List of volcanoes in Indonesia

The geography of Indonesia is dominated by volcanoes that are formed due to subduction zones between the Eurasian plate and the Indo-Australian plate. Some of the volcanoes are notable for their eruptions, for instance, Krakatoa for its global effects in [1883 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora|eruption of Krakatoa|1883], the Toba Caldera for its supervolcanic eruption estimated to have occurred 74,000 years before present which was responsible for six years of volcanic winter, and Mount Tambora for the most violent eruption in recorded history in 1815 and the resulting "Year Without a Summer".
Volcanoes in Indonesia are part of the alpida belt and Pacific Ring of Fire. The 150 entries in the list below are grouped into six geographical regions, four of which belong to the volcanoes of the Sunda Arc trench system. The remaining two groups are volcanoes of Halmahera, including its surrounding volcanic islands, and volcanoes of Sulawesi and the Sangihe Islands. The latter group is in one volcanic arc together with the Philippine volcanoes.
The most active volcano is Mount Merapi on Java. Since AD 1000, Kelut has erupted more than 30 times, of which the largest eruption was at scale 5 on the volcanic explosivity index, while Mount Merapi has erupted more than 80 times. The International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior has named Mount Merapi as a Decade Volcano since 1995 because of its high volcanic activity.
As of 2012, Indonesia has 127 active volcanoes and about 5 million people live within the danger zones. It has been conjectured that the earthquake and tsunami event of 26 December 2004 could trigger eruptions, with Mount Sinabung erupting in 2010 as a possible example.
The word for Mount in Indonesian and many regional languages of the country is Gunung. Thus, Mount Merapi may be referred to as Gunung Merapi.

Scope

There is no single standard definition of a volcano. It can be defined as individual vents, volcanic edifices, or volcanic fields. The interior of ancient volcanoes may have been eroded, creating a new subsurface magma chamber as a separate volcano. Many contemporary active volcanoes rise as young parasitic cones from flank vents or at a central crater. Some volcanic cones are grouped into one volcano name, for instance, the Tengger caldera complex, whereas, individual vents are named by local people. The status of a volcano, either active or dormant, cannot be defined precisely. An indication of a volcano is determined by either its historical records, radiocarbon dating, or geothermal activities.
The primary source of the list below is taken from the Volcanoes of the World book, compiled by two volcanologists Tom Simkin and Lee Siebert, in which active volcanoes in the past 10,000 years are listed. Particularly for Indonesia, Simkin and Siebert used a catalogue of active volcanoes from the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior publication series. The Simkin and Siebert list is the most complete list of volcanoes in Indonesia, but the accuracy of the record varies from one region to another in terms of contemporary activities and fatalities in recent eruptions. Complementary sources for the latest volcanic data are taken from the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia, a governmental institution which is responsible for volcanic activities and geological hazard mitigation in Indonesia, and some academic resources.

Geographical groups

Sumatra

The geography of Sumatra is dominated by a mountain range called Bukit Barisan. The mountain range spans nearly from the north to the south of the island, and it was formed by movement of the Australian tectonic plate. The plate moves with a convergence rate of 5.5 cm/year which has created major earthquakes on the western side of Sumatra including the 2004 Sumatra–Andaman earthquake. The tectonic movement has been responsible not only for earthquakes, but also for the formation of magma chambers beneath the island.
Only one of the 35 active volcanoes, Weh, is separated from the Sumatran mainland. The separation was caused by a large eruption that filled the lowland between Weh and the rest of the mainland with sea water in the Pleistocene epoch. The largest volcano of Sumatra is the supervolcano Toba within the × Lake Toba, which was created after a caldera collapse. The eruption is estimated to have been at level eight on the VEI scale, the highest level for a volcanic eruption. The highest peak of the mountain range is Mount Kerinci with an elevation of 3,800 m.

