---
title: "Religion in Indonesia: A Respectful Guide for Travellers"
description: "Religion in Indonesia for travellers: six recognised religions and their shares, Aceh’s Islamic law, prayer times, holidays and etiquette at places of worship."
url: "https://travelshifu.com/guides/religion-in-indonesia-for-travellers/"
category: "Trip Planning"
author: "Kaiser Khan"
date_published: "2026-10-16"
date_modified: "2026-10-16"
source: "TravelShifu"
---

# Religion in Indonesia: A Respectful Guide for Travellers

Religion in Indonesia for travellers: six recognised religions and their shares, Aceh’s Islamic law, prayer times, holidays and etiquette at places of worship.

> No affiliate links in this guide. Jadwal Sholat Indonesia, linked below, is our sister site under the same ownership as TravelShifu. Official sources, survey data and news reports are editorial links.

## Which religions are recognised in Indonesia, and how many people follow each?

Indonesia’s government recognises and serves six religions: Islam, Protestant Christianity, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. In 2025 figures published by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, about 87% of Indonesians are Muslim, 7.4% Protestant, 3.1% Catholic, 1.7% Hindu and 0.7% Buddhist, with Confucians and followers of other beliefs about 0.03% each.

The [Ministry of Religious Affairs](https://kemenag.go.id/) runs separate community-guidance offices for Islam, Protestant Christianity (Kristen), Catholicism (Katolik), Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism (Khonghucu). Its [open-data table of population by religion](https://satudata.kemenag.go.id/dataset/detail/jumlah-penduduk-menurut-agama), which takes its numbers from the Ministry of Home Affairs’ population register, counts 288.3 million people for 2025. The shares in the table below are calculated from that dataset, and the 2024 figures in the same table are almost identical.

Smaller traditions exist alongside the six. On 7 November 2017 the Constitutional Court ruled that followers of indigenous belief systems (penghayat kepercayaan) can have that status recorded in the religion field of their identity card and family card, [Kompas reported](https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2017/11/07/13020811/mk-kolom-agama-di-ktp-dan-kk-dapat-ditulis-penghayat-kepercayaan). The ministry’s table groups them with any other faiths as “other”.

For a visitor, the national figures matter less than the local picture. Islam is the majority religion nationally, but the balance changes from island to island, and so do the holidays, sounds of the day and dress you will notice. The next section shows where each faith is the local majority.

| Religion | People (2025) | Share of population |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Islam | 251,257,898 | 87.15% |
| Protestant Christianity (Kristen) | 21,240,765 | 7.37% |
| Catholicism (Katolik) | 8,861,999 | 3.07% |
| Hinduism | 4,781,776 | 1.66% |
| Buddhism | 1,994,756 | 0.69% |
| Confucianism (Khonghucu) | 78,339 | 0.03% |
| Other beliefs | 99,556 | 0.03% |
| Total | 288,315,089 | 100% |

## Where in Indonesia is each religion the majority?

Islam is the majority in most provinces, including those on Java and in Aceh. Bali is mainly Hindu, at 86% in 2025. Christians are the majority in East Nusa Tenggara, North Sulawesi, the Papuan provinces and the Batak highland regencies around Lake Toba in North Sumatra. Jakarta, West Kalimantan and Maluku are notably mixed.

Provincial figures from the same [Ministry of Religious Affairs dataset](https://satudata.kemenag.go.id/dataset/detail/jumlah-penduduk-menurut-agama) show how much the picture varies. Aceh is 98.6% Muslim and West Java 97.4%. In Bali, 86.3% of residents are Hindu and 10.4% Muslim. East Nusa Tenggara is 90% Christian, with Catholics (54.1%) outnumbering Protestants (36.0%), and North Sulawesi, around Manado, is 67% Christian.

All six provinces on the island of New Guinea have Christian majorities, from 62% in West Papua and Southwest Papua to 98% in Highland Papua; South Papua is the one where Catholics outnumber Protestants. North Sumatra as a whole is about two-thirds Muslim, but [BPS North Sumatra’s 2021 table](https://sumut.bps.go.id/en/statistics-table/1/Mjc5MyMx/jumlah-penduduk-menurut-kabupaten-kota-dan-agama-yang-dianut-2021.html), which uses figures from the regional offices of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, shows Christians making up 94% to 98% of the population in North Tapanuli, Toba, Humbang Hasundutan and Samosir, the Batak highland regencies around Lake Toba.

