A recent CELIOS study titled “Indonesia Inequality Report 2024: Private Jets for the Rich, Bicycles for the Poor” finds that inequality in Indonesia has reached a point where the wealth of the country’s 50 richest people is equal to that of 50 million Indonesians. Within the next six years, Indonesia will have its first quadrillionaire in history. At the same time, it will take 133 years to eradicate poverty in Indonesia.
In addition to revealing the widening gap between classes, which is being allowed to grow, this CELIOS study also finds that extractive industries contribute significantly to Indonesia’s severe inequality. The report finds that half of Indonesia’s 50 richest people are affiliated with extractive-industry businesses. Although these giant industries are major contributors to government revenue through taxes and royalties, the proceeds of their activities often flow to only a handful of the country’s elite.
The country’s inequality nightmare does not end there: key figures in the extractive industries are also widely known to the public. Four ministers among those with assets exceeding IDR 1 billion benefit from the mining industry. This points to monopolistic access that facilitates income accumulation for public officials.
More troubling still, a number of Indonesia’s trillionaires hold positions in the second-term cabinet of President Joko Widodo. Seven ministers, or 17% of the cabinet, are recorded as having assets worth more than IDR 1 trillion. From 2019 to 2023, ministers in President Joko Widodo’s second-term cabinet had average wealth of IDR 478.17 billion per person. If allocated to the free nutritious meals program, the ministers’ combined wealth could provide meals to 32.85 million children across Indonesia.
The country’s painful inequality is also reinforced by corporate power, which continues to benefit capital owners at the expense of workers. At many large companies, executive compensation packages often far exceed ordinary workers’ wages and contribute to substantial wealth accumulation. Workers, by contrast, receive wages without significant additional incentives.
While the government continues to nurture the nation’s trillionaires, ordinary people are left to endure the bitterness of life on the margins. One contract teacher in a border region shared, “Every day, I have to cross to another island, a journey of about 20 minutes. Once, the boat nearly capsized. I have only been paid IDR 100,000 for every three months of work. Here, I have come to understand that education is easier to talk about than to teach.”
This report is presented with hope for a just, inequality-free life for the people of Indonesia. The government can and should take many steps to narrow the gap between classes. Improving welfare by prioritizing people and ecology is a prerequisite for achieving a fair and equitable economy.
A recent CELIOS study titled “Indonesia Inequality Report 2024: Private Jets for the Rich, Bicycles for the Poor” reveals that inequality in Indonesia has reached a level where the wealth of the 50 richest individuals equals that of 50 million Indonesians. In the next six years, Indonesia is expected to have its first quadrillionaire, while it will take 133 years to eradicate poverty.
The study also highlights the role of extractive industries in exacerbating inequality. Half of the 50 wealthiest Indonesians are affiliated with these sectors. While extractive industries are major contributors to government revenue through taxes and royalties, the benefits largely flow to a small elite. Key figures in these industries are also public officials—four ministers with assets exceeding IDR 1 billion profit from mining and other extractive sectors, showing monopolistic access that enables wealth accumulation for public officeholders. Shockingly, 17% of ministers in President Joko Widodo’s second-term cabinet are trillionaires, with an average wealth of IDR 478.17 billion per minister from 2019 to 2023—enough, if redistributed, to provide free nutritious meals to 32.85 million children.
Corporate power further entrenches this inequality, as executive compensation far exceeds that of ordinary workers, contributing to massive wealth accumulation while employees receive minimal wages and few incentives. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens bear the brunt of marginalization. A contract teacher in a border region shared, “I cross the island for 20 minutes daily, and once the boat nearly capsized. I’ve only been paid IDR 100,000 for three months. Here, I realized that education is more spoken about than actually taught.”
The report is presented with hope for a fair, equitable Indonesia. CELIOS emphasizes that government action can narrow class gaps, and that prioritizing human welfare and ecological sustainability is essential to achieving a just and inclusive economy.
Inequality Report 2024 - Bahasa Download
Inequality Report 2024 - English Download
Private Jets for the Rich, Bicycles for the Poor_Statistical Summary in Document_Ind Download
Private Jets for the Rich, Bicycles for the Poor_Methodology_Ind Download