Indonesia's Eastern Region Had the Highest Poverty Rate in 2022

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reports that the number of poor people in Indonesia in March 2022 was 26.16 million, or 9.54% of the total population. Provinces in eastern Indonesia have the highest poverty depth.

Compared to March 2021, the number of people living below the poverty line decreased by 1.38 million. Similarly, the national poverty rate also fell by 60 basis points (bps).

However, the issue of poverty is not merely about the number and percentage of poor people. Other dimensions must be considered, one of which is the depth of poverty. The poverty depth index (P1) is a measure of the average expenditure gap of each poor person relative to the poverty line.

The poverty line is the minimum rupiah value of expenditure needed by a person to meet their basic needs for a month, including both food and non-food needs.

Indonesia's poverty depth index was 1.586 in March 2022. This figure decreased by 0.08 points compared to September 2021 and by 0.128 points compared to March 2021. This means that the average expenditure gap of each poor person relative to the poverty line is decreasing.

Papua, West Papua, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and Gorontalo have the highest poverty depth indices. This is evident from the darker color of these provinces compared to other regions.

Therefore, the expenditure gap of each poor person in these regions to meet their basic needs is widest compared to other provinces. The significant poverty depth index makes the budget for poverty eradication in these regions more expensive than in other regions.

The poverty depth index in Papua in March 2022 was 6.164. This means that the average expenditure gap of each poor person in this easternmost Indonesian province is still very wide. More specifically, the poverty depth index in urban areas was 0.526, while the poverty depth index in rural areas was 8.474. Thus, the expenditure gap of poor people in Papua from the poverty line is wider in rural areas than in urban areas.

Meanwhile, Bangka Belitung Islands, Bali, South Kalimantan, and DKI Jakarta are recorded as provinces with the lowest poverty depth indices. These provinces are represented by the lightest colors on the map.