Mixed places are worth knowing too. Jakarta is 83.9% Muslim, 12.5% Christian and 3.4% Buddhist; West Kalimantan is 60.6% Muslim, 33.8% Christian and 5.3% Buddhist; and Maluku is close to evenly divided, at 52.7% Muslim and 46.4% Christian. Bangka Belitung has the largest Confucian share of any province, at 1.9%. Our [Bali](/destinations/bali), [Jakarta](/destinations/jakarta) and [Yogyakarta](/destinations/yogyakarta) guides cover the places themselves.

| Province (2025) | Muslim | Christian (Protestant and Catholic) | Hindu | Buddhist |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Aceh | 98.6% | 1.3% | <0.1% | 0.1% |
| West Java | 97.4% | 2.4% | <0.1% | 0.2% |
| Yogyakarta | 93.0% | 6.8% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Jakarta | 83.9% | 12.5% | 0.2% | 3.4% |
| Bali | 10.4% | 2.7% | 86.3% | 0.7% |
| West Nusa Tenggara (Lombok, Sumbawa) | 96.9% | 0.4% | 2.3% | 0.3% |
| North Sumatra | 67.2% | 30.5% | 0.1% | 2.2% |
| West Kalimantan | 60.6% | 33.8% | <0.1% | 5.3% |
| Maluku | 52.7% | 46.4% | 0.4% | <0.1% |
| North Sulawesi | 32.2% | 67.0% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
| East Nusa Tenggara (Flores, Sumba, West Timor) | 9.3% | 90.0% | 0.1% | <0.1% |
| Papua | 28.6% | 71.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Highland Papua | 1.8% | 98.1% | <0.1% | <0.1% |

## What does Aceh’s Islamic law mean for visitors?

Aceh is the only Indonesian province that enforces sharia law, and the UK government says it applies to non-Muslims as well as Muslims. Alcohol, gambling, extramarital sex and same-sex sexual activity are illegal there, with penalties that can include public caning after a sharia court process. Plan any Aceh trip around those rules.

The [FCDO’s Indonesia safety and security page](https://gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia/safety-and-security), still current on 16 October 2026, says Aceh enforces Sharia law and that the laws apply to both Muslims and non-Muslims. It lists the consumption, production and distribution of alcohol as illegal, punishable by public caning following a Sharia court process; gambling, punishable by public caning, a prison sentence or a fine payable in gold; and extramarital sex, punishable by public caning.

The same page says same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Aceh, with penalties that include public caning, prison or a fine payable in gold, and it advises LGBT+ travellers to exercise caution and discretion in public spaces. Beyond Aceh, the FCDO notes that Indonesia’s new criminal code penalises cohabitation and sex outside marriage if certain family members file a complaint.

In practice, plan an alcohol-free trip to Banda Aceh or Pulau Weh and keep public behaviour between couples discreet. We did not find an official visitor dress code to cite, so dress modestly, as you would at any mosque, ask your accommodation or guide what is expected locally, and read the FCDO page in full before you book.

## What will you notice about daily religious life in Indonesia?

Expect the call to prayer from mosques five times a day, starting before dawn, and busy mosques at Friday midday prayers. Large churches hold several Sunday services that visitors can attend quietly. Pew Research Center’s 2024 survey found that 94% of Indonesian adults say religion is very important in their lives.

Mosque loudspeakers are regulated. A 2022 circular from the Ministry of Religious Affairs caps loudspeaker volume at 100 decibels and separates outward-facing speakers, used for the call to prayer and short recitations beforehand, from indoor speakers used for the prayers themselves ([Antara, 24 February 2022](https://bali.antaranews.com/berita/270437/kemenag-terbitkan-pedoman-pengeras-suara-di-masjid)). Before the dawn prayer, recitation on outdoor speakers is limited to ten minutes. If you are a light sleeper, ask for a room that does not face the nearest mosque.

Prayer times follow the sun, so they shift through the year and from city to city. Our sister site [Jadwal Sholat Indonesia shows today’s prayer times for Jakarta](https://jadwalsholatindonesia.com/jakarta/), based on the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ timetable; the site is in Indonesian. On Fridays the midday prayer includes a sermon (khutbah), and the same circular allows outdoor recitation for up to ten minutes beforehand, so allow a little extra time if your route passes a large mosque around midday.

