Poverty and living standards in Highland Papua, Indonesia: official figures
27.21% of people in Highland Papua lived below the poverty line in September 2025, 2nd highest of 38 provinces; the national poverty rate was 8.25%.
How many people live in poverty in Highland Papua?
About 308 thousand people in Highland Papua were poor in September 2025, 19th highest of 38 provinces for the number of poor people (Indonesia: 23.36 million).
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyWhat is the poverty line in Highland Papua?
The poverty line in Highland Papua was Rp 1,235,328 per person per month in September 2025, the highest of 38 provinces; the national line was Rp 641,443.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyIs poverty higher in rural or urban areas of Highland Papua?
Poverty in Highland Papua was 13.06% in cities and towns and 30.25% in rural areas in September 2025 (national: 6.60% urban, 10.72% rural).
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyHow many poor people live in rural Highland Papua?
Of the 308 thousand poor people in Highland Papua in September 2025, 26 thousand lived in urban areas and 282 thousand in rural areas.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyHow deep is poverty in Highland Papua?
The poverty depth index in Highland Papua was 5.99 and the poverty severity index 1.71 in September 2025 (national: 1.29 and 0.30); the depth index is 2nd highest of 38 provinces, and a higher value means the poor live further below the poverty line.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyHow unequal is Highland Papua?
The Gini index of spending inequality in Highland Papua was 0.347 in 2025 (0 is perfect equality, 1 is total inequality), 15th most unequal of 38 provinces; the national index was 0.363.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyIs inequality rising in Highland Papua?
Inequality in Highland Papua rose from 0.346 in 2024 to 0.347 in 2025; nationally the Gini index fell from 0.390 to 0.363.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyHow Highland Papua compares with other special autonomy provinces
Share of people below the poverty line (September 2025)
Highland Papua ranks 2 of 38, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of people below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Papua | 29.45% |
| 2 | Highland Papua | 27.21% |
| 3 | West Papua | 19.58% |
| 4 | South Papua | 19.26% |
| 5 | Papua | 17.82% |
| 6 | East Nusa Tenggara | 17.50% |
| 7 | Southwest Papua | 17.50% |
Gini index of spending inequality (2025)
Highland Papua ranks 15 of 38, highest first. 0 is perfect equality, 1 is total inequality
| Rank | Region | Gini index of spending inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Southeast Sulawesi | 0.357 |
| 13 | Central Java | 0.350 |
| 14 | South Sulawesi | 0.350 |
| 15 | Highland Papua | 0.347 |
| 16 | North Sulawesi | 0.341 |
| 17 | Central Papua | 0.340 |
| 18 | Bengkulu | 0.339 |
Poverty depth index (P1) (September 2025)
Highland Papua ranks 2 of 38, highest first. How far the average poor person falls below the poverty line
| Rank | Region | Poverty depth index (P1) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Papua | 7.94 |
| 2 | Highland Papua | 5.99 |
| 3 | South Papua | 4.07 |
| 4 | Papua | 3.61 |
| 5 | Southwest Papua | 3.21 |
| 6 | Maluku | 3.14 |
| 7 | East Nusa Tenggara | 2.89 |
More on Highland Papua: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · Indonesia
Sources
- Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General: Profil Kesehatan Indonesia 2025, Lampiran 1.8: Gini index by province, 2021-2025 (Susenas, Statistics Indonesia), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d90b802535dc…)
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