Yogyakarta Achieves Highest Indonesia Democracy Index Score in 2022

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) compiled the Indonesia Democracy Index (IDI) scores for all Indonesian provinces in 2022.

A new methodology was used compared to previous years. *Databoks* selected the 10 provinces with the highest scores.

Yogyakarta achieved the highest score with 85.62 points out of a possible 100. This is an increase from the 81.21 points scored in 2021 using the old methodology.

East Java came in second with 84.92 points, also up from 81.31 points in 2021 using the old methodology.

Central Java was third with 84.79 points, an increase from 81.15 points in 2021 using the old methodology.

East Kalimantan and West Java followed in fourth and fifth place, respectively, with scores of 83.58 and 83.34 points in 2022.

(Read also: Indonesia's Democracy Index Shows a Downward Trend During Jokowi's Era)

Jakarta ranked seventh with 82.13 points in 2022. The national average score was 80.41 points.

Of the 34 provinces assessed, three had the lowest scores, below the national average: North Maluku (62.93 points); West Papua (64.02 points); and Papua (66.65 points).

The BPS stated that the IDI is used to measure the development of Indonesian democracy, providing a benchmark for formulating political development programs for both the central and regional governments.

The assessment uses three main aspects: freedom, equality, and the capacity of democratic institutions.

These three aspects are further broken down into several indicators, including: guaranteed freedom of assembly, association, and expression by state apparatus; fulfillment of workers' rights; the right to vote and be elected in elections; freedom of the press; gender equality; equal employment opportunities; environmental conservation; the performance of legislative and judicial institutions; election neutrality; budget transparency; and others.

Regarding the change in methodology, the BPS explained that there was a change in the concept of democracy used.

"The concept used in the IDI from 2009-2020 was limited to the political dimension, while the 2021 index also includes the social and economic dimensions," wrote the BPS.

Furthermore, the IDI from 2009-2020 only produced provincial and national level indices, while the 2021 IDI produced provincial, central, and national level indices.

(Read also: Most ASEAN Countries Suffer from Flawed Democracies, the Rest are Authoritarian)