5 Countries with the Largest Number of Javanese Tribe

Jakarta – The Javanese, which is one of the largest ethnic groups in Indonesia, are also spread across several countries outside Indonesia.

Javanese migration and diaspora have brought the influence of their culture, language and traditions to various parts of the world.

Well, here are some countries with the largest number of Javanese tribe besides Indonesia. 

1. Suriname

Suriname, a small country in South America, has a sizable population of Javanese descent. In the 19th century, the Dutch government brought a large number of Javanese contract workers to Suriname to work on plantations.

Over time, their descendants have remained in Suriname and maintained the Javanese cultural heritage. They maintain the Javanese language, traditions, music and dances.

2. Malaysia

In Malaysia, especially in the western part of the country such as Johor and Selangor, there is a sizable Javanese community. 

They are descendants of contract workers who came from Java in the 19th and early 20th centuries to work in the agricultural sector. They have contributed to the Javanese culture by maintaining the Javanese language, customs and traditions.

New Zealand also has a sizable population of Javanese descent. They came as contract workers in the 19th and early 20th centuries to work in the agricultural sector, especially in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions. 

The Javanese community in New Zealand maintains their culture through cultural organizations, arts, and festivals held regularly.

Although the Javanese community in Singapore is not as large as the other countries mentioned above, they still have a significant contribution to Singapore's culture and history.

Many Javanese came to Singapore in the 19th century to work in the trade and plantation sectors. The Javanese language and Javanese traditions are still maintained by some of the Javanese community in Singapore.

As a former colonizer of Indonesia, the Netherlands has a sizable population of Javanese descent. They are the result of migration that took place during the colonial period and after Indonesian independence.

The Javanese community in the Netherlands contributes to the cultural life of the country by maintaining traditions, festivals and cultural organizations. Javanese are not only found in Indonesia, but are also spread across different countries in the world through migration and diaspora.

In countries such as Suriname, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the Netherlands, Javanese communities have maintained their cultural heritage, language and traditions.

While the number of Javanese communities in these countries may vary, their contribution to the local culture cannot be ignored.