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Indonesia — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law

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StockpilesGun Numbers

Civilian Guns

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Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population

The rate of private gun ownership in Indonesia is 0.51 firearms per 100 people

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Number of Privately Owned Firearms - World Ranking

In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Indonesia ranked at No. 462

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Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World Ranking

In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, Indonesia ranked at No. 1691

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Number of Registered Firearms

The number of registered guns in Indonesia is reported to be 34,1502

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Rate of Registered Firearms per 100 Population

The rate of registered firearms per 100 people in Indonesia is 0.013

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Estimated Number of Illicit Firearms

Unlawfully held guns cannot be counted, but in Indonesia there are estimated to be 1,000,0001

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Estimated Rate of Illicit Firearms per 100 Population

Unlawfully held guns cannot be counted, but in Indonesia there are estimated to be 0.443 illicit firearms per 100 people

Government Guns

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Number of Military Firearms

The defence forces of Indonesia are reported to have 2,057,7004 firearms

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Number of Law Enforcement Firearms

Police in Indonesia are reported to have 392,0005 firearms

ImpactsGun Death and Injury

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Number of Homicides (any method)

ChartIn Indonesia, annual homicides by any means total

2000: 2,2046
1999: 2,090
1998: 1,758

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Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)

ChartIn Indonesia, the annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population is

2004: 4.807
2003: 0.80
2002: 9.40
2000: 1.056
1999: 1.01
1998: 0.86

ProductionGun Industry

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Firearm Manufacture

In Indonesia, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid licence8

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Small Arms Manufacture - World Ranking

In a classification of the world's small, medium and major firearm manufacturers, Indonesia is ranked 'small'9

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Home-made Guns

In Indonesia the prevalence of illicit craft, or 'home-made' firearm manufacture is reported to be moderate10

TransfersGun Trade and Trafficking

Export Control

In Indonesia, firearm and ammunition exports are limited by transfer control law 11

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Small Arms Exports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition exports from Indonesia is reported to be US$1,168,61112 (2009)

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Small Arms Exports - World Ranking

In a comparison of the world's major/mid-level/minor/unknown small arms exporters, Indonesia is categorized as 'minor'13

Import Control

In Indonesia, firearm and ammunition imports are limited by transfer control law 11

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Small Arms Imports (US$)

The annual value of small arms and ammunition imports to Indonesia is reported to be US$5,905,89912 (2009)

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Smuggling Guns and Ammunition

Reports suggest that the level of firearm and ammunition smuggling in Indonesia is high14 15

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Market Cost of an AK-47 Assault Rifle (US$)

The asking price for an AK-47 pattern assault weapon in Indonesia is reported to be US$25016

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Regulation of Arms Brokers

In Indonesia, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are not17

MeasuresGun Regulation

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Firearm Regulation - Guiding Policy

The regulation of guns in Indonesia is categorised as restrictive18

Firearm Law

Guiding gun control legislation in Indonesia is the Law No. 8/1948 On Firearms, Law No. 62/1960 On Gun Licenses, Emergency Law No. 12/1951 On the Illegal Possession of Firearms and Article 49 of the Criminal Code19

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Prohibited Firearms and Ammunition

In Indonesia, civilians are not allowed to possess military weapons20 21

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Regulation of Automatic Assault Weapons

In Indonesia, private possession of fully automatic weapons is prohibited21

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Regulation of Handguns

In Indonesia, private possession of handguns (pistols and revolvers) is permitted for hunting and shooting only21

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Gun Owner Licensing

In Indonesia, only high level officials, military and police20 22 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition

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Genuine Reason Required for Firearm Licence

Applicants for a gun owner’s licence in Indonesia are required to prove genuine reason to possess a firearm, for example, hunting, target shooting, collection, security, self-defence23 21

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Minimum Age for Firearm Possession

The minimum age for gun ownership in Indonesia is not officially stated, however the licensee must be an 'adult'21

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Gun Owner Background Checks

An applicant for a firearm licence in Indonesia must pass background checks which consider criminal, mental and domestic violence21 records

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Domestic Violence and Firearms

Where a past history, or apprehended likelihood of family violence exists, the law in Indonesia stipulates24 that a gun licence should be denied or revoked

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Firearm Safety Training

In Indonesia, an understanding of firearm safety and the law, tested in a theoretical and/or practical training course is required25 for a firearm licence

Firearm Registration

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Civilian Gun Registration

In Indonesia, the law requires26 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register

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Gun Manufacturer Record Keeping

In Indonesia, licensed gun makers are required27 to keep a record of each firearm produced, for inspection by a regulating authority

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State-Owned Firearm Records

In Indonesia, State agencies are required26 to maintain records of the storage and movement of all firearms and ammunition under their control

