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Indonesia

The lights dim, the crowd roars, and the opening notes of a familiar tune pulse through the air.

Somewhere in Jakarta, thousands of young people lift their phones high to film and join a digital chorus of millions more online.

They’re singing along to a song by NIKI, Indonesia’s breakout star dominating Southeast Asia and leaving her mark on global charts, Spotify playlists, and even TikTok trends. Her hit tracks have become background anthems to countless online videos and reels that define the rhythm of Indonesian youth culture today.

Music has always moved people, but it moves them together in Indonesia.
Indonesia is frequently lauded by artists and fans alike as one of Southeast Asia’s top countries for live concerts. The nation’s vibrant music scene and passionate audiences create an atmosphere that performers find unforgettable. For instance, during Coldplay’s 2023 Jakarta concert, over 1.7 million fans competed for just 70,000 tickets—a testament to Indonesia’s intense enthusiasm for live music, according to LPEM FEB UI. According to an Instagram post from USS Feeds, Indonesians’ love for music translated into a significant economic impact, generating approximately USD 13.9 million in revenue.

Faith and Tech by Numbers

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, home to over 227 million people. Yet despite its vibrancy, an estimated 200 million Indonesians, or about 70.5% still don’t personally know Jesus, according to a recent report from Joshua Project. The Christian population, though present and active, makes up just another 11.4% of the nation’s people and about 18.1% of the population are unknown

Percentage of people identifying as Christians out of Indonesia’s total population

Percentage of unreached population of Indonesia

But here’s where the music of hope can be played: the digital space.

According to Data Reportal, in 2024, Indonesia had 224 million internet users and 167 million social media users. 

Total internet users in Indonesia over time

Most used social media platforms in Indonesia

Number of hours in a day most Indonesians spend on the internet

They spend an average of 7 hours and 40 minutes online every day, with TikTok, YouTube, and WhatsApp topping the charts for the most-used platforms. That’s not just impressive data—it’s a digital megaphone waiting to amplify messages that matter.

Trending Topics in Indonesia

Indonesia’s online spaces are shaped by what people care about the most: elections, entertainment, economic change, and yes, more music. In recent years, the rise of digital creators and online musicians has sparked new trends and built micro-communities around influencers and ideas. In 2024, even a government ban on TikTok Shop couldn’t stop the surge of interest in the creator economy. Indonesians are not just consuming content; they’re creating it.

YOASOBI Concert

YOASOBI concert at Istora Senayan, Jakarta, on January 16, 2024. (Photo credit: Fauzi Nur Alamsyah / Tribunnews.com.)

“We Listen and We Don’t Judge” TikTok Posts

(Photo Credit: Viva Digital)

Indonesia 2024 Elections

A woman casts her ballot in Banjar Teba, Jimbaran, Bali, on February 14, 2024. (Photo Credit: Sonny Tumbelaka / AFP via Getty Images, via CNN.)

Eid Al Fitr/ Lebaran

Traffic on the Tangerang–Merak Toll Road KM 94, Cilegon, Banten, April 7, 2024 (Photo credit: Between Photos / BBC News Indonesia).

Eid Al Fitr/ Lebaran

In 2024, an estimated 193.6 million people returned home for Eid al-Fitr causing heavy traffic. Eid al‑Fitr — called Lebaran in Indonesia, is celebrated for three days following the month-long fast of Ramadan. Muslims commemorate this occasion by performing the Eid prayer on the morning of the first day, exchanging greetings, sharing joy, and forgiving past mistakes. For Muslims, the end of the fast is a day of victory — a time for renewal, forgiveness, and reflection.

What does it mean for missions in a digital age?

In Indonesia, where culture is vibrant and digital life is thriving, millions go online daily, searching for connection, purpose, and truth. This moment in history offers a unique opportunity for Christians to be present, to listen, and to lovingly point others to Jesus in ways that speak to the heart.

Pray for Indonesia — that Christians would be bold and wise in how they engage online, that authentic conversations about faith would grow, and that more Indonesians would come to know the hope only Christ can give.

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