B. J. Habibie
1936 – 2019Third President of Indonesia (1998-1999) and renowned aeronautics engineer who designed Indonesia's first domestically produced aircraft.
Famous People from Indonesia
28 notable historical figures from Indonesia, including leaders, artists, scientists, and other influential people.
Indonesia has produced influential figures in politics, entertainment, and sports throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Founding father Sukarno led the independence movement, followed by Suharto and more recent democratic leaders such as Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and current president Joko Widodo. Notable female political figures include Megawati Soekarnoputri, Indonesia's fifth president. Aerospace engineer B. J. Habibie played a key role in technological advancement. In entertainment, singers Anggun and Agnez Mo have gained international recognition. Indonesian athletes, especially in badminton, have competed at the Olympic level. Politicians make up nearly half of the nation's notable figures, reflecting the importance of political evolution and democratic development since independence.
politician (9)actor (4)badminton player (4)businessperson (3)military personnel (3)Olympic competitor (3)engineer (2)entrepreneur (2)art collector (2)diplomat (2)
Abdurrahman Wahid
1940 – 2009Fourth President of Indonesia (1999-2001) and influential Islamic scholar who promoted religious tolerance and democratic reforms during his presidency.
Joko Widodo
1961 – PresentSeventh President of Indonesia since 2014, former Governor of Jakarta known for his populist approach and infrastructure development programs.
Anggun
1974 – PresentIndonesian singer-songwriter who achieved international success as a French citizen, known for hits like "Snow on the Sahara" and serving as a coach on talent shows across multiple countries.
Agnez Mo
1986 – PresentIndonesian pop star and actress who began her career as a child performer and became one of Asia's most successful recording artists with multiple platinum albums.
Suharto
1921 – 2008Second President of Indonesia who ruled for over three decades (1967-1998) and established the authoritarian New Order regime before resigning during the 1998 reform movement.
Sukarno
1901 – 1970Founding father and first President of Indonesia who proclaimed the nation's independence in 1945 and led the country until 1967.
Adam Malik
1917 – 1984Third Vice President of Indonesia (1978-1983) and prominent journalist who played a key role in Indonesia's foreign policy and Non-Aligned Movement leadership.
Jolene Marie Rotinsulu
1996 – PresentIndonesian beauty queen who won Miss International 2019, becoming the first Indonesian to claim this international pageant title.
Prabowo Subianto
1951 – PresentEighth President of Indonesia since 2024 and former military general who previously served as Defense Minister under Joko Widodo.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
1949 – PresentSixth President of Indonesia (2004-2014) and former military general who was the first directly elected president in Indonesian history.
Markis Kido
1984 – 2021Indonesian badminton player who won the men's doubles gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics partnering with Hendra Setiawan.
Greysia Polii
1987 – PresentIndonesian badminton player who won Olympic gold in women's doubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, securing Indonesia's first Olympic gold in that event.
Megawati Soekarnoputri
1947 – PresentFifth President of Indonesia (2001-2004) and daughter of founding president Sukarno, she was the country's first female president.
Pramoedya Ananta Toer
1925 – 2006Renowned Indonesian author whose Buru Quartet tetralogy is considered one of the greatest works of Southeast Asian literature, despite being banned during the Suharto era.
Rio Haryanto
1993 – PresentIndonesian racing driver who became the first Indonesian to compete in Formula One when he raced for Manor Racing in 2016.
Taufik Hidayat
1981 – PresentIndonesian badminton champion who won Olympic gold in men's singles at the 2004 Athens Olympics and multiple world championship titles.
Sri Mulyani Indrawati
1962 – PresentIndonesian economist and Finance Minister who previously served as Managing Director of the World Bank and is recognized for her expertise in public finance.
Susi Susanti
1971 – PresentIndonesian badminton legend who won Olympic gold in women's singles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, becoming Indonesia's first Olympic champion.
Jusuf Kalla
1942 – PresentIndonesian businessman and politician who served two non-consecutive terms as Vice President under both Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko Widodo.
Jordi Amat
1992 – PresentIndonesian national team defender who has played for clubs in Spain's La Liga and represented Indonesia in international competitions.
Ma'ruf Amin
1943 – PresentThirteenth Vice President of Indonesia since 2019 and prominent Islamic scholar who previously served as chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council.
Emil Audero Mulyadi
1997 – PresentIndonesian-Italian goalkeeper who plays for Serie A clubs and represents the Indonesian national football team despite being born in Italy.
Retno Marsudi
1962 – PresentIndonesian Foreign Minister since 2014 and career diplomat who became the first woman to hold this position in Indonesian history.
Eko Yuli Irawan
1989 – PresentIndonesian weightlifter who won silver medals at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics in the 62kg category, becoming one of Indonesia's most successful Olympic athletes.
Jessica Iskandar
1988 – PresentIndonesian actress and television presenter known for her roles in soap operas and her work as an entertainment show host.
Julius Darmaatmadja
1934 – PresentIndonesian Catholic cardinal who served as Archbishop of Jakarta from 1996 to 2010 and was elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 1998.
Muammar Z.A.
1954 – PresentMaster Indonesian Quran reciter renowned for his melodious voice and precise tajwid, who has performed at international Islamic events worldwide.
Related Data
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the most famous Indonesian singers internationally?
Anggun and Agnez Mo are Indonesia's most internationally recognized singers. Anggun found global success with her French-language music career, while Agnez Mo has entered the American music market.
Who was Indonesia's first president?
Sukarno was Indonesia's first president, serving from 1945 to 1967. He played a key role in Indonesia's independence movement and helped establish the country as a republic after Dutch colonial rule.
Which Indonesian politicians have served as president in recent decades?
Notable Indonesian presidents in recent decades include Suharto (1967-1998), B.J. Habibie (1998-1999), Abdurrahman Wahid (1999-2001), Megawati Soekarnoputri (2001-2004), Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (2004-2014), and the current president Joko Widodo (2014-present). Prabowo Subianto is also a prominent political figure and presidential candidate.