Eight percent of Medan's population falls into the poverty category.

The poverty rate in Medan City as of November 30, 2023, was recorded at eight percent. Compared to the previous year, the poverty rate in regencies/cities decreased by 0.07 percent.

The trend of the poverty rate in Medan City over the past 10 years has been decreasing, from an initial poverty rate of 9.12 percent to eight percent.

According to data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the total population in these regencies/cities in 2023 was 2.54 million.

Compared to other regions in North Sumatra, the poverty rate in this regency/city ranks 21st out of 33 regencies/cities in North Sumatra province.

Other regions with the highest poverty rates in North Sumatra province are West Nias Regency at 22 percent and North Nias Regency at 21 percent.

Poverty rates in North Sumatra in 2023 were:

* West Nias Regency 22%
* North Nias Regency 21%
* South Nias Regency 16%
* Nias Regency 15%
* Gunung Sitoli City 14%
* Tanjung Balai City 12%
* Samosir Regency 11%
* West Tapanuli Regency 11%
* Sibolga City 11%
* Batu Bara Regency 11%
* Tebing Tinggi City 9%
* Langkat Regency 9%
* North Labuhan Batu Regency 9%
* Mandailing Natal Regency 8%
* North Padang Lawas Regency 8%
* Humbang Hasundutan Regency 8%
* North Tapanuli Regency 8%
* Asahan Regency 8%
* South Labuhan Batu Regency 8%
* Toba Samosir Regency 8%
* Medan City 8%
* Labuhan Batu Regency 7%
* Karo Regency 7%
* Padang Lawas Regency 7%
* Simalungun Regency 7%
* Pakpak Bharat Regency 7%
* Dairi Regency 7%
* Serdang Bedagai Regency 7%
* Pematang Siantar City 7%
* South Tapanuli Regency 7%
* Padang Sidempuan City 6%
* Binjai City 4%
* Deli Serdang Regency 3%