Central Java

Country : Indonesia
Capital : Semarang
Area Total : 32,548.2 km2 (12,566.9 sq mi)
Population (2009) Total : 32,864,000
Density : 1,009.7/km2 (2,615.1/sq mi)
Demographics :
Ethnic groups : Javanese (98%), Sundanese (1%), Chinese, Arab
Religion : Islam, Christian, Hindu, Buddhism and traditional Javanese beliefs
Languages : Indonesian, Javanese, Sundanese
Time zone : WIB (UTC+7)

Central Java (Indonesian: Provinsi Jawa Tengah) is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java. The province of Central Java is 32,548.20 km2 in area; approximately a quarter of the total land area of Java. Its population is 32,864,000, making it the third most-populous province in Indonesia after West Java and East Java, and constituting a bit less than one quarter of the crowded island's population. Central Java is also a cultural concept that includes the Special Area and city of Yogyakarta. However, administratively the city and surrounding region has been part of a separate special region since Indonesian independence.

Central Java is considered to be the heart of the Javanese culture. Home of the Javanese courts, Central Javanese culture formed what non-Javanese see as the "Javanese Culture" along with it stereotypes. The ideal conducts and morals of the courts (such as politeness, nobility and grace) influence the people tremendously. The people of Central Java are known as soft-spoken, very polite, extremely class-conscious, apathetic, down-to-earth, et cetera. These stereotypes formed what most non-Javanese see as "Javanese Culture", when in fact not all of the Javanese people behave that way. Moreover, most Javanese are far from the court culture.