Disclose WFP Data, BGN Claims the Second Largest MBG RI Program in the World

JAKARTA - Indonesia is one of the countries with the largest number of beneficiaries through the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program run by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) based on World Food Programe (WFP) data.

Data as of March 3, 2026 shows that the number of beneficiaries of the MBG Program in Indonesia has reached 61.2 million people, with 49 million of them being students in schools.

Head of the Legal and Public Relations Bureau of BGN Khairul Hidayati said that at the world level 174.9 million children have received school feeding programs, which shows that nutrition through the educational environment has become an important agenda globally.

"Globally, there are 174.9 million children who receive the benefits of the school feeding program. Indonesia is an important part of this effort with more than 49 million students receiving benefits at schools, which shows the government's commitment to strengthening child nutrition," said Hida as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, March 9.

According to him, the MBG Program in Indonesia is not only aimed at ensuring the availability of nutritious food for students, but also as a long-term investment in building the quality of Indonesia's Human Resources (HR).

"With the number of beneficiaries reaching 61.2 million people, this program is expected to strengthen health, learning concentration, and support the birth of a healthy, smart, and productive generation of Indonesians," he said.

Based on WFP data, currently around 174.9 million children around the world receive the benefits of the school feeding program. The number is spread across various countries that run the school feeding program as part of the policy to improve children's health and education quality.

"Of the total 174 countries in the world, only 107 countries have implemented the school feeding program as a national program," he continued.

Indonesia is ranked second in the world in terms of the number of school meal beneficiaries. The first position is occupied by India with 118 million students, followed by Indonesia 49 million students, then Brazil 38 million students, China 34 million students, and the United States 30 million students.