Storage and Transport of Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - Private

Firearm regulations in Indonesia include28 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of private firearms and ammunition by licensed gun owners

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Firearm and Ammunition Transport Regulations

Regulations in Indonesia do not include21 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition while in transit

Marking and Tracing Guns and Ammunition

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Firearm Marking

In Indonesia, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is required by law29 27 30

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Firearm Tracing

In Indonesia, state authorities carry out29 27 30 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures

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Ballistic Marking of Firearms and Ammunition

In Indonesia, state authorities employ30 ballistic fingerprinting technology to trace guns and ammunition

Carrying Guns

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Carrying Guns Openly in Public

In Indonesia, carrying a firearm in plain view in a public place is allowed, subject to a valid permit21

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Penalty for Illicit Firearm Possession

In Indonesia, the maximum penalty for illicit possession of firearms is 20 years to life imprisonment or the death penalty31

Collection, Amnesty and Destruction Programmes

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Surrendered in Gun Amnesty

In Indonesia, the number of firearms and/or rounds of ammunition voluntarily surrendered for destruction in recent arms amnesty and collection programmes is reported to be 84032 (2005)

MeasuresInternational Controls

United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

In 2009, Indonesia voted to begin33 negotiations towards a legally binding Arms Trade Treaty. In this vote, 151 UN Member States supported talks on an ATT, with 1 voting against, 20 abstentions, and 20 non-votes

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United Nations Firearms Protocol

The United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed34 by Indonesia

United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoA

UNPoA Commitment

On 21 July 2001, Indonesia committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects35

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UNPoA National Reporting

Under the terms of its 2001 commitment to the United Nations small arms Programme of Action, Indonesia has submitted one or more national reports36 37 on its implementation of the UNPoA

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UNPoA National Point of Contact

In Indonesia, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated38 37

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UNPoA National Coordinating Body

In Indonesia, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated38

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UNPoA International Assistance – Donor

Funds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated37 by Indonesia to other UN Member States

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UNPoA International Assistance – Recipient

Funds for UNPoA implementation have been provided37 to Indonesia by other UN Member States

United Nations Small Arms Register

According to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Indonesia has not declared2 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports.

United Nations Membership

In the UN List of Member States, Indonesia has been a Member State of the United Nations since 195039

Wassenaar Arrangement

The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list40 Indonesia as a Participating State
Last Updated on 29 January 2012

Short References

1.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)Full Citation

2.

Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)Full Citation

3.

GunPolicy.org.2011.‘Calculated Rates – Indonesia.’ Historical Population Data – USCB International Data Base.Suitland, MD:US Census Bureau Population Division,17 March. (Q4245)Full Citation

4.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q6)Full Citation

5.

Karp, Aaron.2006.‘Trickle and Torrent: State stockpiles.’ Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q7)Full Citation

6.

UNODC.2004.‘Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed.’ Seventh United Nations Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (1998-2000).Vienna:United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime,19 March. (Q91)Full Citation

7.

Petrini, Benjamin.2011.‘East Asia and the Pacific, 1995-2008, Total Recorded Intentional Homicide, Completed, Rate per 100,000 Population.’ World Bank Homicide Rate Dataset 1995-2008.Washington DC:Social Development Department, World Bank,10 February. (Q3814)Full Citation

8.

Batchelor, Peter.2001.‘Small Arms, Big Business: Products and Producers.’ Small Arms Survey 2001: Profiling the Problem.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q861)Full Citation

9.

Small Arms Survey.2001.‘Ranking of World's Small Arms Producers (By Sales).’ Small Arms Survey 2001: Profiling the Problem.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q103)Full Citation

10.

Small Arms Survey.2001.‘Illicit Production – South East Asia.’ Small Arms Survey 2001: Profiling the Problem.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q1062)Full Citation

11.

Indonesia.2010.‘Legislation, Regulations, Administrative Procedures – Export.’ National Report of Indonesia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations,1 January. (Q1469)Full Citation

12.

Marsh, Nicholas.2011.‘Database of Authorised Transfers of Small Arms and Light Weapons.’ NISAT Small Arms Trade Database.Oslo:Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers,1 June. (Q16)Full Citation

13.

Small Arms Survey.2001.‘60 Known Legal Small Arms Exporting Countries, 2001.’ Small Arms Survey 2001: Profiling the Problem.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q867)Full Citation

14.

Indonesia.2005.‘Arms Smuggling.’ National Report of Indonesia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations,1 July. (Q872)Full Citation

15.

Indonesia.2010.‘Law Enforcement / Criminalisation.’ National Report of Indonesia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations,1 January. (Q1472)Full Citation

16.

