BPS Attributes Decile Polemic to Inaccurate Data

September 12, 2026 | 03:47 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Statistics Indonesia (BPS) Director of Statistics Methodology and Data Science, Setia Pramana, stated that decile inaccuracies stem from outdated data that is currently awaiting updates. Fresh data updates are essential to ensure government social assistance reaches targeted beneficiaries.

Deciles serve as welfare classifications recorded within the Socio-Economic Single Data (DSTEN) system. "So, there are instances that do not match an individual's true decile because the data is not yet accurate," Setia said following a discussion on decile classification and poverty metrics at the STIS Statistics Polytechnic in East Jakarta on Friday, September 11, 2026.

He explained that while BPS measures data through expenditure estimation, it does not rely on spending alone. Instead, measurement indicators incorporate more than 40 variables, including housing conditions, asset ownership, household demographics, and access to sanitation.

Setia acknowledged that calculation models and underlying data still contain margins for error. The current inclusion and exclusion error rate stands at 23 percent, meaning ineligible individuals are sometimes listed as recipients while eligible candidates are omitted. However, he noted that this figure represents a significant drop from the previous 37 percent error rate.

According to Setia, several factors contribute to data errors, including outdated records, misclassification, and challenging geographical terrain. Furthermore, the primary driver of discrepancies occurs when distribution targets surpass established quotas.

Currently, BPS, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and other ministries are working to minimize errors within data sets and statistical models. "How we can refine the model and obtain accurate, updated data remains our ongoing homework," he said.

The issue previously sparked public outcry following reports that several members of the House of Representatives (DPR) were listed under decile 4, a category designated for the lowest 40 percent economic bracket. Households falling within deciles 1 through 4 typically qualify for government aid programs.

Clarifying the controversy, BPS emphasized that deciles serve as relative measures of welfare rather than fixed expenditure thresholds, as economic characteristics vary across regions.

Read: How Far Has BPS Progressed in Revising Indonesia's Poverty Standard?

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