The BPS building in Jakarta. Credit: Antara News/Dewa Wiguna
reporter: Dendi Siswanto, Siti Masitoh
KONTAN.CO.ID – JAKARTACriticism of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) is growing, particularly regarding the accuracy of recently released economic and poverty data.
On August 8, 2025, the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) sent a letter to the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the United Nations Statistical Commission.
The letter requested an investigation and review of the reported 2025% economic growth data for the second quarter of 5,12.
CELIOS Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira assessed that the BPS data was not relevant to other macroeconomic indicators, such as the manufacturing index and the increase in mass layoffs.
"Data that is not synchronized must of course be answered transparently," he said.
Paramadina University economists also asked BPS to transparently disclose the methodology and assumptions for calculating gross domestic product (GDP), including data sources, sector weightings, and verifiable estimation methods.
According to them, data inconsistencies with conditions on the ground can cause the public to lose their bearings and pose a risk of misdirection in national economic policy.
The Prakarsa Institute criticized the poverty rate calculation method used by the Statistics Indonesia (BPS). The Prakarsa Social Policy Researcher, Pierre Bernando Ballo, stated that BPS still relies on a monetary-based method, measuring the food and non-food poverty line, or the cost of basic needs.
"This method is quite outdated and hasn't been changed in almost three decades. Yet, people's consumption patterns, deprivation, and other factors contributing to poverty have changed," he said.
Sigmaphi Indonesia also released findings that in 2023, 42,9% of Indonesia's population, or approximately 118,73 million people, would still be living in inadequate conditions.
This calculation uses a basic rights-based approach, different from the basic needs approach used by BPS.
Sigmaphi recommends that the government amend official indicators of well-being to include basic rights, and prioritize the provision of food and housing.
source: Kontan.co.id