BPS: Poverty Rate in Bengkulu Rises 5.17% (September 2022 Data)

The per capita food poverty line in Bengkulu Province was Rp. 457,880 per capita per month in 2022. This figure is up by Rp. 22,492 compared to the previous semester's data, which was recorded at Rp. 435,390 per capita per month.

The poverty line in Bengkulu in September increased higher than the previous period. Historically, the province recorded its lowest growth three years ago in March 2019 at 0.63 percent. This year, the poverty line in Bengkulu grew by 5.17 percent.

The Poverty Line (PL) reflects the minimum rupiah expenditure needed by a person to meet their basic needs for a month, including both food and non-food needs.

The poverty line consists of two components. The food poverty line is the minimum expenditure for food needs, equivalent to 2100 kilocalories per capita per day. The non-food poverty line is the minimum expenditure for non-food needs such as housing, clothing, education, and health.

As stated in the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) report, the highest semester-on-semester growth of the poverty line in the province in seven years was 8.8 percent, and the lowest was 0.03 percent, with a downward trend in the poverty line. This year's poverty line growth still shows a higher figure than before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Based on the island, out of a total of 10 provinces in Sumatra, Bengkulu's poverty line ranks sixth. This year, growth in this province is recorded as lower than the national average.

Poverty Lines in Sumatra:

• 1. Bangka Belitung Islands: Rp. 622,070
• 2. West Sumatra: Rp. 495,820
• 3. Riau Islands: Rp. 491,240
• 4. Riau: Rp. 475,490
• 5. Aceh: Rp. 468,250
• 6. Bengkulu: Rp. 457,880
• 7. North Sumatra: Rp. 448,620
• 8. Jambi: Rp. 443,290
• 9. Lampung: Rp. 406,730
• 10. South Sumatra: Rp. 379,880