West Java Poverty Declines, But Inequality Widens

West Java, Indonesia, has seen a notable reduction in its poverty rate, with the percentage of the population living below the poverty line falling to 6.54% as of March 2026. This translates to approximately 114,230 fewer individuals experiencing poverty. The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of West Java Province reported this improvement, which also reflects a decrease in the Poverty Depth Index (P1) from 1.14 to 1.04 and the Poverty Severity Index (P2) from 0.27 to 0.23.

However, this positive trend in poverty reduction is contrasted by a simultaneous rise in income inequality. The Gini Ratio for West Java increased to 0.413 in March 2026, up from 0.409 in September 2025. This indicates a widening gap in income distribution among the population, suggesting that the benefits of economic improvements may not be evenly shared. The head of BPS West Java, Margaretha Ari Anggorowati, stated that while poverty indicators have improved, the rising inequality requires continued attention.

The poverty line in West Java was set at Rp609,790 per capita per month, with food commodities accounting for a dominant 74.48% of this measure. Rice and filter kretek cigarettes were identified as the main contributors to poverty. Rice alone accounted for 21.33% of the poverty line in urban areas and 26.78% in rural areas, followed by cigarettes at 10.63% in cities and 6.88% in villages.

Further analysis reveals a disparity between urban and rural areas. Urban regions saw a decrease of 124,610 poor residents, whereas rural areas experienced an increase of 10,380 poor individuals, marking a 0.20 percentage point rise. This divergence highlights the need for targeted interventions to address poverty and inequality in different geographical contexts within West Java.