Jakarta, capital and largest city of the Republic of Indonesia, centrally located on the northwest coast of Java Island. Jakarta dominates Indonesia's administrative, economic, and cultural activities, and is a major commercial and transportation hub within Asia.

The climate is hot and humid year-round. Rainfall occurs throughout the year, although it is heaviest from November to May.

Average annual precipitation in Jakarta is 1800 mm (71 in). Average daily temperature range is 21° to 33° C (69° to 92° F), with little seasonal variation. It has a total area of 661 sq km (255 sq mi).

Jakarta developed as a center of trade and it continues to play an important role in international and domestic commerce. The metropolitan region is Indonesia's largest economic center; it attracts most of Indonesia's domestic and foreign investment and, as the administrative capital, government expenditures are also significant. A major positive development is the strong growth of tourism and Jakarta's role as a gateway to other areas of Indonesia. Sukarno-Hatta International Airport opened in 1985 at Cengkareng, west of the city center. Port facilities are located just north of the city center at Tanjung Priok. Jakarta's telephone system has improved greatly. Radio broadcast and television channels stations are numerous. several , including government-operated station (TVRI & RRI).

At the 1990 census, DKI Jakarta had a population of 8,259,266. The 1995 estimated population was 9,160,500. These figures do not include seasonal residents who may number more than 1 million. Population growth is high: In 1986 the Jabotabek region had an estimated population of 14.6 million; the projected population for 2000 is 25 million. Reducing the rate of Jakarta's population growth is a national priority. The population of Jakarta includes people of many ethnic groups. Sundanese from West Java and Javanese dominate, but others are well represented. Chinese population is usually divided into two groups: Peranakans, who are Indonesian-born Chinese with some Indonesian ancestry; and Totoks, who have only Chinese ancestry and are usually foreign born. Most people in Jakarta are Muslims. However, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christian are also represented.

Jakarta has more than 100 private and public institutions of higher learning, including the University of Indonesia, founded in 1950, the nation's oldest university.

Jakarta's cultural institutions showcase a variety of Indonesian art, including textiles, batik cloth (cloth that is dyed by a technique using wax), wayang orang (traditional theater with human actors), and wayang kulit (traditional puppet theater), painting, and Javanese and Balinese gamelan (drum-and-gong ensemble) music.

Important museums include the Jakarta History Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the National Museum.