Poverty and living standards in West Sumatra, Indonesia: official figures
5.31% of people in West Sumatra lived below the poverty line in September 2025, 8th lowest of 38 provinces; the national poverty rate was 8.25%.
How many people live in poverty in West Sumatra?
About 312 thousand people in West Sumatra were poor in September 2025, 17th 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 West Sumatra?
The poverty line in West Sumatra was Rp 776,517 per person per month in September 2025, 11th 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 West Sumatra?
Poverty in West Sumatra was 3.75% in cities and towns and 7.03% 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 West Sumatra?
Of the 312 thousand poor people in West Sumatra in September 2025, 115 thousand lived in urban areas and 197 thousand in rural areas.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyHow deep is poverty in West Sumatra?
The poverty depth index in West Sumatra was 0.86 and the poverty severity index 0.22 in September 2025 (national: 1.29 and 0.30); the depth index is 13th lowest 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 West Sumatra?
The Gini index of spending inequality in West Sumatra was 0.280 in 2025 (0 is perfect equality, 1 is total inequality), 7th most equal of 38 provinces; the national index was 0.363.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyIs inequality rising in West Sumatra?
Inequality in West Sumatra fell from 0.287 in 2024 to 0.280 in 2025; nationally the Gini index fell from 0.390 to 0.363.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyHow West Sumatra compares with other provinces
Share of people below the poverty line (September 2025)
West Sumatra ranks 31 of 38, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of people below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | North Maluku | 5.59% |
| 29 | Banten | 5.51% |
| 30 | North Kalimantan | 5.47% |
| 31 | West Sumatra | 5.31% |
| 32 | East Kalimantan | 5.19% |
| 33 | Central Kalimantan | 4.94% |
| 34 | Bangka Belitung Islands | 4.77% |
Gini index of spending inequality (2025)
West Sumatra ranks 32 of 38, highest first. 0 is perfect equality, 1 is total inequality
| Rank | Region | Gini index of spending inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Central Kalimantan | 0.284 |
| 30 | North Sumatra | 0.283 |
| 31 | South Kalimantan | 0.281 |
| 32 | West Sumatra | 0.280 |
| 33 | Central Sulawesi | 0.277 |
| 34 | North Maluku | 0.275 |
| 35 | Aceh | 0.274 |
Poverty depth index (P1) (September 2025)
West Sumatra ranks 26 of 38, highest first. How far the average poor person falls below the poverty line
| Rank | Region | Poverty depth index (P1) |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Banten | 1.03 |
| 24 | North Sulawesi | 1.01 |
| 25 | North Sumatra | 0.90 |
| 26 | West Sumatra | 0.86 |
| 27 | Jambi | 0.83 |
| 28 | East Kalimantan | 0.83 |
| 29 | Riau | 0.79 |
More on West Sumatra: 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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