Name	Shape	Elevation	Last eruption	Coordinates
Weh	stratovolcano		Pleistocene
Seulawah Agam	stratovolcano
Peuet Sague	complex volcano		25 December 2000
Geureudong	stratovolcano
Kembar	shield volcano		Pleistocene

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Sunda Strait and Java

The Sunda Strait separates the islands of Sumatra and Java with the volcanic island Krakatoa lying between them. Krakatau erupted violently in 1883, destroying two-thirds of the island and leaving a large caldera under the sea. This cataclysmic explosion was heard as far away as the island of Rodrigues near Mauritius. A new parasitic cone, called Anak Krakatau, rose from the sea at the centre of the caldera in 1930. The other Krakatau islets from the 1883 eruptions are known as Sertung, Panjang and Rakata.
Java is a relatively small island compared to Sumatra, but it has a higher concentration of active volcanoes. There are 45 active volcanoes on the island excluding 20 small craters and cones in the Dieng volcanic complex and the young cones in the Tengger caldera complex. Some volcanoes are grouped together in the list below because of their close location. Mount Merapi, Semeru and Kelud are the most active volcanoes in Java. Mount Semeru has been continuously erupting since 1967. Mount Merapi has been named as one of the Decade Volcanoes since 1995. Ijen has a unique colourful caldera lake which is an extremely acidic natural reservoir. There are sulfur mining activities at Ijen, where miners collect highly concentrated sulfur rocks by hand.

Name	Shape	Elevation	Last eruption	Coordinates
Krakatau	caldera		2023	-
Pulosari	stratovolcano		unknown
Gunung Karang	stratovolcano		unknown
Salak	stratovolcano		31 January 1938
Kiaraberes-Gagak	stratovolcano		6 April 1939
Perbakti	stratovolcano		unknown
Kendeng	stratovolcano		Pleistocene
Gede	stratovolcano		13 March 1957
Pangrango	stratovolcano		unknown
Patuha	stratovolcano		unknown
Wayang-Windu	lava dome		unknown
Malabar	stratovolcano		unknown
Tangkuban Perahu	stratovolcano		26 June 2019
Papandayan	stratovolcano		11 November 2002
Kendang	stratovolcano		unknown
Kamojang	stratovolcano		Pleistocene
Guntur	complex volcano		16 October 1847
Tampomas	stratovolcano		unknown
Galunggung	stratovolcano		9 January 1984
Talagabodas	stratovolcano		unknown
Karaha	fumarole		unknown
Ciremai	stratovolcano
Slamet	stratovolcano
Dieng	complex volcano		2025
Sundoro	stratovolcano		29 October 1971
Sumbing	stratovolcano
Ungaran	stratovolcano		unknown
Telomoyo	stratovolcano		unknown
Merbabu	stratovolcano
Merapi	stratovolcano		2025
Muria	stratovolcano		± 30 years
Lawu	stratovolcano		28 November 1885
Wilis	stratovolcano		unknown
Kelud	stratovolcano		13 February 2014
Kawi–Butak	stratovolcano		unknown
Arjuno–Welirang	stratovolcano		15 August 1952
Penanggungan	stratovolcano		unknown
Malang Plain	maar		unknown
Semeru	stratovolcano		2025
Bromo	stratovolcano		2023
Lamongan	stratovolcano		5 February 1898
Lurus	complex volcano		unknown
Iyang-Argapura	complex volcano		unknown
Raung	stratovolcano		2025
Ijen	stratovolcano		28 June 1999
Baluran	stratovolcano		unknown

Note: Height of Krakatau is of Rakata, not of the active Anak Krakatau

Lesser Sunda Islands

The Lesser Sunda Islands is a small archipelago which, from west to east, consists of Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba and the Timor islands; all are located at the edge of the Australian continental shelf. Volcanoes in the area are formed because of oceanic crusts and the movement of the shelf itself. Some volcanoes completely form an island, for instance, the Sangeang Api island. Mount Tambora, on Sumbawa island, erupted on 5 April 1815, with a scale 7 on the VEI and is considered the most violent eruption in recorded history.

