Bali and Indonesia in Numbers
Bali is often seen as a tropical escape, but behind its beaches and rice terraces lies a deeper story shaped by data, demographics, tourism, and economic change.
Numbers might not be your idea of fun, but if you’re a foreigner visiting or living in Bali, this article might change your mind. When it comes to statistics about Bali and Indonesia at large, things get pretty interesting. Even for long-term residents, there still should be something to surprise you here, so let’s explore some of the most fascinating statistics from this island nation we call home.
The World's Biggest City
If you haven’t been to the capital of Indonesia yet, this one might be a little unexpected. This year, the United Nations named Jakarta the world's most populous city. Jakarta is home to nearly 42 million people, putting it ahead of even famously bustling cities, such as Dhaka and Tokyo. Interestingly, in the UN’s 2018 report, Tokyo topped the list and Jakarta wasn’t even in the top 10.
This change comes mostly from a new way of measuring urban areas, which now includes the full sprawl of Greater Jakarta rather than just counting residents living in the city limits. Either way, Indonesia now has the biggest city on earth within its borders.
Geography
Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, home to roughly 284 million people with only India, China and the United States having larger populations.
Indonesia is one of the most geographically complex countries in the world, consisting of more than 17,000 islands spread across vast ocean territory, making it one of the largest archipelagos on Earth.
People who live in Indonesia are spread across one of the most famously uncountable archipelagos on the planet. Law No. 6 of 1996 states that Indonesia is made up of 17,508 islands, although the national statistics agency (BPS) counted 17,001 in its 2024 survey. The number is always changing depending on where tides are and the methods of counting used.
Religion
Around 87% of Indonesians are Muslim, meaning that Indonesia has the largest Muslim population of any country on Earth. However, Bali is an exception when compared to other islands of Indonesia. It’s estimated that 86% of Balinese people practise Balinese Hinduism and only about 10% of the island's population is Muslim. Having such a large number of Hindu residents is why Bali is home to thousands of temples, somewhere between 10,000-20,000, although the exact number is disputed.
Record Highs and Lows
These days, it feels like everyone wants to come on holiday to Bali. The island had 6,275,210 foreign visitors in 2019 but these figures plummeted during the pandemic, resulting in only 51 foreign tourists in 2021. Because of this blow to the economy, there were many concerns about whether Bali would bounce back, but in reality the tourist sector has become more robust than ever. In 2025, Bali set a new record of 6,948,754 foreign visitors, up 9.72% on the previous year.
Who's Visiting Bali?
Bali attracts visitors from around the world, with Australians as the largest group, followed by travelers from Asia, Europe, and North America, making it one of the most diverse tourist destinations globally.
Approximately one in four visitors (23.44%) of foreign tourists are Australians. India and China are the next largest groups, with South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan making the top ten. When it comes to emerging visitor trends in Bali, foreign arrivals by sea jumped 65.88% in 2025 due to an increase in cruise ships visits to the island.
Bali's foreign visitors are one of the biggest drivers of economic growth, but they also inadvertently put strain on other areas of life. Having so many tourists in some areas causes intense traffic jams, waste and environmental issues and the odd culture clash.
Because of these problems caused by overtourism, Bali brought in a tourist tax of 150,000 IDR that would be designated towards cultural and environmental preservation. During the first year, around 318 billion IDR or $19 million USD was raised. However, the government’s figures showed that only about a third of foreign visitors actually paid it, which is why enforcement has since been stepped up.
Trash Issues
Although Instagram would have people believe that Bali is an untouched paradise, it produces a huge amount of waste, around 1.2 million tonnes a year or roughly 3,436 tonnes every single day. Unfortunately, the island struggles to keep up with the demands of its tourism sector and 40% of it is never properly processed and instead burned or dumped illegally.
Volcanoes
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and has around 130 active volcanoes, among the most of any country on Earth, which is why the occasional flight delay due to an eruption is just part of life here.
Rupiah Record Lows
Rupiah fluctuations reflect global economic pressures, impacting both local purchasing power and visitors’ spending ability.
A recent figure that’s been making the news is one of decline. In early June 2026, the rupiah fell past 18,000 to the US dollar for the first time ever. This is a record low, as the rupiah lost more than 7% over the year to become Asia's worst-performing currency. Surging global oil prices and a narrowing trade surplus are said to be responsible, with the central bank raising interest rates to try and steady the fall.
For foreigners earning in dollars, euros or Australian dollars, a weaker rupiah means your money stretches further day to day. But it's also a sign that the economy is currently under pressure. Exchange rates can swing quickly in either direction, so it's worth keeping an eye on, as well as being mindful of how locals are affected.
Love Bali?
These numbers show a nuanced picture, where growth and opportunities are certainly available. If you love Bali and want to build a life or business here, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are a visa and business consulting agency based in Pererenan, near Canggu and can help you with getting the right visa, company set up, taxes, accounting and more. Let’s work on making the numbers that affect your life the most something to be happy about, so that you can focus on enjoying everything this fascinating, unique country has in store.
Written by Bali Solve Team
24th June 2026