Religious practice is part of everyday life for most Indonesians. In Pew Research Center’s spring 2024 survey, 95% of Indonesian adults said they pray at least daily and 99% said they go to a place of worship at least monthly ([Pew, May 2025](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/05/06/spiritual-and-religious-practices/)). The comparison section below puts those figures alongside other countries.

## How do religious holidays affect travel in Indonesia?

Indonesia’s 2027 calendar has 18 national holidays, many of them religious, plus eight collective leave days. The biggest effect comes at Idulfitri, on 10–11 March 2027, when millions travel home and transport fills up. Nyepi closes Bali on 8 March 2027, and Christmas, Easter, Waisak and Chinese New Year are also holidays.

The [joint ministerial decree on 2027 holidays](https://setneg.go.id/baca/index/inilah_skb_3_menteri_libur_nasional_dan_cuti_bersama_2027), signed on 15 September 2026 by the ministers of religious affairs, manpower and administrative reform, sets 18 national holidays and eight days of collective leave (cuti bersama). The religious dates in the table below are the ones most likely to affect your plans.

Idulfitri, the festival at the end of Ramadan, brings the annual homecoming known as mudik. For 2026 the Transportation Ministry’s survey projected about 143.7 million travellers, and the minister noted that the actual 2025 figure, 154 million, had exceeded the projection for that year ([Antara, 20 February 2026](https://en.antaranews.com/news/405242/ministry-predicts-144-million-travelers-for-2026-eid-homecoming)). Book trains, flights and ferries early if you must travel then. Our [Ramadan travel planning guide](/guides/ramadan-travel-planning) covers the fasting month itself.

In 2027 the holidays cluster: Nyepi on Monday 8 March, Idulfitri on 10 and 11 March with collective leave on 9, 12 and 15 March, then Good Friday on 26 March and Easter Sunday on 28 March. During Ramadan, the [FCDO](https://gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia/safety-and-security) advises visitors not to eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in the daytime, to follow local dress codes and to expect erratic driving at dusk, when people are trying to get home.

| Holiday | 2027 date | Collective leave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Isra Mikraj (Islam) | Tuesday 5 January | None |
| Chinese New Year (Imlek) | Saturday 6 February | Friday 5 February |
| Nyepi, Saka New Year (Hindu) | Monday 8 March | None |
| Idulfitri (Islam) | Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 March | 9, 12 and 15 March |
| Good Friday (Christian) | Friday 26 March | Thursday 25 March |
| Easter Sunday (Christian) | Sunday 28 March | None |
| Ascension Day (Christian) | Thursday 6 May | None |
| Iduladha (Islam) | Monday 17 May | Tuesday 18 May |
| Waisak (Buddhist) | Thursday 20 May | Wednesday 19 May |
| Islamic New Year | Sunday 6 June | None |
| Prophet Muhammad’s birthday | Sunday 15 August | None |
| Christmas Day (Christian) | Saturday 25 December | Friday 24 December |
| Isra Mikraj (second in the year) | Sunday 26 December | None |

## How should you visit a mosque in Indonesia?

Dress modestly, remove your shoes before entering and keep away from people at prayer. At Jakarta’s Istiqlal Mosque, non-Muslims cannot enter the main prayer hall but can visit the upper hallways and terraces, with guides available, and visitors without suitable clothing can borrow a robe and headscarf. Avoid arriving at prayer times.

Indonesia’s tourism ministry says [Istiqlal Mosque](https://www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/destination/java/jakarta/dki-jakarta---the-grand-istiqlal-mosque) is open daily with no admission fee, that worshippers take off their shoes before entering the building, and that guides are available to show non-Muslim visitors around. Non-Muslims are not allowed into the main prayer hall but may visit the upper hallways and terraces. The mosque stands almost opposite Jakarta Cathedral, and the two share their car parks during each other’s major services.