Name	Island	Shape	Elevation	Last eruption	Coordinates
Merbuk	Bali	unknown		unknown
Bratan	Bali	caldera		unknown
Batur	Bali	caldera		2000
Agung	Bali	stratovolcano		2019
Samalas	Lombok	stratovolcano
Rinjani	Lombok	stratovolcano		2016
Tambora	Sumbawa	stratovolcano		± 20 years
Sangeang Api	Sangeang	complex volcano		2019
Wai Sano	Flores	caldera		unknown
Poco Leok	Flores	unknown		unknown
Ranakah	Flores	lava dome
Inierie	Flores	stratovolcano
Inielika	Flores	complex volcano		11 January 2001
Ebulobo	Flores	stratovolcano		27 February 1969
Iya	Flores	stratovolcano		27 January 1969
Sukaria	Flores	caldera		unknown
Ndete Napu	Flores	fumarole		unknown
Kelimutu	Flores	complex volcano		3 June 1968
Paluweh	Palu'e	stratovolcano		3 February 1985
Egon	Flores	stratovolcano		2008
Ilimuda	Flores	stratovolcano		unknown
Lewotobi	Flores	stratovolcano		2025
Leroboleng	Flores	complex volcano		26 June 2003
Riang Kotang	Flores	fumarole		unknown
Iliboleng	Adonara Island	stratovolcano
Lewotolo	Lembata	stratovolcano		2025
Ililabalekan	Lembata	stratovolcano		unknown
Iliwerung	Lembata	complex volcano		29 November 2021
Batu Tara	Komba island	stratovolcano		2007–2015
Sirung	Pantar Island	complex volcano		2021
Yersey	–	submarine		unknown

Banda Sea

The Banda Sea in the south of the Molucca archipelago includes a small group of islands. Three major tectonic plates beneath the sea, the Eurasian plate, Pacific plate and Indo-Australian plate, have been converging since the Mesozoic epoch. Volcanoes in the Banda Sea are mainly islands, but some are submarine volcanoes.

Name	Shape	Elevation	Last eruption	Coordinates
Emperor of China	submarine		unknown
Nieuwerkerk	submarine		unknown
Gunungapi Wetar	stratovolcano
Wurlali	stratovolcano		3 June 1892
Teon	stratovolcano		3 June 1904
Nila	stratovolcano		7 May 1968
Serua	stratovolcano		18 September 1921
Manuk	stratovolcano		unknown
Banda Api	caldera		9 May 1988

Sulawesi and Sangihe Islands

Four peninsulas dominate the shape of Sulawesi island. The central part is a high mountainous area, but mostly non-volcanic. Active volcanoes are found in the northern peninsula and continuously stretch to the north to Sangihe Islands. The Sangihe Islands mark the border with the Philippines.

Name	Shape	Elevation	Last eruption	Coordinates
Colo	stratovolcano		18 July 1983
Ambang	complex volcano		± 5 years
Soputan	stratovolcano		april 2020
Sempu	caldera		unknown
Tondano	caldera		unknown
Lokon–Empung	stratovolcano		2019
Mahawu	stratovolcano		16 November 1977
Klabat	stratovolcano		unknown
Tongkoko	stratovolcano
Ruang	stratovolcano		April 2024
Karangetang	stratovolcano		2023
Banua Wuhu	submarine		18 July 1919
Awu	stratovolcano		2 June 2004
Submarine 1922	submarine		unknown

Halmahera

Halmahera island in the north of Molucca archipelago has been formed by the movement of three tectonic plates resulting in two intersecting mountain ranges, which form four rocky peninsulas separated by three deep bays. A volcanic arc stretches from north to south in the west side of Halmahera, some of which are volcanic islands, for instance, Gamalama and Tidore. Gamalama's island name is Ternate and it has been the centre for spice trading since the Portuguese Empire opened a fort in 1512. Due to its location as the centre for spice trading during the Age of Discovery, historical records of volcanic eruptions in Halmahera have been available as far back as the early 16th century.

