Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – Statistics Indonesia or BPS recorded that the number of poor people in the country continued to decline. Based on the latest National Socio-Economic Survey (Susenas) taking place in March, BPS head Margo Yuwono said 26.16 million people or 9.54 percent of the total population are in the poor category as of March 2022.
"This number is down by 0.34 million people compared to September 2021 and shrinked by 1.38 million people compared to March 2022," said Margo in a virtual press conference on Friday, July 15, 2022.
The percentage of poor people in March 2022 was 9.54 percent, decreasing by 0.17 percent from that in September 2021 and dropped by 0.60 percent compared to March 2021 or year-on-year.
Margo explained that poverty reduction occurred in both urban and rural areas. In March 2021, 7.50 percent of the total population was poor people in urban areas. While in rural areas, the percentage reached 12.29 percent. He added that the poverty disparity in urban and rural areas remains high.
The BPS also found that suppressing the poverty rate in rural areas was faster than in urban areas. "The poverty rate in rural areas has returned to pre-pandemic levels, while in urban areas it is still higher than before the pandemic," said Margo.