How Indonesian Middle Classes Overcome Income Deficits

The results of the Katadata Insight Center (KIC) survey show that 63.6% of middle-class respondents in Indonesia have experienced a situation where their income is not enough to meet their daily needs.

"This condition not only impacts their ability to meet current needs, but also limits their capacity to plan for a more stable future," KIC wrote in a report titled "The Middle Class at the Crossroads of the Future." Of those who have experienced this, the majority, or 76.3% of respondents, address income deficits by using their existing resources.

In addition, middle-class respondents are seeking additional funds and exploring options to borrow from various platforms.

Here are the details of what middle-class respondents in Indonesia do when their income is not enough to meet their needs, according to the KIC survey:

1. Using existing resources: 76.3%
2. Seeking additional funds (not loans): 36.5%
3. Borrowing from friends/family/other individuals: 26.8%
4. Utilizing paylater options: 15.5%
5. Seeking non-online interest-bearing loans: 14.1%
6. Using credit: 14%
7. Seeking online loans: 9.4%
8. Delaying or paying bills late: 7.6%
9. Others: 1.1%.

"The relatively cautious approach to borrowing, especially high-risk loans, indicates an awareness of maintaining long-term financial stability, even under significant pressure," KIC wrote in its report.

This KIC report was launched at the IDE Katadata Future Forum 2026 event at the Ballroom Djakarta Theater, Jakarta, on Wednesday (April 15, 2026).

The survey results generally reveal the conditions, behaviors, and perceptions of the middle class, which can serve as a basis for formulating strategies and policies to strengthen resilience, promote growth, and support economic and social development in Indonesia.

A total of 1,000 respondents aged 18-60 were involved, comprising 61.6% men and 38.4% women. The majority, or 59.3%, came from Java Island, followed by Sumatra (19.6%), Bali-Nusa (5.9%), Kalimantan (7.6%), Sulawesi (5.7%), and Maluku-Papua (1.9%).

The data collection was conducted from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026 online using non-probability sampling. The survey's error tolerance (margin of error) was around 3.16%. The full survey results from KIC titled "The Middle Class at the Crossroads of the Future" can be accessed via the following link.