28 Percent of Papua's Population is Poor

Two provinces in Papua recorded the highest poverty rates in Indonesia in September 2016. The number of poor people in Papua reached 28.4 percent (914,900 people). This figure is the highest compared to the other 33 provinces. Compared to March 2016, the poverty rate in Papua decreased; however, compared to September 2015, it showed no improvement. Meanwhile, the poverty rate in West Papua reached 24.88 percent (223,600 people), the second highest, followed by East Nusa Tenggara at 22 percent (1.15 million people) in third place.

The high cost of living and limited income of the population contribute to the relatively high poverty rate in Indonesia's easternmost provinces compared to other regions. Uneven development and the persistence of underdeveloped areas in Papua contribute to the high poverty rate. The poverty line in Papua is Rp 440,021 per capita per month, while in West Papua it is Rp 492,969 per capita per month, above the national poverty line average of Rp 361,990 per capita per month.

As of September 31, 2016, the poverty rate in rural Papua reached 37.07 percent, lower than in March 2016 (37.14 percent). Similarly, the poverty rate in urban areas in September 2016 also decreased to 4.21 percent from 4.42 percent in March 2016.