Poverty and living standards in North Sumatra, Indonesia: official figures
7.24% of people in North Sumatra lived below the poverty line in September 2025, 17th lowest of 38 provinces; the national poverty rate was 8.25%.
How many people live in poverty in North Sumatra?
About 1,128 thousand people in North Sumatra were poor in September 2025, 4th 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 North Sumatra?
The poverty line in North Sumatra was Rp 718,220 per person per month in September 2025, 14th 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 North Sumatra?
Poverty in North Sumatra was 7.16% in cities and towns and 7.35% 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 North Sumatra?
Of the 1,128 thousand poor people in North Sumatra in September 2025, 649 thousand lived in urban areas and 479 thousand in rural areas.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyHow deep is poverty in North Sumatra?
The poverty depth index in North Sumatra was 0.90 and the poverty severity index 0.19 in September 2025 (national: 1.29 and 0.30); the depth index is 14th 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 North Sumatra?
The Gini index of spending inequality in North Sumatra was 0.283 in 2025 (0 is perfect equality, 1 is total inequality), 9th most equal of 38 provinces; the national index was 0.363.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyIs inequality rising in North Sumatra?
Inequality in North Sumatra fell from 0.306 in 2024 to 0.283 in 2025; nationally the Gini index fell from 0.390 to 0.363.
Source: Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), Secretariat General · saved copyHow North Sumatra compares with other provinces
Share of people below the poverty line (September 2025)
North Sumatra ranks 22 of 38, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of people below the poverty line |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Central Java | 9.39% |
| 20 | East Java | 9.30% |
| 21 | South Sulawesi | 7.43% |
| 22 | North Sumatra | 7.24% |
| 23 | Jambi | 6.89% |
| 24 | West Java | 6.78% |
| 25 | North Sulawesi | 6.62% |
Gini index of spending inequality (2025)
North Sumatra ranks 30 of 38, highest first. 0 is perfect equality, 1 is total inequality
| Rank | Region | Gini index of spending inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Jambi | 0.291 |
| 28 | Lampung | 0.287 |
| 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 |
Poverty depth index (P1) (September 2025)
North Sumatra ranks 25 of 38, highest first. How far the average poor person falls below the poverty line
| Rank | Region | Poverty depth index (P1) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | West Java | 1.14 |
| 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 |
More on North 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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