Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — Indonesia may be known as the world’s largest archipelagic nation, but it surprisingly does not make Indonesia rank among the top five countries with the most islands. Data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has recorded that the number of islands in Indonesia has reached 17,001 islands.
While Indonesia seems to have many islands that often attract visitors with their stunning natural landscapes, unique cultures, and traditions, Indonesia still ranks sixth in terms of the number of islands.
Here’s a list of the rankings:
1. Sweden
Sweden boasts an impressive 267,570 islands, making this country number one. This vast number makes it a popular summer destination, especially for activities like sailing, swimming, and exploring the great outdoors. The Stockholm Archipelago, with around 30,000 islands, is among the most famous regions, though the country’s main islands are Gotland and Öland.
2. Norway
Norway ranks second with 239,057 islands, with the country’s largest island, Hinnøya, spans about 2,204 square kilometers. Many Norway’s islands is located near or within the Arctic Circle, such as the Lofoten Islands and Svalbard, which are known for their breathtaking beauty. Some of the islands are home to small, remote communities that maintain traditional lifestyles.
3. Finland
Ranks third is Finland with 178,947 islands. Unlike some other island nations, this country doesn’t have many large islands. However, the Åland Islands, comprising around 6,700 islands between Finland and Sweden, are significant. Not only on the sea, Finland’s lakes also contain many islands, particularly Lake Saimaa. The country’s largest lake contains thousands of islands, there could be more than 13,000 within Saimaa alone.
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4. Canada
Canada ranks fourth with approximately 52,455 islands. Among the islands, some of the most notable are Baffin Island, Victoria Island, and Ellesmere Island. Canada’s islands are home to diverse ecosystems, such as Vancouver Island’s temperate rainforests and the Arctic Islands’ habitats for polar bears and migratory birds.
5. United States
The United States comes in fifth with 18,617 islands. Most of these are in Alaska, which has about 2,670 islands, many of which are large and inhabited. Beyond Alaska, the U.S. also has the well known Hawaiian Islands, consisting of 137 islands.
6. Indonesia
With its islands stretching from Sabang to Merauke, Indonesia ranks sixth, featuring 17,000 islands. The nation’s six largest islands are Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Timor, and Papua. While the the rest of the island was scattered among the 34 provinces in Indonesia.
Among Indonesia’s 34 provinces, West Papua leads with the most islands, totaling 4,520 island. The second province with most islands is the Riau Islands with 2,028 islands, and Central Sulawesi comes next with 1,572 islands. On the other end, the Province of Bengkulu has the fewest islands in Indonesia, with only nine under its region according to 2022 data.
(Raidi/Agung)
