West Sulawesi's Economic Growth Strengthens Amid Population Dynamics Heading for a Demographic Bonus

Mamuju, May 5, 2026 — BPS-Statistics of Sulawesi Barat Province has released the latest economic and social indicators, encompassing the first-quarter economic growth for 2026, the labor force condition as of February 2026, the 2025 Gender Inequality Index (GII), and the results of the 2025 Intercensal Population Survey (SUPAS 2025). The Head of BPS Sulawesi Barat, Suri Handayani, stated that the province continues to show stable macro-economic growth complemented by a productive demographic structure.

Sulawesi Barat Economy Grows by 5.33 Percent Supported by the Agriculture Sector

The economy of Sulawesi Barat in the first quarter of 2026, measured by Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at current prices, reached 17.78 trillion IDR, while at constant 2010 prices, it reached 9.67 trillion IDR. On a year-on-year basis, the economy grew by 5.33 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Although a seasonal contraction of 5.58 percent was observed on a quarter-to-quarter basis, the economic structure remains robust, dominated by Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing which contributes 47.28 percent. From the expenditure side, Household Consumption continues to be the primary driver, accounting for 49.55 percent of the GRDP.

Strengthening Labor Market: Employment Rises and Unemployment Declines

The labor force condition in February 2026 showed encouraging performance with the labor force reaching 825.43 thousand people out of a total working-age population of 1,119.21 thousand. The number of employed persons reached 801.23 thousand, representing an increase of 36.61 thousand people compared to February 2025. This growth contributed to a low Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) of 2.93 percent. While the informal sector remains dominant at 71.77 percent, the agriculture sector continues to be the largest employer, absorbing 50.83 percent of the labor force.

Gender Inequality Declines as Social Quality Improves

Social development progress is reflected in the 2025 Gender Inequality Index (GII) for Sulawesi Barat, which was recorded at 0.459. This figure represents a significant decrease of 0.032 points from the 0.491 recorded in 2024. Such a decline indicates a narrowing gap between men and women across the dimensions of reproductive health, empowerment, and economic participation. Despite this improvement, challenges remain regarding labor market participation, as the Labor Force Participation Rate (TPAK) for men at 86.29 percent significantly outweighs that for women at 60.87 percent.

Demographic Dynamics of SUPAS 2025: Fertility Trends and Bonus Demography Opportunities

The results of the 2026 05 05 - 34 Hasil Survei Penduduk Antar Sensus (SUPAS 2025).pdf indicate that Sulawesi Barat is well-positioned to capitalize on the demographic bonus, as the dependency ratio has decreased to 49.12. The population is currently dominated by Gen Z at 28.14 percent and Millennials at 23.65 percent. Fertility trends show the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined to 2.50, nearing the replacement level, while the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) improved to 25.70 per 1,000 live births. Regional mobility also remains dynamic, with Pasangkayu, Mamuju Tengah, and Mamasa recording positive net recent migration. Furthermore, although the elderly population rose to 8.81 percent, accessibility to health insurance is high, with 85.82 percent of the elderly covered.

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Haryo Satriaji

Public Relations, BPS-Statistics Sulawesi Barat Province

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