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View all search resultsNorth Sumatra's poverty rate rises, defying national trend
Misfaruddin of the North Sumatra BPS explained that the increase in the poverty rate in the province has partly been driven by rising market prices of essential commodities commonly purchased and consumed by the public.
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Under the sun job: Workers plant sugarcane seedlings on Friday in Hamparan Perak, Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra. The government has allocated Rp 1.5 trillion (US$91.41 million) to purchase sugar from farmers, which will be implemented by state-owned food company ID Food. (Antara/Yudi Manar)
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orth Sumatra has recorded a rise in its poverty rate, going against the national trend as Indonesia celebrates a historic low in poverty, according to the latest data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS).
Misfaruddin, a statistician at the North Sumatra BPS, said the province’s poverty rate increased by 0.17 percentage points, from 7.19 percent in September 2024 to 7.36 percent in March 2025. A person in poverty is defined as anyone consuming goods and services valued at no more than Rp 666.546 (US$40.20) per month.
"The number of people living in poverty increased by 29,300 over the six-month period, bringing the total to 1.14 million people in the province," he said recently.
Read also: Poverty rate hits another historic low as inequality narrows
He noted that the increase was more significant in rural areas compared to urban areas. In March 2025, the poverty rate stood at 7.10 percent in urban areas and 7.71 percent in rural areas.
"The rural poverty rate increased by 0.27 percentage points, while the urban rate saw a smaller increase of 0.09 points," Misfaruddin explained.
The trend in North Sumatra stands in contrast to national figures. In July, BPS reported another decline in the country’s poverty rate, continuing a downward trend that has persisted since 2020, with only one brief increase recorded in September 2022.
