2% of Indonesians Are Vegetarians, with “Health Maintenance” as the Primary Purpose
- Publish
- 2025/03/05
- Update
- 2025/08/16
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Introduction
When people think of Indonesia, it’s likely that very few associate it with vegetarianism. Given that nearly 90% of Indonesians are Muslims, many might assume that while pork is avoided, chicken, beef, and fish are commonly consumed.
In reality, Indonesians love both meat and fish. However, some have chosen the path of vegetarianism. Interestingly, this decision is not driven by religious reasons but rather by a desire to maintain good health.
Precautions when conducting an on-site inspection in Indonesia
Some visitors consider, "My primary purpose is to conduct maintenance work at the factory, but the visa application process appears cumbersome. I will simply enter on a Visa on Arrival (VOA) and carry out the work discreetly."
However, there have been numerous cases where entering without the appropriate visa for the intended activities has resulted in significant legal and operational issues. It is therefore strongly advised to obtain the correct visa prior to travel.
Here are the types of visas and their purposes.
Vegetarianism in Indonesia by the Numbers
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According to a survey conducted in June this year by the research firm JAKPAT targeting 1,614 respondents, 2% identified themselves as vegetarians.
The reasons for adopting a vegetarian lifestyle, as shown in the graph above (multiple answers allowed), are as follows:
- To reduce the risk of serious illnesses (55%)
- For weight loss (37%)
- Because it’s good for the body (37%)
- To save money (32%)
- To maintain current weight (24%)
- As a means of dieting (23%)
- To live longer (22%)
- For healthy skin (18%)
Islam, which is the predominant religion among Indonesians, does not generally prohibit the consumption of meat or fish. As reflected in the reasons listed above, many Indonesian vegetarians made the personal choice to adopt this lifestyle in adulthood, primarily for health reasons.
While the main dishes on the Indonesian dining table typically include meat and seafood, relatively inexpensive soybean-based foods such as tofu and tempeh are also indispensable. These are prepared in various ways—deep-fried, stir-fried, tempura, sautéed, or stewed—and are widely enjoyed by Indonesians, regardless of whether they are vegetarians.
According to a survey on Japan’s vegetarian, vegan, and flexitarian population conducted by the plant-based information platform Vegewel and its operating company Frienbracy, 4.5% of the Japanese population identified as such in 2023. This marks an increase from 3.8% in 2022.
References:
DataIndonesia Instagram @dataindonesia_id
Vegewel “January 2023 Survey on Japan’s Vegetarian, Vegan, and Flexitarian Population”
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A Visual Look at Vegetarians in Indonesia
Japanese Restaurant Offering Vegetarian Menu
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This video showcases a Japanese restaurant named Kokyuu located in West Jakarta. The restaurant offers two vegetarian dishes: “Vegetable Yakisoba” and “Vegetable Fried Rice.” Both are priced at approximately 300 yen (around USD 1.90 at an exchange rate of 1 USD = 158 JPY)＊—an affordable option for a restaurant.
Jakarta is home to people of various faiths including Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism. As such, food establishments have long been attentive to religious dietary restrictions, ensuring clear labeling regarding Halal certification and the presence of pork-derived ingredients.
Recently, in addition to such religious indicators, labels such as “Vegetarian Menu” and “Vegan Menu,” like those found at Kokyuu, have become increasingly common.
＊Exchange rate note: Calculated using an approximate rate of 1 USD = 158 JPY.
Vegan Expo in Jakarta
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This footage features the “Jakarta Vegan Festival,” a trade fair for vegetarian products and services held at Green Sedayu Mall in Jakarta in 2022.
The venue was crowded with visitors exploring a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan offerings, including bread, noodles, snacks, traditional set meals using alternative meats, and beverages.
Although vegetarians currently make up only 2% of Indonesia’s population, growing health awareness suggests that this number may continue to increase gradually in the future.
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The Surprisingly Large Vegetarian Market in Indonesia
Hearing that “2% of Indonesians are vegetarians” might give the impression that the number is very small.
However, considering Indonesia’s total population of approximately 280 million, 2% equates to roughly 5.6 million people. This is not far behind Japan’s 4.5% vegetarian population, which stands at about 5.7 million people. As illustrated by the survey results introduced in this article, a noteworthy fact is that many Indonesian vegetarians consciously choose this lifestyle to maintain their health.
Even those who are not strictly vegetarian—such as individuals who say “I’d like to eat vegetarian meals occasionally if I have the option” or “I want to reduce my intake of meat and fish”—may be showing a growing interest in plant-based diets. Including these groups suggests that the number of Indonesians interested in vegetarian food might be significantly larger than commonly assumed.
