Sad, 24 Million Indonesians Live Under The Poverty Line

JAKARTA - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported that the number of poor people in Indonesia in September 2024 reached 24.06 million people.

This figure decreased by 1.16 million in March 2024 and decreased by 1.84 million.

Acting (Plt) Head of BPS Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti said that in general since the 2020 pandemic, the percentage and number of poor people have continued to decline.

Furthermore, he said the percentage of poor people in September 2024 was 8.57 percent, a decrease of 0.46 percentage points against March 2024 and a decrease of 0.79 percentage points against March 2023.

"Of course, the percentage figure for the poor is entering the latest level in the range of 8 percent compared to previous years," he said at a press conference, Wednesday, January 15.

In detail, continued Amalia, the percentage of urban poor people in September 2024 of 6.66 percent also decreased compared to March 2024 which was 7.09 percent.

Meanwhile, the percentage of poor rural people in September 2024 was 11.34 percent, a decrease compared to March 2024 which was 11.79 percent.

Furthermore, Amalia said, compared to March 2024, the number of poor people in September 2024, cities decreased by 0.59 million people, from 11.64 million people in March 2024 to 11.05 million people in September 2024.

"In the same period, the number of rural poor people decreased by 0.57 million people, from 13.58 million people in March 2024 to 13.01 million people in September 2024," he said.

Amalia said BPS also noted the poverty line as a benchmark for poverty in Indonesia.

He said that in September 2024 it was recorded at IDR 595,242 per capita per month with a composition of the food poverty line of IDR 443,433 and a non-food poverty line of IDR 151,809.

In September 2024, continued Amalia, the average poor household in Indonesia has 4.71 household members.

"Thus, the average poverty line per household is IDR 2,803,590 per poor household per month," he said.