Poverty Rate in Banten Reaches Highest Level in the Last 11 Years

The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has driven poverty rates in Banten to their highest level in the last 11 years. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the poverty rate in Banten reached 6.66% in March 2021.

The poverty rate in this province, located at the westernmost tip of Java Island, had previously reached 7.16% in 2010. The rate had been steadily declining, reaching 4.94% in September 2019. However, it began to rise again from March 2020 to March 2021.

Specifically, the percentage of poor people in urban areas of Banten increased from 5.85% in September 2020 to 5.9% in March 2021. In rural areas, the percentage of poor people decreased from 8.57% in September 2020 to 8.49% in March 2021.

The increase in poverty in Banten is driven by a poverty line of Rp 530,363 per capita per month in March 2021. This figure is up 2.96% from September 2020, when it was Rp 515,110 per capita per month.

In detail, the food poverty line increased by 3.32% to Rp 382,584 per capita per month. Meanwhile, the non-food poverty line increased by 2.04% to Rp 147,779 per capita per month.