Background
Joko Widodo was born on June 21, 1961 in Surakarta, Indonesia. He is the eldest of four children in his family. Joko is the only son of Noto Mihardjo and Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo. He has three younger sisters.
Jl. Mr. Sartono No.30, Nusukan, Kec. Banjarsari, Kota Surakarta, Jawa Tengah 57136, Indonesia
Jokowi wanted to attend State Senior High School 1 Surakarta, but failed the entrance exam and enrolled in State Senior High School 6 Surakarta.
Bulaksumur, Caturtunggal, Kec. Depok, Kabupaten Sleman, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
In 1985 Widodo graduated from the Forestry faculty at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after signing the official visitors book at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks during his address to the Australian Parliament in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks during his address to the Australian Parliament in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Australian Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attend an official luncheon in the Great Hall at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison give a joint statement at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison watch as Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne sign agreements at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison prepare for a signing ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo speaks with Tony Blair, United Kingdom's former prime minster, and Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group Corp., during a meeting at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Governor-General David Hurley greets Indonesian President Joko Widodo as he receives a ceremonial welcome and signs the visitors book at Government House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Governor-General David Hurley greets Indonesian President Joko Widodo as he receives a ceremonial welcome and signs the visitors book at Government House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indonesian President Joko Widodo shake hands before a discussion with Ministers in the Cabinet Room at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo sits across from Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a discussion in the Cabinet Room at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrives to address the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrives to address the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Prime Minister Scott Morrison walks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo through a linkway as they leave the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2009
Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, Surakarta city mayor, poses for a photograph during an interview at his office, in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia.
2009
Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, Surakarta city mayor, speaks during an interview at his office, in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia.
2014
Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, gestures as he speaks on stage while campaigning in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia.
2014
Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, center, shakes hands with his supporters as he arrives for an election campaign in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia.
2014
Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, second from the left, speaks with supporters while campaigning in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia.
2014
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, second from the right, and his wife Iriana Widodo, right, show victory signs with fingers stained by electoral ink while posing for photographs after casting their ballots at a polling station during the presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2014
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, speaks to members of the media during a visit to the Pluit Dam area in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2014
Jakarta, Indonesia
Potential Presidential Candidate and incumbent Jakarta governor Joko Widodo of the Indonesian Democratic Party makes a speech as the general election campaign kicks off in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2014
Jakarta, Indonesia
Potential presidential candidate and incumbent Jakarta governor Joko Widodo of the Indonesian Democratic Party shakes hands with his supporters after making a speech as the general election campaign kicks off in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Hatta Rajasa, vice presidential candidate, from left, Prabowo Subianto, presidential candidate, Sudharto P. Hadi, debate moderator, Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, and Jusuf Kalla, vice presidential candidate, sing the national anthem of Indonesia during a debate in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Jusuf Kalla, vice presidential candidate, speaks next to Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and his running mate as presidential candidate, during a debate against opponents Prabowo Subianto, presidential candidate, and Hatta Rajasa, vice presidential candidate, not seen, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, center, shakes hands with opponent Prabowo Subianto, right, as Hatta Rajasa, vice presidential candidate, looks on during a debate in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, poses for photographs before casting his ballot paper at a polling station during the presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, speaks to members of the media during a visit to the Pluit Dam area in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Joko Widodo received the Star of the Republic of Indonesia in 2014.
Joko Widodo received the Star of Yudha Dharma in 2014.
Joko Widodo received the Star of Mahaputera in 2014.
2009
Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, Surakarta city mayor, poses for a photograph during an interview at his office, in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia.
2009
Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, Surakarta city mayor, speaks during an interview at his office, in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia.
2014
Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, gestures as he speaks on stage while campaigning in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia.
2014
Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, center, shakes hands with his supporters as he arrives for an election campaign in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia.
2014
Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, second from the left, speaks with supporters while campaigning in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia.
