President Prabowo: Seven Years of 5% Growth Yet Poverty and Middle-Class Decline Persist

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto has highlighted a phenomenon he described as an anomaly in the national economy, where economic growth of 5 per cent per year in recent years has not been accompanied by an increase in public welfare.

In his address during the closing of the 2026 National Consultative Assembly of Nahdlatul Ulants Ulama Clerics in Bangkalan Regency, East Java, on Tuesday, President Prabowo stated that, in theory, an annual economic growth of approximately 5 per cent over seven years should have resulted in a significant increase in societal prosperity.

“Over the last seven years, it has been said that our economy has grown by 5 per cent each year. Seven years multiplied by five means 35 per cent growth. Logically, over seven years, Indonesia should be 35 per cent wealthier,” said Prabowo, as monitored via the Presidential Secretariat broadcast in Jakarta on Tuesday.

However, the President continued, the data received shows a different reality.

The President stated that the existing economic growth has not yet been enjoyed evenly by all layers of society.

“The reality is that after seven years of 5 per cent growth, the number of poor people has increased. The state becomes wealthier, but the poor increase. This is something strange, an anomaly. The middle class, which had previously escaped poverty, is now declining,” he explained.

According to Prabowo, this condition serves as a signal that the benefits of economic growth are being enjoyed primarily by certain groups.

The President emphasised that economic development must be capable of creating equitable welfare and expanding the benefits of growth for all Indonesian people.

“We can see that this means our system is flawed. This system is flawed because if the poor increase and the middle class decreases, it means only a handful of people are enjoying this growth,” he explained.

President Prabowo added that his administration will strive to improve various policies so that economic growth can be felt more fairly and equitably by the community.

According to Prabowo, Indonesia’s independence ideals are to realise social justice and prosperity for all people, ensuring that economic growth is felt fairly and evenly.

“This is what I believe in and this is what I will work on, to fulfil my oath to the people to protect the interests of the people, in accordance with the oath I took when I was inaugurated,” said President Prabowo.