Moribund Indonesian Economy Makes Gen Z Reluctant to Marry
Indonesia’s ailing economy is making Generation Z (Gen Z) reluctant to marry. The depreciating rupiah against the US dollar, rising prices, and the pressures of daily life mean marriage is no longer a primary choice for Gen Z. They worry that in the current economic climate, deciding to marry would be an ill-advised step.
I Made Dinda (25), a woman from Bali working as a private sector employee in Semarang, admitted she has been in a relationship with her partner for five years. However, Dinda confessed she is not ready to marry in the near future. The economic situation is one of the causes.
‘Honestly, since 2024 I have felt the economic situation in Indonesia is increasingly uncertain, like prices are getting more expensive, the cost of living is getting higher,’ Dinda said in an interview on Tuesday (9/6/2026).
According to her, with the current price increases, it is becoming harder to live solely on a minimum wage. ‘In the past, the regional minimum wage was designed for living alone. Now, even the minimum wage feels tight just to live by yourself,’ she said.
Beyond her monthly food costs, Dinda admitted she spends extra money on other needs. ‘For example, recently the price of motor oil went up sharply. Usually, servicing my motorbike costs around Rp160,000 to Rp170,000, but recently it was nearly Rp200,000,’ she stated.
Furthermore, for her automatic scooter, Dinda has switched from Pertamax Turbo to regular Pertamax. ‘Initially I used Pertamax Turbo, which was more economical and could last up to two weeks. I was forced to switch to regular Pertamax, which runs out after a week, because the price of Pertamax Turbo went up so much,’ she said.
Under the pressure of living costs, Dinda feels unsure about marriage. ‘When you are married, you are no longer living alone. If our own finances are still uncertain, it will definitely affect the household situation,’ she said.
Dinda also admitted she often sees social media posts sharing how economic conditions heavily influence domestic harmony. Many have experienced marital breakdowns due to financial issues. ‘There are many stories on social media that factor into my considerations,’ Dinda said. She projects she will marry after the age of 30, but is unwilling to become a full-time housewife. ‘I want my husband to have money, and I want to have money too. I cannot depend on a man. I am afraid that if he leaves me, I will have nothing,’ she added.