2014
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, second from the right, and his wife Iriana Widodo, right, show victory signs with fingers stained by electoral ink while posing for photographs after casting their ballots at a polling station during the presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2014
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, speaks to members of the media during a visit to the Pluit Dam area in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2014
Jakarta, Indonesia
Indonesia's president-elect Joko Widodo arrives to parliament building before resigning as Jakarta Governor, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2014
Jakarta, Indonesia
Potential Presidential Candidate and incumbent Jakarta governor Joko Widodo of the Indonesian Democratic Party makes a speech as the general election campaign kicks off in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2014
Jakarta, Indonesia
Potential presidential candidate and incumbent Jakarta governor Joko Widodo of the Indonesian Democratic Party shakes hands with his supporters after making a speech as the general election campaign kicks off in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2019
Jakarta, Indonesia
Minister of Transportation of Indonesia Budi Karya Sumadi, Minister of Finance of Sri Mulyani, President of Indonesia Joko Widodo, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and Vice President of Japan International Cooperation Agency Tanaka Yasushi push the bell to mark the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit opening ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo shakes hands with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison after signing the official visitors book at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks during his address to the Australian Parliament in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks during his address to the Australian Parliament in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Australian Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attend an official luncheon in the Great Hall at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison give a joint statement at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison watch as Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne sign agreements at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison prepare for a signing ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo speaks with Tony Blair, United Kingdom's former prime minster, and Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group Corp., during a meeting at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Governor-General David Hurley greets Indonesian President Joko Widodo as he receives a ceremonial welcome and signs the visitors book at Government House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Governor-General David Hurley greets Indonesian President Joko Widodo as he receives a ceremonial welcome and signs the visitors book at Government House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indonesian President Joko Widodo shake hands before a discussion with Ministers in the Cabinet Room at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo sits across from Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a discussion in the Cabinet Room at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrives to address the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrives to address the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
2020
Canberra, Australia
Prime Minister Scott Morrison walks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo through a linkway as they leave the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia.
Jl. Mr. Sartono No.30, Nusukan, Kec. Banjarsari, Kota Surakarta, Jawa Tengah 57136, Indonesia
Jokowi wanted to attend State Senior High School 1 Surakarta, but failed the entrance exam and enrolled in State Senior High School 6 Surakarta.
Bulaksumur, Caturtunggal, Kec. Depok, Kabupaten Sleman, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
In 1985 Widodo graduated from the Forestry faculty at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Hatta Rajasa, vice presidential candidate, from left, Prabowo Subianto, presidential candidate, Sudharto P. Hadi, debate moderator, Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, and Jusuf Kalla, vice presidential candidate, sing the national anthem of Indonesia during a debate in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Jusuf Kalla, vice presidential candidate, speaks next to Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and his running mate as presidential candidate, during a debate against opponents Prabowo Subianto, presidential candidate, and Hatta Rajasa, vice presidential candidate, not seen, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, center, shakes hands with opponent Prabowo Subianto, right, as Hatta Rajasa, vice presidential candidate, looks on during a debate in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, poses for photographs before casting his ballot paper at a polling station during the presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo, governor of Jakarta and presidential candidate, speaks to members of the media during a visit to the Pluit Dam area in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Joko Widodo and Anies Baswedan hold tickets as they stand in front of fare gates inside the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit Istora-Mandiri station during the inauguration of the rail system in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Joko Widodo received the Star of the Republic of Indonesia in 2014.
Joko Widodo received the Star of Yudha Dharma in 2014.
Joko Widodo received the Star of Mahaputera in 2014.
Iriana Jokowi, Joko's spouse
Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Joko's son
Kaesang Pangarep, Joko's son
Kahiyang Ayu, Joko's daughter
Sujiatmi Notomihardjo, Joko's mother
F.X. Hadi Rudyatmo, Joko's colleague
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Joko's colleague
Joko Widodo was born on June 21, 1961 in Surakarta, Indonesia. He is the eldest of four children in his family. Joko is the only son of Noto Mihardjo and Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo. He has three younger sisters.