Kompas reported on [19 February 2023](https://travel.kompas.com/read/2023/02/19/125039127/panduan-ke-masjid-istiqlal-jam-buka-aturan-berkunjung-dan-rute) that every visitor entering the Istiqlal complex must dress modestly, and that women not wearing Muslim dress can borrow a long robe and headscarf at the public relations room near Gate 5 (Al-Fattah), where tour groups also register. At that time the mosque was open from 03:30 to 22:00 WIB; check current hours before you go.

At smaller mosques, follow the same approach: cover shoulders and knees, carry a scarf if you are a woman, take your shoes off at the door and silence your phone. Muslim travellers will find prayer facilities and halal food covered in our guides to whether [Jakarta](/guides/is-jakarta-muslim-friendly) and [Bali](/guides/is-bali-muslim-friendly) are Muslim-friendly. For mosques elsewhere, see our [religious site etiquette guide](/guides/religious-site-etiquette-guide).

## How should you visit a Balinese temple?

Wear a sarong and sash, which temples such as Besakih rent at the entrance, dress modestly and follow the rules posted at the gate. Bali’s 2025 circular bars tourists from inner temple courtyards unless they are worshipping in traditional dress, bars menstruating women from those areas and bans climbing sacred trees or monuments.

Indonesia’s tourism ministry says all visitors to [Pura Besakih](https://www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/travel-ideas/pilgrimage/pura-besakih), Bali’s largest temple complex, must wear a sarong (kamen) and sash, which can be rented at the entrance if you do not bring your own. It asks visitors not to disturb people at prayer, to keep away from restricted sacred areas and to keep quiet, and suggests hiring a local guide.

Bali’s governor set island-wide rules in [Circular Letter 7 of 2025](https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id/article/detail/1742819770564/bali-cracks-down-on-unruly-tourists:-governor-koster-issues-new-regulations), announced in March 2025. Tourists must respect sacred sites and symbols, wear modest and respectful clothing at temples, and be accompanied by certified guides at cultural sites. They may not enter the sacred inner and middle courtyards (Utamaning Mandala and Madyaning Mandala) unless they are worshippers in traditional Balinese dress; menstruating women are also barred from those areas; and climbing sacred trees or monuments and taking inappropriate or nude photos at religious sites are banned.

Temples are working places of worship, so ceremonies can change what is open on a given day. Bali’s biggest religious day for visitors to plan around is Nyepi; see our [Nyepi guide](/guides/nyepi-bali-day-of-silence). Java’s great Buddhist monument has its own rules, including special upanat sandals for climbers, covered in our [Borobudur guide](/guides/borobudur-temple-guide).

## Can visitors attend church services in Indonesia?

Yes, where churches welcome visitors. Jakarta Cathedral, opposite Istiqlal Mosque, is open to tourists and the public, holds five Sunday Masses and needs no registration for daily or Sunday Mass. It asks worshippers to dress neatly and modestly and not to arrive late. Silence your phone and ask before taking photographs.

[Jakarta Cathedral’s own site](https://katedraljakarta.or.id/) lists Sunday Masses at 06:00, 08:30, 11:00, 16:30 and 19:00, Saturday evening Masses at 16:00 and 18:00, and weekday Masses at 06:00 and 18:00, with some streamed online. It says there is no registration for daily, First Friday or Sunday Mass, and asks those attending to dress neatly and modestly (berpakaian rapi dan sopan).

Indonesia’s tourism ministry notes that [Jakarta Cathedral](https://www.indonesia.travel/gb/en/travel-ideas/pilgrimage/katedral-jakarta/) is primarily a place of worship but is also open to tourists and the public, with a small museum of religious artefacts. It suggests early morning or late afternoon for a quieter visit. If you join a service, sit where you can leave without disturbing others and follow the congregation’s lead.

Expect security at the door at major churches. The [FCDO](https://gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/indonesia/safety-and-security) says places of worship in Indonesia are regularly targeted by extremists and that risk is heightened around Christmas, New Year, Easter, Chinese New Year, Nyepi and Islamic holidays such as Ramadan. Follow any instructions from security staff and keep bags small.

## How religious is Indonesia compared with other countries?

On Pew Research Center’s 2024 measures, Indonesia is among the most religious of the 36 countries surveyed: 94% of adults say religion is very important in their lives, compared with 20% in the UK, 38% in the US and 14% in Australia. Attendance at places of worship follows a similar pattern.

