 19:10 (CET).