Jokowi began his studies at State Elementary School 111 Tirtoyoso. Later, he continued his education at State Junior High School 1 Surakarta. Widodo wanted to attend State Senior High School 1 Surakarta, but failed the entrance exam and enrolled in State Senior High School 6 Surakarta. In 1985 he graduated from the Forestry faculty at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta.
After graduation from the university, Widodo began his career at PT Kertas Kraft Aceh, a state-owned firm. From 1986 to 1988 he worked as a supervisor of forestry and raw materials of a Pinus merkusii plantation in what is today Bener Meriah Regency.
Later, Jokowi returned home. He served in his grandfather's furniture factory for a year and then established his own company, Rakabu. By 2002, Jokowi had become chairman of Surakarta's furniture manufacturers association.
Ultimately, Joko Widodo decided to become a politician and promote reform in his home town, Surakarta. In 2005, Jokowi ran in the mayoral race in Surakarta with F. X. Hadi Rudyatmo as his running mate. They won 36.62% of the vote against the incumbent Slamet Suryanto and two other candidates.
Five years later, Widodo was re-elected for a second term. Together with F. X. Hadi Rudyatmo, they won 90.09% of the vote, losing in only a single polling station. In 2012 Jokowi decided to run for governor. He won the election in Jakarta after a runoff round against incumbent Fauzi Bowo. His circle of advisers included F. X. Hadi Rudyatmo, Sumartono Hadinoto, Anggit Nugroho and Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.
In 2014 Joko Widodo was nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle to be its presidential candidate. Jokowi's victory was expected. He won with 53.15% of the vote (almost 71 million votes).
In 2018, Widodo announced that he would run for re-election next year. He said that Ma'ruf Amin would be his running mate. The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced that Jokowi won the election on May 21, 2019. The official vote tally was 85 million votes for Jokowi (55.50%) and 68 million votes for Prabowo (44.50%).
Joko Widodo was elected as the first president not to come from an elite political or military background. He held the position of the Mayor of Surakarta and the Governor of Jakarta. He achieved national prominence for his work as the Mayor of Surakarta. Jokowi remains very popular in his country of 260 million, with recent polls showing his approval ratings at 60%. After Joko took the office of the Governor of Jakarta, taxes and the provincial budget of Jakarta increased significantly from Rp 41 trillion in 2012 to Rp 72 trillion.
Joko is a recipient of numerous national and foreign honours. In 2008 he was listed by Tempo as one of the Top 10 Indonesian Mayors of 2008. Five years later, Widodo was listed as one of "The Leading Global Thinkers of 2013" in Foreign Policy magazine. In February 2013 he was nominated as the global mayor of the month by the City Mayors Foundation, based in London. Joko was also listed by Fortune as one of The World's 50 Greatest Leaders and awarded as the most successful leader in the region of Asia and Australia throughout 2016.
Jokowi is a Muslim but broadly secular in his outlook. In 2019, his statement that religion and politics should be separated caused a public debate on whether he was promoting secularism in the country.
During the time, when Jokowi was Mayor of Surakarta, Governor of Jakarta and President of Indonesia, he walked along the streets of Jakarta, listening about issues addressed by residents such as the price of food, housing difficulties, flooding and transportation. Joko initiated programs aimed towards transparency, for example, online taxes, e-budgeting, e-purchasing and a cash management system. He also introduced a universal health care program, the "Healthy Jakarta Card" (Kartu Jakarta Sehat, KJS). This program involved an insurance program provided through the state-owned insurance company PT Askes Indonesia (Persero) and a plan to regulate health charges for treatment for over 20,000 services and procedures. Jokowi launched the "Smart Jakarta Card" on 1 December 2012, which helps poor students in Jakarta. This card gives an allowance that can be withdrawn from ATMs in order to buy school needs such as books and uniforms.
The government implemented a single-price program, aiming to sell fuel through official channels at the same price nationally.
Infrastructure development has been an important task. The government was focused on road and railway expansion, seaports and airports development and irrigation.
