THE PEOPLE

Bali has a population of around 3 million. The predominant form of agriculture is wet-rice cultivation,
but there are also large fruit plantations in the east of Bali, as well as corn fields or coffee plantations.
The majority of the population is still made up of farmers, but tourism and associated businesses
(such as manufacture and sales of souvenirs, etc.) are becoming more and more important.
You should know that the economic circumstances and the standard of living of the largest part
of the Balinese population are quite modest, and that a lot of people are,
even by Indonesian standards, actually very poor.

The strong cultural identity of Bali is based on a combination of closely related elements
such as the unique religion, the language, the castes, the community life, the land cultivation
and the expression of its art. Of the four castes, Brahmana, Satria and Wesia represent
10% of the population whereas the Sudras (the farmers and craftsmen) represent the great majority.
The caste system, still very much alive today, regulates, apart from their religious power,
the different levels of the Balinese language.

Although the official language is Bahasa Indonesia, Balinese remains the everyday dialect of the people
of the island. Each Balinese belongs to his or her caste, but foremost to their community,
which from birth to death regulates life in its social and religious aspects. Numerous ceremonies
mark the progression of life, starting with the first birthday, 210 days after birth,which is the length
of a Balinese year. Childhood is treated with respect and gentleness until teen years, celebrated with
the tooth filing ceremony. Marriage is the definite and official entry into the community of which
every Balinese becomes an active member. Participation at the meetings of the "Banjar", (virtual local government
which manages village life, from wedding ceremonies, cremations, village security and land transactions),
is everyone’s given duty. The administration of the rice fields is under another essential
communal organization: the Subak, to which each landowner belongs.

LANDSCAPE
CLIMATE & TIME ZONE
RELIGION & LANGUAGE
HEALTH & HYGIENE
ETIQUETTE
FAMOUS LOCATIONS
OVERVIEW