The 2026 RAPBN Deficit Rises, The Government Ensures That It Remains On Safe Limits

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadive (central) together with Deputy Minister of Finance Suahasil Nazara (right) and Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Perry Warjiyo (left) attended a working meeting with the Budget Agency (Banggar) DPR. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) and the Budget Agency (Banggar) of the DPR RI finally agreed to widen the deficit in the 2026 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget Draft (APBN).

Initially, the deficit in the 2026 State Budget Draft was targeted at IDR 638.8 trillion, or equivalent to 2.48 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, this figure is now being revised to increase to IDR 689.1 trillion or 2.68 percent of GDP.

Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadive emphasized that the increase in the deficit in the 2026 State Revenue and Expenditure Budget Draft is still within safe limits, which is below 3 percent of GDP.

"Especially asking whether it's dangerous or not, that's okay, it's still 2-3 percent," said Purbaya at the DPR Building, Thursday, September 18.

He explained that the increase in the deficit was needed to accelerate national economic growth.

Furthermore, Purbaya appealed to the market not to worry and emphasized that the government would still manage the fiscal deficit with great care.

"So don't be afraid. We remain careful," he said.

On the same occasion, the Director General of Economic and Fiscal Strategy at the Ministry of Finance, Febrio Kacaribu, explained that widening the budget deficit was a consequence of adjusting state spending.

"That's a consequence, earlier we had added Rp43 trillion, then we also added a little in the central expenditure so that the deficit widened from 2.48 percent to 2.68 percent of GDP," he explained.

However, he reminded that the deficit outlook for 2025 is actually projected at 2.78 percent, so that the current position is still below the initial projection and reflects the government's prudence in maintaining fiscal conditions.

"So this actually shows a little more caution from the government for fiscal conditions. But we see the need for economic growth and also both at the center and shopping in the area remains a priority," he said.

For information, the state expenditure target in the 2026 RAPBN has increased from Rp3,786.5 trillion, an increase of Rp56.2 trillion to Rp3,842.7 trillion.

The addition of state spending comes from two main components, namely central government spending and regional transfer expenditures (TKD), namely for central government spending, the budget from Rp3,136.5 trillion increased by Rp13.2 trillion to Rp3,149.7 trillion.

In detail, ministry/institutional expenditures (K/L) increased from Rp1,498.3 trillion, up Rp12.3 trillion to Rp1,510.5 trillion, while non-K/L expenditures slightly increased by Rp0.9 trillion from Rp1,638.2 trillion to Rp1,639.2 trillion.

Meanwhile, the allocation for transfer expenditure to the regions also increased significantly from Rp650 trillion to Rp43 trillion to Rp693 trillion. This increase is a response to the aspirations of various commissions in the DPR and the public spotlight related to regional funds.

In addition, state revenue in the 2026 RAPBN was originally Rp3,147.7 trillion, or an increase of Rp5.9 trillion to 3,153.6 trillion.

This increase in revenue was mainly supported by customs and excise revenues of Rp336 trillion, an increase of Rp1.7 trillion from the previous Rp334.3 trillion, and non-tax state revenues (PNBP) which were adjusted to Rp459.2 trillion, an increase of Rp4.2 trillion from the previous Rp455 trillion.

Meanwhile, the tax revenue target did not change or remain at IDR 2,357.7 trillion.

Adapun karena belanja negara yang lebih tinggi dari target pendapatan maka defisit dalam Rancangan APBN 2026 menjadi Rp689,1 triliun atau 2,68 persen terhadap produk domestik bruto (PDB).

Angka ini lebih tinggi dibandingkan rancangan sebelumnya yang sebesar Rp638,8 triliun atau 2,48 persen dari PDB.

Sebagai konsekuensi dari kenaikan defisit tersebut, kebutuhan pembiayaan anggaran juga meningkat, dari Rp638,8 triliun menjadi Rp689,1 triliun.

Meanwhile, because state expenditures are higher than the revenue target, the deficit in the 2026 State Budget Draft is IDR 689.1 trillion or 2.68 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

This figure is higher than the previous draft which amounted to Rp638.8 trillion or 2.48 percent of GDP.

As a consequence of the increase in the deficit, budget financing needs also increased, from IDR 638.8 trillion to IDR 689.1 trillion.