The administration also implemented a village fund program in which villages across the country received funding to allocate on basic infrastructures such as roads and water supply, tourism development and village enterprises to improve rural economies. In 2018, a new policy which allowed foreign workers in Indonesia without the Indonesian language skills requirement was issued.
Jokowi also refused to grant clemency to drug offenders facing execution and argued that Indonesia was in a state of emergency over drug-related crimes. After several executions in 2015, Australia, Brazil and the Netherlands recalled their ambassadors from Indonesia and Amnesty International said they showed a "complete disregard for due process and human rights safeguards."
Following the Surabaya bombings of 2018, the government passed the bill, allowing the Indonesian National Armed Forces to participate in counter-terrorism activities given presidential approval and police requests. It also allowed extended detention of terrorism suspects and permitted the use of wiretapping without initial court approval.
During his presidency, Jokowi has mandated a three-pronged policy of maintaining Indonesia's sovereignty, enhancing the protection of Indonesian citizens and intensifying economic diplomacy. He expected Indonesia to become a global maritime power. Because of that, Jokowi has adopted a tougher stance on illegal fishing.
In 2019, Jokowi moved the capital of Indonesia to Kalimantan, between the regencies of North Penajam Paser and Kutai Kartanegara.
Jokowi stated that "there should be no discrimination against anyone" and said that "in terms of Muslim beliefs, LGBT isn't allowed, Islam does not allow it."
Quotations:
"Climate change and environmental challenges will define this century."
"This should strengthen our trade, connecting small and medium enterprises' products to national, even global networks."
"I hereby request your permission to move our national capital to Kalimantan, a capital city is not just a symbol of national identity, but also a representation of the progress of the nation. This is for the realization of economic equality and justice."
"What is most important is handling the evacuation."
"The first reason is humanitarian. He is elderly and his health is also a consideration."
"We have to have a larger amount of income from tax, royalties, dividends ... so the value of our mining sector can benefit everybody."
"I think this is a leap forward. We have to have a larger amount of income from tax, royalties, dividends ... so, the value of our mining sector can benefit everybody."
"The state and all the people are never afraid and will never give the slightest room to terrorism and also to efforts that undermine the security of the country."
"As a country with a 1.37 billion population, China is a big market for Indonesia. I stressed about exports increasing from Indonesia to China."
"Pluralism has always been a part of Indonesia's DNA, despite many challenges, Islam in Indonesia has always been a force for moderation."
"ISIS has no place in Indonesia."
"The release happened because of coordination between the governments of Indonesia and the Philippines."
"We want our logistic costs the same with our neighbour or at least near theirs. If we don't manage to do that, don't even dream of competing."
"Don't let the people be burdened because of regulations."
"We are the largest economy in Southeast Asia, and Indonesia intends to join the TPP."
"I hope the families stay strong and resilient. I have ordered a search operation until all the victims are found."
"This is to protect both those who want to criticize ... and also the president as a symbol of the nation in the long term, not just me."
"There needs to be change, it's imperative that we build a new international economic order that is open to new emerging economic powers."
"I feel a deep loss over this disaster and pray for the families to be given fortitude and strength."
Joko Widodo is regarded as a "clean" politician, popular with the common people and with youth. He has modest character and soft-spoken demeanor.
Physical Characteristics: Jokowi was often sick as a toddler.
Jokowi married Iriana in 1986. The couple has two sons and one daughter - Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Kaesang Pangarep, and Kahiyang Ayu. Jokowi has two grandchildren.
(born 30 December 1940)
(15 February 1943 - 25 March 2020)
(born 1 October 1963)
Iriana has been the First Lady of Indonesia since 20 October 2014.
(born 1 October 1987)
Gibran Rakabuming Raka is an Indonesian politician and businessman.
(born 25 December 1994)
Kaesang Pangarep is an Indonesian entrepreneur and YouTuber.
(born 20 April 1991)
(born 13 February 1960)
F. X. Hadi Rudyatmo is the Mayor of Surakarta.
(born 29 June 1966)
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama is an Indonesian businessman, politician and former governor of Jakarta.
