Indonesia's Poverty Rate Falls to 9.71% in September 2021

Improved domestic economy drives down poverty rate in Indonesia. The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recorded a decrease of 1.04 million people in the number of Indonesia's poor, bringing the total to 26.5 million in March 2021 compared to September 2020. Compared to September 2020, the number of poor decreased by 1.05 million.

Similarly, the poverty rate also decreased by 0.43 percentage points to 9.71% in September 2021 compared to March 2021. Compared to September 2020, the poverty rate fell by 0.48 percentage points. Despite the decrease, the poverty rate remains higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

By region, the number of poor in rural areas decreased by 730,000 to 14.64 million (12.53%) in September 2021 compared to March 2021, and by 870,000 compared to September 2020. Meanwhile, the number of poor in urban areas decreased by 320,000 to 11.86 million (7.6%) in September 2021 compared to March 2021, and by 180,000 compared to September 2020.

As an indicator for measuring poverty in September 2021, the national poverty line was set at Rp 486,170 per capita per month. This comprises Rp 360,000 per capita per month for food and Rp 126,160 per capita per month for non-food needs.

The poverty line for rural areas was Rp 464,470 per capita per month in September 2021. This comprises Rp 355,300 per capita per month for food and Rp 109,080 per capita per month for non-food needs. Meanwhile, the poverty line in urban areas was Rp 502,730 per capita per month, comprising Rp 363,840 per capita per month for food and Rp 138,890 per capita per month for non-food needs.