Prabowo Questions Airlangga on Government Debt: Among the Lowest in the World?

President Prabowo Subianto questioned the details of the government’s debt situation whilst listening to a presentation by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto regarding the government’s debt position.

Initially, Airlangga stated that the government’s external debt level remained low at 29.9% of gross domestic product as of Friday, 13 March 2026.

“Below 30% sir, as of today,” Airlangga told Prabowo during a full cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday, 13 March 2026.

Upon hearing this statement, Prabowo appeared surprised and questioned whether the government debt level was declining. “This is decreasing, is it?” he asked.

Hearing the Head of State’s surprise, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, who was also present at the meeting, interjected to clarify that this figure represented only external debt.

Prabowo then asked what the combined total would be when domestic debt was included as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).

Airlangga and Purbaya responded in unison that total central government debt, when combined, amounted to approximately 40% of GDP. Prabowo responded by noting that this debt level meant Indonesia remained among the lowest in the world.

“Still among the lowest in the world,” Prabowo stated.