The figures come from Pew’s [spring 2024 Global Attitudes Survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/05/06/religious-importance-and-religious-affiliation/), published in May 2025. Pew interviewed adults in most countries between 5 January and 22 May 2024, face to face in countries including Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and India, by phone in countries including Malaysia, Singapore and the UK, and through an online panel in Australia ([Pew, August 2024](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/08/28/many-around-the-globe-say-its-important-their-leader-stands-up-for-peoples-religious-beliefs/)). US figures come from Pew’s 2023–24 Religious Landscape Study. All numbers below are from the survey’s [published topline](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/05/PR_2025.05.06_spirituality-around-the-world_topline.pdf).

The attendance question was worded for each respondent’s religion: Christians were asked how often they go to church, Muslims how often they attend mosque, and Buddhists and Hindus how often they go to temple. In Indonesia, where Muslims were asked about attending mosque, 90% of all respondents said they go every day. The figures are self-reported, so treat them as a guide to practice rather than a count of people in buildings.

Pew’s published topline does not report Indonesian Christians separately, so it does not show how full Indonesia’s churches are. Where it does break out Christians, the shares saying they go to church at least weekly are listed below. These are survey results, presented without judgement on any country or faith.

- Christians in the UK: 29% say religion is very important; 25% go to church weekly or more.
- Christians in Australia: 27% and 23%. Christians in the US: 55% and 37%.
- Christians in the Philippines: 88% and 52%. Christians in Singapore: 61% and 69%.
- Christians in South Korea: 43% and 68%. Christians in Nigeria: 80% and 90%.

| Country (Pew, 2024) | Religion very important | Attend weekly or more | Attend monthly or more |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Indonesia | 94% | 98% | 99% |
| Bangladesh | 97% | 55% | 59% |
| Sri Lanka | 91% | 36% | 84% |
| Philippines | 88% | 53% | 74% |
| Malaysia | 86% | 66% | 77% |
| India | 82% | 68% | 86% |
| Nigeria | 82% | 90% | 96% |
| Brazil | 79% | 43% | 62% |
| Thailand | 65% | 33% | 62% |
| Turkey | 65% | 38% | 48% |
| Singapore | 45% | 35% | 52% |
| United States | 38% | 25% | 33% |
| Israel | 37% | 28% | 35% |
| Italy | 27% | 20% | 30% |
| Canada | 26% | 18% | 26% |
| United Kingdom | 20% | 15% | 22% |
| Poland | 19% | 34% | 49% |
| South Korea | 18% | 25% | 35% |
| Australia | 14% | 10% | 15% |
| Japan | 7% | 4% | 13% |
| Sweden | 7% | 5% | 9% |

## What are the simple rules for respectful travel across Indonesia’s faiths?

Dress modestly at any place of worship, take your shoes off where others do, keep voices low and avoid disturbing people at prayer. Ask before photographing worshippers or ceremonies. Check the dates of Ramadan, Nyepi and Idulfitri before booking, and read the FCDO’s advice in full if you plan to visit Aceh.

Most of what visitors need comes down to noticing what local people do and following suit. The rules reported for Istiqlal, published by Jakarta Cathedral and set by Bali’s provincial government all ask for modest clothing, and Bali’s 2025 circular adds specific bans on entering inner temple courtyards, climbing sacred structures and taking inappropriate photos at religious sites.

Timing matters as much as clothing. Ramadan changes daytime eating in public, Idulfitri fills transport, and Nyepi shuts Bali completely for 24 hours, including its airport. Our [Indonesia travel planning guide](/guides/indonesia-travel-planning) helps fit those dates into a wider itinerary, and our [Indonesian food guide](/guides/indonesian-food-guide) explains what you will eat along the way.

If you are travelling beyond Indonesia, the same habits work at mosques, temples, churches, gurdwaras and synagogues worldwide; our [religious site etiquette guide](/guides/religious-site-etiquette-guide) collects the published rules of famous sites, from Abu Dhabi to the Vatican.

- Carry a light scarf or sarong and wear clothes that cover shoulders and knees on temple and mosque days.
- Wear shoes that are easy to slip off.
- Visit outside prayer and service times unless you are attending.
- Do not climb sacred trees, statues or monuments, which Bali’s rules ban.
- Check the holiday calendar above before booking transport in March 2027.

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