World Bank.2007.‘Available Kalashnikov Prices for Specific Countries and Periods.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q3)Full Citation

17.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q82)Full Citation

18.

Newton, George D and Franklin E Zimring.1969.‘Firearm Licensing: Permissive v Restrictive.’ Firearms & Violence in American Life: A Staff Report submitted to the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence.Washington, DC:US Government Printing Office,1 January. (Q22)Full Citation

19.

Indonesia.2005.‘Indonesian Guiding Policy.’ National Report of Indonesia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations,1 July. (Q847)Full Citation

20.

Kramer, Katherine.2001.‘Private Possession of Firearms.’ Legal Controls on Small Arms and Light Weapons in South East Asia.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and Nonviolence International South East Asia,1 July. (Q848)Full Citation

21.

United Nations.1999.‘Analysis of Country Responses.’ United Nations International Study on Firearm Regulation.Vienna:UN Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division,30 August. (Q1)Full Citation

22.

Kramer, Katherine.2001.‘Private Possession of Firearms.’ Legal Controls on Small Arms and Light Weapons in South East Asia.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and Nonviolence International South East Asia,1 July. (Q849)Full Citation

23.

Capie, David.2002.‘ASEAN country studies -- Indonesia: Domestic gun control.’ Small Arms Production and Transfers in South East Asia.Canberra:Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University,1 January. (Q851)Full Citation

24.

Kramer, Katherine.2001.‘Licensing Criteria.’ Legal Controls on Small Arms and Light Weapons in South East Asia.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and Nonviolence International South East Asia,1 July. (Q1932)Full Citation

25.

Kramer, Katherine.2001.‘Criteria for Being Issued a Licence.’ Legal Controls on Small Arms and Light Weapons in South East Asia.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and Nonviolence International South East Asia,1 July. (Q79)Full Citation

26.

Indonesia.2009.‘Stockpile Management and Security.’ National Report of Indonesia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations,1 January. (Q4652)Full Citation

27.

Indonesia.2009.‘Production.’ National Report of Indonesia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations,1 January. (Q4651)Full Citation

28.

Indonesia.2010.‘Legislation, Regulations, Administrative Procedures – Storage.’ National Report of Indonesia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations,1 January. (Q1471)Full Citation

29.

Indonesia.2010.‘Marking, Tracing and Record Keeping.’ National Report of Indonesia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations,1 January. (Q1474)Full Citation

30.

Indonesia.2009.‘Marking, Tracing and Record Keeping.’ National Report of Indonesia on its Implementation of the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (UNPoA).New York:Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations,1 January. (Q4653)Full Citation

31.

Kramer, Katherine.2001.‘Penalty Comparison.’ Legal Controls on Small Arms and Light Weapons in South East Asia.Geneva:Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and Nonviolence International South East Asia,1 July. (Q83)Full Citation

32.

Karp, Aaron.2009.‘Summary of Disarmament Outcomes in 45 DDR Programmes.’ Small Arms Survey 2009: Shadows of War.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,9 July. (Q2941)Full Citation

33.

UNGA.2009.‘Towards an Arms Trade Treaty: Establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.’ UN Resolution A/RES/64/48.New York:United Nations General Assembly,2 June. (Q1886)Full Citation

34.

UNGA.2001.‘United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.’ UN General Assembly Resolution 55/255.New York:UN General Assembly,31 May. (Q17)Full Citation

35.

UNGA.2001.‘Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.’ United Nations General Assembly.New York:UN General Assembly,20 July. (Q18)Full Citation

36.

Cattaneo, Silvia and Sarah Parker.2008.‘Reporting, NPCs and NCAs, 2002 to 2008.’ Implementing the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons: Analysis of the National Reports submitted by States from 2002 to 2008.Geneva:United Nations Development Programme,1 November. (Q20)Full Citation

37.

UNODA.2009.‘PoA-ISS Country Profiles.’ UN small arms Programme of Action (UNPoA) – Implementation Support System.New York:United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs,29 October. (Q1309)Full Citation

38.

IANSA.2006.‘Reviewing Action on Small Arms 2006: Assessing the first five years of the UN Programme of Action.’ Biting the Bullet 'Red Book' 2006.New York:International Action Network on Small Arms and the Biting the Bullet project,26 June. (Q166)Full Citation

39.

UN.2009.‘Member States of the United Nations.’ UN.org Web Site.New York:United Nations General Assembly,11 May. (Q290)Full Citation

40.

Wassenaar Arrangement.1996.‘Introduction: Participating States.’ Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies.Vienna:Wassenaar Secretariat,12 July. (Q19)Full Citation