Yogyakarta's Poverty Rate Above National Average, Sultan HB X's Response
The Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, revealed that the number of poor residents in his region still reaches 422,790 people, equivalent to 10.08% as of September 2025.
Although this figure shows a declining trend compared to March 2025 data, the Sultan highlighted that the poverty percentage in DIY remains above the national average.
The Sultan instructed regional heads and the bureaucracy not to merely carry out routine work that exhausts the budget. Instead, they should focus on the effectiveness of programmes that directly impact welfare.
“Do not just continue existing programmes without critically evaluating their relevance and impact on society,” said the Sultan during the DIY Development Planning Consultation Forum (Musrenbang) for 2027 with regional heads on Thursday, 23 April 2026.
The Sultan assessed that the government can no longer use conventional approaches in compiling programmes without considering the dynamics of field challenges.
The Sultan explained the main challenges that must be addressed immediately, including income inequality and disparities between urban and rural areas.
Amid projections of DIY’s regional expenditure reaching Rp 4.59 trillion, the Sultan reminded the importance of the value for money principle. Every rupiah spent must have strong justification and clear results for improving residents’ quality of life. “Planning without proper execution will only become a document on the table,” he said.
The DIY government itself has set a target for 2027 to reduce the poverty rate to around 8.5% to 9.5% and lower the Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) to 3.06% to 3.38%. “An out-of-the-box mindset must be prioritised,” he said.
The Secretary of DIY, Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti, stated that poverty alleviation efforts will focus on strengthening the economy in the southern region, covering Bantul, Kulon Progo, and Gunungkidul.
It is hoped that the economic contribution from these regions can increase to 40.24% through investment optimisation and kalurahan reform as a driver of the local economy.
“Regarding underperforming aspects, we have formulated acceleration strategies. For example, for the Happiness Index, interventions will be carried out through strengthening social capital and more optimal social services for vulnerable groups,” said Ni Made.