Indonesian Sacrifice Market Valued at Trillions, But Distribution Shows Stark Regional Gaps

The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) forecasts that the simulated micro-transaction value for sacrificial animals during Eid al-Adha in 2026 will reach Rp26.89 trillion. This projection anticipates the sacrifice of approximately 1.59 million animals, comprising 493,000 cattle and 1.09 million goats or sheep.

“

The projection for the value of sacrifices in 2026 is Rp26.89 trillion in simulated micro-transaction value.

Nur Hidayah, Head of Indef's Center for Sharia Economic Development, stated that the estimated 99,290 tons of meat from these sacrifices is equivalent to fulfilling Indonesia's daily animal protein requirements for 2.5 days. This figure underscores the significant scale of the ritualistic animal sacrifice in the country.

However, Indef points to a stark paradox in the distribution of these sacrificial resources. While Java is projected to experience an extreme surplus, accounting for 79.67% of the national total with a value of Rp21.42 trillion, other regions face severe deficits. For instance, Papua is expected to have only 0.41% of the national total, valued at Rp0.11 trillion, and Maluku a mere 0.10%, valued at Rp0.03 trillion. This disparity indicates a widening gap in access to these resources rather than a reduction in social inequality.

“

The volume of sacrificial meat reaching 99,290 tons is estimated to be equivalent to meeting the daily animal protein needs of the entire Indonesian population for 2.5 days.

The report also noted that a cow from a farmer in West Java was selected as a sacrificial animal for President Prabowo Subianto. This detail highlights the symbolic importance and the involvement of national figures in the tradition.

“

Because there is an extreme surplus in Java of Rp21.42 trillion or 79.67 percent of the national share, the excess supply of meat is highly concentrated. On the other hand, there is a severe deficit of less than 20 percent sufficiency, for example in Papua at only Rp0.11 trillion or 0.41 percent, and Maluku Rp0.03 trillion or 0.10 percent.