Name	Shape	Elevation	Last eruption	Coordinates
Tarakan	pyroclastic cone		unknown
Dukono	complex volcano		1933–2025
Tobaru	unknown		unknown
Ibu	stratovolcano		2008-2025
Gamkonora	stratovolcano		9 July 2007
Todoko-Ranu	caldera		unknown
Jailolo	stratovolcano		unknown
Hiri	stratovolcano		unknown
Gamalama	stratovolcano		2018
Tidore	stratovolcano		unknown
Mare	stratovolcano		unknown
Moti	stratovolcano		unknown
Makian	stratovolcano		29 July 1988
Tigalalu	stratovolcano		unknown
Amasing	stratovolcano		unknown
Bibinoi	stratovolcano		unknown

Major eruptions

Below is a list of selected major eruptions of volcanoes in Indonesia, sorted chronologically by the starting date of the eruption. Only eruptions with scale 3 or above on VEI are given with known sources and fatalities, except if smaller scale eruptions resulted in some fatalities.

Eruption date	Volcano	Cessation date	VEI	Characteristics	Tsunami	Tephra volume	Fatality	Sources
03 November 2024	Lewotobi Laki-laki	05 November 2024	3	cv,pf,fa,lm	no	N/A	10
03 December 2023	Marapi	08 December 2023	3	cv,pf,fa,lm	no	N/A	24
04 December 2021	Semeru	05 December 2021	4	cv,pf,fa,lm	no	N/A	69
21 December 2018	Anak Krakatoa	10 January 2019	3	cv,se,pf,fa,lm,cc	1-2 m	N/A	437
13 February 2014	Kelut	15 February 2014	4	cv,cl,pf,ph,ld,lm	no	0.16 km³	4
3 November 2010	Merapi	8 November 2010	4	cv,pf,ld,lm	no	N/A	353
10 February 1990	Kelut		4	cv,cl,pf,ph,ld,lm	no	0.13 km³	35
18 July 1983	Colo		4	cv,pf,ph	no	N/A	0
5 April 1982	Galunggung	8 January 1983	4	cv,pf,lf,lm	no	0.37 km³ +	68
6 October 1972	Merapi		2	cv,pf,lf,ld,lm	no	0.021 km³	29
26 April 1966	Kelut	27 April 1966	4	cv,cl,pf,lm	no	0.089 km³	212
17 March 1963	Agung	27 January 1964	5	cv,pf,lf,lm	no	1 km³	1,148
31 August 1951	Kelut	31 August 1951	4	cv,cl,pf,lm	no	0.2 km³	7
25 November 1930	Merapi		3	cv,rf,pf,lf,ld,lm	no	0.0017 km³	1,369
19 May 1919	Kelut	20 May 1919	4	cv,cl,pf,lm	no	0.19 km³	5,110
7 June 1892	Awu	12 June 1892	3	cv,pf,lm	yes	N/A	1,532
26 August 1883	Krakatoa		6	cv,se,pf,fa,lm,cc	15-42 m	5-8.5 km³	36,600
15 April 1872	Merapi	21 April 1872	4	cv,pf	no	0.33 km³	200
2 March 1856	Awu	17 March 1856	3	cv,pf,lm	yes	0.51±0.50 km³	2,806
8 October 1822	Galunggung		5	cv,pf,ld,lm	no	1 km³ +	4,011
10 April 1815	Mount Tambora	15 July 1815	7	cv,pf,cc	1-2 m	160 km³	71,000+
6 August 1812	Awu	8 August 1812	4	cv,pf,lm	no	0.55±0.50 km³	963
12 August 1772	Papandayan	12 August 1772	3	cv,ph	no	N/A	2,957
4 August 1672	Merapi	unknown	3	cv,pf,lm	no	N/A	3,000
	Kelut	unknown	5	cf,cl,lm	no	1 km³ +	10,000
	Samalas	unknown	7
≈ 74,000 BP	Toba	unknown	8	pf,lf,cc	likely	2,800 km³	Possible near extinction of all the human population

Notes: cv=central vent eruption, pf=pyroclastic flows, lf=lava flows, lm=lahar mudflows, cl=crater lake eruption, ph=phreatic eruption, ld=lava dome extrusion, cc=caldera collapse, se=submarine eruption, fa=fumarole activity, rf=radial fissure eruption.