BPS Sulbar Records Decrease in Level of Population Expenditure Inequality

Mamuju, January 15, 2025 – The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) of West Sulawesi Province delivered good news regarding the socio-economic conditions of the people of West Sulawesi. Based on the results of the latest survey, BPS recorded a decrease in the level of population expenditure inequality in September 2024.

Head of BPS West Sulawesi Province, Tina Wahyufitri, in her press release today, revealed that the Gini Ratio, as the main indicator for measuring the level of inequality, decreased by 0.024 points compared to the March 2024 period. This decrease indicates an improvement in income distribution among the people of West Sulawesi.

Furthermore, Tina explained that this decrease in inequality occurred in both urban and rural areas. In urban areas, the decrease in the Gini Ratio was more significant, reaching 0.052 points. This indicates a more effective effort to reduce the gap between the rich and poor in urban areas.

"The decline in inequality is encouraging news. This means that the efforts of the government and various parties to improve the welfare of the community, especially the poor, have shown positive results," said Tina.

More Even Distribution of Expenditure

In addition to the decline in the Gini Ratio, BPS also noted an increase in the distribution of expenditure for the bottom 40 percent of the population. This figure shows that the poor have a larger portion of total community expenditure.

"This increase in the distribution of expenditure indicates that efforts to reduce poverty and improve the welfare of the poor have gone well," added Tina.

Causal Factors and Future Challenges

Although there has been a decline in the level of inequality, BPS also reminded that there are still a number of challenges that need to be overcome. Several factors that can affect the level of inequality include economic growth, asset distribution, and access to education and health.

To maintain the momentum of reducing inequality, BPS recommends that the government continue to strive to increase inclusive economic growth, strengthen social protection programs, and increase public access to education and health.