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  1. Indonesia
  2. ›
  3. Social cohesion, poverty & inequality

Free meals: Prabowo’s flagship programme put to the budget test

Launched in January 2025, the « Makan Bergizi Gratis » programme is to serve a free meal to schoolchildren, pregnant women and young children. Contested in the street, trimmed twice in June 2026 and suspended during school holidays, it weighs on a budget bound by a legal deficit cap. What the figures on child nutrition and public finances say.

Citoyen·Data as of Nov 12, 2026

Scope: Indonesia, World Bank nutrition indicators (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank joint estimates; FAO; WHO), general government budget according to the IMF (published years only), rupiahs per dollar (IMF).

This dossier is updated at least once a quarter with the new figures. Follow it to get a notification at each update.

Key points

Children under 5 who are stunted23%in 2024, against 37% in 2010
Public deficit2.9% of GDPin 2025, for a legal cap of 3% of GDP
Public revenue13.3% of GDPin 2025
Rupiahs per dollar17,984 rupiahsOct. 2026, against 15,541 rupiahs in Oct. 2024
  • Stunting is falling but remains common. 23% of children under 5 are too short for their age in 2024, against 37% in 2010. Indonesia is now close to the world average (23%).
  • Other deficiencies persist. 8% of young children are too thin for their height in 2023, and 38% of children aged 6 months to 5 years were anaemic in 2019, the latest published year.
  • Hunger in the broad sense is rare. Moderate or severe food insecurity affects 4% of the population in 2024, far below the world average (28%); undernourishment, 6%.
  • A budget under constraint. The public deficit reaches 2.9% of GDP in 2025, close to the legal cap of 3% of GDP, with low revenue: 13.3% of GDP of GDP, against 19.4% of GDP in 2008.
  • A rupiah at its lowest. It took 17,984 rupiahs to buy a dollar in Oct. 2026, 16% more than in Oct. 2024, the month Prabowo Subianto took office.
How to read these figures

Stunting (too short for one’s age) measures chronic malnutrition; wasting (too thin for one’s height), acute malnutrition. Stunting values are estimates modelled by UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank from national surveys, comparable across years and countries; wasting follows the surveys themselves. Food insecurity is measured by the FAO with a questionnaire on access to food.

The budget is that of general government, published by the IMF. Indonesia’s 2003 State Finances Law caps the deficit at 3% of GDP, a cap suspended from 2020 to 2022 during the pandemic. The cost of the free meals programme itself is not drawn: no primary budget document (budget law, financial note, audit office report) could be read, and Citoyen does not reuse amounts quoted in the press.

1. Child nutrition

The programme targets child malnutrition first. Stunting has fallen sharply since 2010, but still affects nearly one child in four.

Children under 5 who are stunted

UNICEF, WHO, World Bank joint estimates, as a percentage of children under 5.

  • World
  • Indonesia

Source:World Bank (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Joint Malnutrition Estimates)

Show the chart data
PeriodIndonesiaWorld
200039.8%33.1%
200139.6%32.7%
200239.6%32.4%
200339.6%32.0%
200439.6%31.6%
200539.6%31.2%
200639.6%30.7%
200739.3%30.1%
200838.7%29.4%
200938.0%28.7%
201037.0%27.9%
201135.8%27.1%
201234.6%26.4%
201333.5%25.8%
201432.2%25.2%
201531.0%24.6%
201629.8%24.1%
201728.5%23.5%
201827.3%23.0%
201926.1%22.6%
202025.1%22.4%
202124.3%22.4%
202223.7%22.6%
202323.1%22.9%
202422.6%23.2%

Children under 5 who are wasted

Too thin for their height, from national surveys. Latest year: 2023.

Source:World Bank (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Joint Malnutrition Estimates)

Show the chart data
PeriodIndonesia
20005.5%
20015.4%
200414.4%
200814.8%
201012.3%
201313.5%
201810.5%
20198.6%
20217.1%
20227.5%
20238.4%

Anaemia among children aged 6 months to 5 years

WHO estimates, published up to 2019.

  • World
  • Indonesia

Source:World Bank (WHO)

Show the chart data
PeriodIndonesiaWorld
200043.9%48.9%
200143.0%48.1%
200242.1%47.5%
200341.2%46.9%
200440.5%46.3%
200539.8%45.7%
200639.1%45.1%
200738.5%44.4%
200837.9%43.7%
200937.5%43.0%
201037.1%42.4%
201136.9%41.9%
201236.9%41.5%
201337.0%41.2%
201437.2%40.9%
201537.5%40.7%
201637.8%40.5%
201738.0%40.4%
201838.2%40.4%
201938.4%40.5%

2. Hunger and food insecurity

Across the whole population, access to food is better than on world average: Indonesia’s problem lies more in the quality of children’s diets than in a lack of calories.

Food insecurity and undernourishment

FAO, as a percentage of the population; three-year averages.

