INDEF: Zakat Nisab Adjustment Necessary Amid Rising Gold Prices

JAKARTA — Adjustment of zakat income nisab values is considered necessary amid the surge in global gold prices in recent years. This measure is expected to maintain balance between compliance with Islamic law and sustainability of zakat collection.

Nur Hidayah, head of the Centre for Development of Sharia Economics (CSED) at the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance, explained that rising gold prices necessitate adjustments in setting zakat income nisab thresholds.

“Of course, many adjustments are needed in other fields, including zakat itself,” said Nur Hidayah during a public discussion titled “Zakat Nisab Rises, Burden or Path to Goodness?” held online on Friday (13 March 2026).

According to her, gold prices have experienced significant increases over the past two years. In 2024, gold prices rose approximately 32.4 per cent, whilst throughout 2025 the increase reached 54.38 per cent.

If the old standard of 85 grammes of 24-carat gold remains in use, the near 86 per cent surge in gold prices over the past two years risks reducing the number of people falling into the obligated zakat category.

“With an increase of nearly 86 per cent over the past two years, certainly fewer taxpayers will fall into the obligated zakat category,” she said.

The CSED INDEF discussion responded to a new policy from the National Zakat Agency, which established zakat nisab for income and services at Rp7.64 million per month or approximately Rp91.68 million per year.