The Rise and Fall of Indonesian Ministries: The Soekarno Era Saw the Highest Number

The Indonesian House of Representatives' Legislation Body is currently reviewing a proposed revision to Law Number 39 of 2008 concerning State Ministries.

They plan to remove the limit on the number of ministries, previously capped at 34.

"Our discussion focuses solely on removing the number 34 regarding the limit on ministries," said Supratman Andi Agtas, Chairman of the DPR Legislation Body, in a press release on Thursday (16/5/2024).

"However, we emphasize that the number of ministries must still consider efficiency and effectiveness," he added.

Historically, the number of ministries in Indonesia has fluctuated, expanding and contracting with regime changes.

Based on data compiled by *Databoks* from the Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat website, the highest number of ministries appeared during President Soekarno's era, specifically in the Dwikora I Cabinet.

The Dwikora I Cabinet, in office from August 27, 1964 – February 22, 1966, comprised 90 ministries and 104 ministers/vice ministers/equivalent-ranking officials.

Not only Dwikora I, but President Soekarno also formed several other cabinets with a large number of ministries, as shown in the chart above.

For completeness, here is the number of ministries per cabinet throughout Indonesian history, chronologically ordered since independence:

1. President Soekarno:

* Presidential Cabinet (August–November 1945): 19 ministries
* Sjahrir I Cabinet (November 1945–March 1946): 16
* Sjahrir II Cabinet (March 1946–October 1946): 24
* Sjahrir III Cabinet (October 1946–June 1947): 31
* Amir Sjarifuddin I Cabinet (July–November 1947): 31
* Amir Sjarifuddin II Cabinet (November 1947–January 1948): 32
* Hatta I Cabinet (January 1948–August 1949): 16
* Emergency Cabinet (December 1948–July 1949): 11
* Hatta II Cabinet (August 1949–December 1949): 17
* Susanto/Transitional Cabinet (December 1949–January 1950): 9
* Republic of the United States of Indonesia Cabinet (December 1949–September 1950): 16
* Halim Cabinet (January 1950–September 1950): 13
* Moh. Natsir Cabinet (September 1950–April 1951): 16
* Sukiman Cabinet (April 1951–April 1952): 17
* Wilopo Cabinet (April 1952–July 1953): 16
* Ali Sastroamidjojo I Cabinet (July 1953–August 1955): 17
* Burhanuddin Harahap Cabinet (August 1955–March 1956): 20
* Ali Sastroamidjojo II Cabinet (March 1956–March 1957): 22
* Djuanda/Karya Cabinet (April 1957–July 1959): 26
* Kerja I Cabinet (July 1959–February 1960): 32
* Kerja II Cabinet (February 1960–March 1962): 39
* Kerja III Cabinet (March 1962–November 1963): 56
* Kerja IV Cabinet (November 1963–August 1964): 61
* Dwikora I Cabinet (August 1964–February 1966): 90
* Dwikora II Cabinet (February 1966–March 1966): 86
* Dwikora III Cabinet (March 1966–July 1966): 26
* Ampera I Cabinet (July 1966–October 1967): 28

2. President Soeharto

* Ampera II Cabinet (October 1967–June 1968): 23 ministries
* Development I Cabinet (June 1968–March 1973): 25
* Development II Cabinet (March 1973–March 1978): 21
* Development III Cabinet (March 1978–March 1983): 30
* Development IV Cabinet (March 1983–March 1988): 40
* Development V Cabinet (March 1988–March 1993): 41
* Development VI Cabinet (March 1993–March 1998): 41
* Development VII Cabinet (March 1998–May 1998): 37

3. President B. J. Habibie

* Development Reform Cabinet (May 1998–October 1999): 39 ministries

4. President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur)

* National Unity Cabinet (October 1999–August 2001): 37 ministries

5. President Megawati Soekarnoputri

* Gotong Royong Cabinet (August 2001–October 2004): 33 ministries

6. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)

* United Indonesia Cabinet (October 2004–October 2009): 36 ministries
* United Indonesia II Cabinet (October 2009–October 2014): 36

7. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi)

* Working Cabinet (October 2014–October 2019): 34 ministries
* Advanced Indonesia Cabinet (October 2019–October 2024): 34