  • Undernourishment, Indonesia
  • Food insecurity, world
  • Food insecurity, Indonesia

Source:World Bank (FAO)

Show the chart data
PeriodFood insecurity, IndonesiaFood insecurity, worldUndernourishment, Indonesia
2001––18.1%
2002––18.1%
2003––18.0%
2004––18.2%
2005––18.4%
2006––18.1%
2007––17.5%
2008––16.5%
2009––15.0%
2010––12.9%
2011––10.9%
2012––9.5%
2013––8.3%
2014–21.1%7.8%
20156.0%21.4%7.1%
20167.3%22.4%6.6%
20177.6%23.5%6.0%
20187.0%24.6%6.0%
20195.8%25.0%6.4%
20205.1%28.8%6.6%
20214.9%28.9%6.7%
20224.7%28.5%6.6%
20234.5%28.4%6.5%
20244.2%28.0%6.3%

3. The budget that must pay for it

Indonesia’s public revenue is among the lowest of large economies. After the peak of 6.1% of GDP in 2020, the deficit returned below the legal cap, then moved closer to it.

Public revenue and spending

General government, as a percentage of GDP (IMF).

  • Spending
  • Revenue

Source:International Monetary Fund

Show the chart data
PeriodRevenueSpending
200517.9% of GDP17.4% of GDP
200618.9% of GDP18.4% of GDP
200717.8% of GDP18.7% of GDP
200819.4% of GDP19.4% of GDP
200915.4% of GDP17.0% of GDP
201015.6% of GDP16.9% of GDP
201117.0% of GDP17.7% of GDP
201217.2% of GDP18.8% of GDP
201316.9% of GDP18.8% of GDP
201416.6% of GDP18.4% of GDP
201514.9% of GDP17.6% of GDP
201614.4% of GDP16.9% of GDP
201714.2% of GDP16.4% of GDP
201814.9% of GDP16.6% of GDP
201914.3% of GDP16.4% of GDP
202012.4% of GDP18.4% of GDP
202113.7% of GDP18.1% of GDP
202215.0% of GDP17.3% of GDP
202315.0% of GDP16.6% of GDP
202414.6% of GDP16.9% of GDP
202513.3% of GDP16.2% of GDP

Public balance

As a percentage of GDP. The dotted line marks the legal deficit cap, 3% of GDP.

Source:International Monetary Fund

Show the chart data
PeriodPublic balance
20050.5% of GDP
20060.5% of GDP
2007−1.0% of GDP
20080.1% of GDP
2009−1.6% of GDP
2010−1.2% of GDP
2011−0.7% of GDP
2012−1.6% of GDP
2013−2.0% of GDP
2014−1.8% of GDP
2015−2.7% of GDP
2016−2.6% of GDP
2017−2.3% of GDP
2018−1.7% of GDP
2019−2.1% of GDP
2020−6.1% of GDP
2021−4.4% of GDP
2022−2.3% of GDP
2023−1.6% of GDP
2024−2.3% of GDP
2025−2.9% of GDP

4. The rupiah

A weaker rupiah makes imports dearer, food included. Its lowest point was reached in Jul. 2026 (18,008 rupiahs).

Rupiahs per dollar, monthly average

A rising curve means a weaker rupiah.

