1. Reported Stateless Persons
In 2022, Indonesia reported 925 stateless persons to UNHCR. The entirety of this reported population consists of stateless Rohingya refugees. UNHCR also noted that there is a potentially large number of unreported non- displaced stateless persons which there is currently no reliable data on. The reported stateless population has fluctuated since the beginning of 2019, increasing by a total of 343 persons.
English-language research into the non-displaced stateless population in Indonesia is limited. UNHCR Indonesia, however, has previously identified five population groups outside of Rohingya refugees who are affected by statelessness in Indonesia. These groups include:
- Indonesians of Chinese Origin, due to different historical circumstances and legal complications, some Indonesians of Chinese origin are stateless.
- Indonesians of Indian Origin, due historical and legal reasons where individuals of Indian origin may also be affected by statelessness in Indonesia.
- Indonesian Migrant Workers who confront documentation challenges or have their citizenship status questioned may find themselves stateless.
- Exiled Indonesians who were forced to leave Indonesia for political or other reasons face difficulties re-establishing their citizenship upon their return, leading to statelessness.
- Undocumented Chinese Migrants who are stateless Chinese individuals who have migrated to Indonesia without sufficient papers or legal standing may face statelessness.
2. Persons at Risk of Statelessness
A 2012 survey found that over 24 million children were living without birth certificates which the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2014 suggested that this figure may be as high as 50 million. In 2021, birth registration rates were reported to the UN Statistics Department to be 78%. UNHCR, treaty bodies, and academics have all expressed concern over the risk of statelessness faced by children excluded from birth registration in Indonesia.
| Country | 2019 (year start) | 2020 (year end) | 2021 (year end) | 2022 (year end) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambodia | 57,444 | 57,444 | 75,000 | 75,000 |
Source: UNHCR, Global Trends: Forced Displacement from 2019-2022.
