Country ISO code: ID
Official language: Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)
Language ISO code: id
Current official currency: Indonesian Rupiah
Current currency ISO code: IDR

Recognition of Indonesian as an Official Language of UNESCO

• On November 20, 2023, Indonesian was officially designated as an official language of the UNESCO General Conference held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

• Indonesian became the 10th official language recognized by UNESCO, joining the six official UN languages (English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish, Russian) and three other UNESCO member state languages (Hindi, Italian, Portuguese).

• This decision was adopted by consensus through Resolution 42 C/28 during the 42nd General Conference plenary session of UNESCO.

• The recognition implements the mandate of Article 44 Paragraph (1) of Indonesian Law No. 24 of 2009 on the National Flag, Language, Emblem, and Anthem, which affirms the government’s efforts to promote Indonesian as an international language gradually, systematically, and sustainably.

• Indonesian has been a unifying language since the pre-independence era, especially through the Youth Pledge of 1928, and is currently spoken by over 275 million people in Indonesia and communities in 52 countries.

• This recognition opens significant opportunities to expand the role of Indonesian in global forums, including its use in official UNESCO documents and meetings.

• The Indonesian Ambassador to UNESCO, Mohamad Oemar, stated that this recognition will positively impact peace, harmony, and the achievement of sustainable development goals nationally and globally.

Context of Indonesian Language Use

• Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia and serves as a unifying language amid the country’s linguistic diversity of over 700 regional languages.

• Beyond Indonesia, Indonesian is widely used in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, as well as in small communities in the Netherlands and Suriname.

This report summarizes the official recognition of Indonesian as an official language of the UNESCO General Conference since November 20, 2023, marking a milestone in cultural diplomacy and the international development of the Indonesian language.