Source:International Monetary Fund

Show the chart data
PeriodRupiahs per dollar
Jan. 201512,579 rupiahs
Feb. 201512,750 rupiahs
Mar. 201513,067 rupiahs
Apr. 201512,948 rupiahs
May 201513,141 rupiahs
Jun. 201513,313 rupiahs
Jul. 201513,375 rupiahs
Aug. 201513,782 rupiahs
Sep. 201514,396 rupiahs
Oct. 201513,796 rupiahs
Nov. 201513,673 rupiahs
Dec. 201513,855 rupiahs
Jan. 201613,889 rupiahs
Feb. 201613,516 rupiahs
Mar. 201613,193 rupiahs
Apr. 201613,180 rupiahs
May 201613,420 rupiahs
Jun. 201613,355 rupiahs
Jul. 201613,119 rupiahs
Aug. 201613,165 rupiahs
Sep. 201613,118 rupiahs
Oct. 201613,017 rupiahs
Nov. 201613,311 rupiahs
Dec. 201613,418 rupiahs
Jan. 201713,359 rupiahs
Feb. 201713,341 rupiahs
Mar. 201713,346 rupiahs
Apr. 201713,306 rupiahs
May 201713,323 rupiahs
Jun. 201713,298 rupiahs
Jul. 201713,342 rupiahs
Aug. 201713,342 rupiahs
Sep. 201713,303 rupiahs
Oct. 201713,526 rupiahs
Nov. 201713,527 rupiahs
Dec. 201713,556 rupiahs
Jan. 201813,380 rupiahs
Feb. 201813,590 rupiahs
Mar. 201813,758 rupiahs
Apr. 201813,803 rupiahs
May 201814,060 rupiahs
Jun. 201814,036 rupiahs
Jul. 201814,415 rupiahs
Aug. 201814,560 rupiahs
Sep. 201814,869 rupiahs
Oct. 201815,179 rupiahs
Nov. 201814,697 rupiahs
Dec. 201814,497 rupiahs
Jan. 201914,163 rupiahs
Feb. 201914,035 rupiahs
Mar. 201914,211 rupiahs
Apr. 201914,143 rupiahs
May 201914,393 rupiahs
Jun. 201914,227 rupiahs
Jul. 201914,044 rupiahs
Aug. 201914,242 rupiahs
Sep. 201914,111 rupiahs
Oct. 201914,118 rupiahs
Nov. 201914,069 rupiahs
Dec. 201914,017 rupiahs
Jan. 202013,732 rupiahs
Feb. 202013,776 rupiahs
Mar. 202015,195 rupiahs
Apr. 202015,867 rupiahs
May 202014,906 rupiahs
Jun. 202014,196 rupiahs
Jul. 202014,582 rupiahs
Aug. 202014,725 rupiahs
Sep. 202014,848 rupiahs
Oct. 202014,749 rupiahs
Nov. 202014,237 rupiahs
Dec. 202014,173 rupiahs
Jan. 202114,062 rupiahs
Feb. 202114,042 rupiahs
Mar. 202114,417 rupiahs
Apr. 202114,558 rupiahs
May 202114,323 rupiahs
Jun. 202114,338 rupiahs
Jul. 202114,511 rupiahs
Aug. 202114,398 rupiahs
Sep. 202114,257 rupiahs
Oct. 202114,198 rupiahs
Nov. 202114,264 rupiahs
Dec. 202114,329 rupiahs
Jan. 202214,335 rupiahs
Feb. 202214,351 rupiahs
Mar. 202214,349 rupiahs
Apr. 202214,369 rupiahs
May 202214,608 rupiahs
Jun. 202214,689 rupiahs
Jul. 202214,984 rupiahs
Aug. 202214,851 rupiahs
Sep. 202214,972 rupiahs
Oct. 202215,417 rupiahs
Nov. 202215,659 rupiahs
Dec. 202215,615 rupiahs
Jan. 202315,295 rupiahs
Feb. 202315,126 rupiahs
Mar. 202315,301 rupiahs
Apr. 202314,867 rupiahs
May 202314,811 rupiahs
Jun. 202314,932 rupiahs
Jul. 202315,040 rupiahs
Aug. 202315,245 rupiahs
Sep. 202315,354 rupiahs
Oct. 202315,741 rupiahs
Nov. 202315,617 rupiahs
Dec. 202315,513 rupiahs
Jan. 202415,611 rupiahs
Feb. 202415,665 rupiahs
Mar. 202415,703 rupiahs
Apr. 202416,100 rupiahs
May 202416,084 rupiahs
Jun. 202416,329 rupiahs
Jul. 202416,262 rupiahs
Aug. 202415,793 rupiahs
Sep. 202415,341 rupiahs
Oct. 202415,541 rupiahs
Nov. 202415,812 rupiahs
Dec. 202416,024 rupiahs
Jan. 202516,262 rupiahs
Feb. 202516,338 rupiahs
Mar. 202516,456 rupiahs
Apr. 202516,820 rupiahs
May 202516,441 rupiahs
Jun. 202516,311 rupiahs
Jul. 202516,276 rupiahs
Aug. 202516,309 rupiahs
Sep. 202516,512 rupiahs
Oct. 202516,607 rupiahs
Nov. 202516,703 rupiahs
Dec. 202516,699 rupiahs
Jan. 202616,828 rupiahs
Feb. 202616,826 rupiahs
Mar. 202616,912 rupiahs
Apr. 202617,141 rupiahs
May 202617,546 rupiahs
Jun. 202617,923 rupiahs
Jul. 202618,008 rupiahs
Aug. 202617,849 rupiahs
Sep. 202617,743 rupiahs
Oct. 202617,984 rupiahs

What we know, what we don’t

What the figures establish

  • Child stunting has fallen markedly since 2010 and is now close to the world average.
  • Food insecurity in the population is low compared with the rest of the world.
  • The public deficit has moved closer to the legal cap, with low revenue, and the rupiah has weakened.

What they don’t tell

  • The actual cost of the programme and its execution: no primary budget document could be read.
  • The programme’s effect on nutrition: these series stop before it can be measured and do not separate its effect from other factors.
  • How meals are split between schools, regions and target groups.

Stay up to date

This dossier is updated at least once a quarter with the new figures. Follow it to get a notification at each update.

Sources

Series downloaded from their producers on Nov 12, 2026, the snapshot date. Only published periods are used: no projection.

  • International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook: general government revenue, expenditure and net lending (% of GDP), actual years only
  • International Monetary Fund Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs per US dollar, period average (ER)
  • World Bank (FAO) Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity, % of population (SN.ITK.MSFI.ZS)
  • World Bank (FAO) Prevalence of undernourishment, % of population (SN.ITK.DEFC.ZS)
  • World Bank (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Joint Malnutrition Estimates) Prevalence of stunting, height for age, modelled estimate, % of children under 5 (SH.STA.STNT.ME.ZS)
  • World Bank (UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Joint Malnutrition Estimates) Prevalence of wasting, weight for height, % of children under 5 (SH.STA.WAST.ZS)
  • World Bank (WHO) Prevalence of anaemia among children, % of children aged 6-59 months (SH.ANM.CHLD.ZS)