Approximately 189.1 million people live in Indonesia. The country is divided into 27 provinces but 62% of the population lives on the islands of Java only 7% of the overall territory. 70% of Indonesians live in rural areas approximately 42% of the population is younger than age 15 years and the literacy rate in 1990 was 84.1%. 1638 hospitals 6277 health centers and 18946 subcenters serve the population of Indonesia. 5306 mobile health centers employing vans boats and airplanes deliver health care to even the most remote locales. GNP per capita and health expenditure per capita are US$750 and US$15 respectively. Approximately 50% of all mortality in Indonesia is among individuals younger than age five years. Life expectancy is 62.7 years. There has been a significant overall improvement in the health status of the Indonesian population but communicable diseases especially gastrointestinal infections respiratory illnesses neonatal tetanus and malaria continue to be major health problems. 70% of all pregnant and lactating women have nutritional anemia and 30 million people in endemic areas suffer from iodine deficiency disease. Indonesia is committed to achieving Health for All by the year 2000 through the delivery of primary health care. A national health system has been developed to attain that goal. Public health practice is increasingly recognizing the importance of responsible individual and community action for health while health organizations have strengthened both the educational and service components of their work in the effort to enable and empower people to action. Health education has become an essential and integral component of every health program in Indonesia. Health education and the concept of health promotion are discussed.