Papua Highlands Lacks Proper Sanitation, Electricity Access, BPS Reports

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has highlighted critical infrastructure gaps in Indonesia's Papua Pegunungan province, revealing that over 30% of households lack adequate sanitation facilities. Open defecation remains a prevalent practice in several Papua provinces, including Papua Pegunungan, Papua Tengah, and Papua Selatan, starkly contrasting with regions like Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, and Maluku.

Nationally, access to proper sanitation saw a modest increase, reaching 86.73% by March 2026. However, BPS data underscores the vast regional disparities. Bali boasts the highest access rate at 98.60%, followed by Yogyakarta and Bangka Belitung. In contrast, Papua Pegunungan reported the highest percentage of households practicing open defecation at 31.61%, with Papua Tengah and Papua Selatan also showing significant figures.

BPS defines adequate sanitation based on the presence of a proper toilet facility, such as a swan-neck toilet, and a suitable disposal system like a septic tank, wastewater treatment plant, or a simple soil pit in rural areas. Beyond sanitation, access to electricity remains a major challenge for adequate housing across the country, indicating ongoing development needs in these essential services.