Economic Growth in Bengkulu Remains Stable and Positive in the Second Quarter of 2026
Bengkulu, (August 5) – The Bengkulu Province Statistics Indonesia (BPS) released data today regarding economic growth for the second quarter of 2026. Amidst the volatility of the global economy and international trade, Bengkulu Province’s economy demonstrated optimism by recording positive growth. The economy of Bengkulu Province grew by 5.11 percent, surpassing the 4.72 percent growth recorded in the second quarter of 2025.
Growth occurred across nearly all business sectors, with the exception of Mining and Quarrying, which experienced a contraction of 13.91 percent. The three sectors showing the highest growth were Accommodation and Food & Beverage Services (16.86 percent), followed by Financial and Insurance Services (10.87 percent) and Construction (10.09 percent). Meanwhile, the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries sector—which plays a dominant role—grew by 3.67 percent.
In terms of sectoral share of the total Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), the three largest sectors were Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (31.33 percent); Wholesale and Retail Trade (13.22 percent); and Transportation and Warehousing (9.85 percent). Conversely, the three sectors with the smallest shares were Electricity and Gas Supply (0.09 percent), Water Supply (0.17 percent), and Other Services (0.96 percent).
Spatially, the economic structure of Sumatra Island in the second quarter of 2026 was dominated by North Sumatra Province, which contributed 23.37 percent to the island's total GRDP, followed by Riau Province (23.33 percent) and South Sumatra (13.64 percent). Meanwhile, Bengkulu Province contributes 2.15 percent to the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Sumatra Island.
Sumatra Island's economy grew by 5.06 percent (year-on-year) in the second quarter of 2026. Spatially, the Riau Islands Province recorded the highest growth on the island at 6.99 percent, while the Bangka Belitung Islands Province recorded the lowest at 4.01 percent. Bengkulu Province ranked fourth among the ten provinces on Sumatra Island, with a year-on-year growth rate of 5.11 percent.
Decline in the Percentage of the Poor Population
In March 2026, the poor population in Bengkulu Province (defined as individuals with monthly per capita expenditure below the Poverty Line) totaled 250.11 thousand people, or 11.83 percent. This represents a decrease of 0.10 thousand people (or 0.05 percentage points) compared to September 2025, when the figure stood at 250.19 thousand people (11.88 percent).
In March 2025, the average poverty line in Bengkulu Province was recorded at Rp735,745 per capita per month. Given an average household size of 4.55 members, the average poverty line per household amounted to Rp3,347,640 per poor household per month.
The poverty rate stood at 11.37 percent in rural areas and 12.73 percent in urban areas. Compared to September 2025, the poverty rate in rural areas increased, while the rate in urban areas decreased.
The food commodities contributing the most to the Poverty Line were generally similar in both urban and rural areas. Rice continues to make the largest contribution, accounting for 19.38 percent in urban areas and 21.61 percent in rural areas. Filtered *kretek* (clove) cigarettes make the second-largest contribution to the Poverty Line (15.30 percent in urban areas and 12.52 percent in rural areas). Other commodities include commercial chicken meat (5.11 percent in urban areas and 3.64 percent in rural areas), commercial chicken eggs (4.14 percent in urban areas and 3.25 percent in rural areas), red chili peppers (3.62 percent in urban areas and 3.83 percent in rural areas), mackerel tuna/skipjack tuna (3.08 percent in urban areas and 3.13 percent in rural areas), and so on.
The non-food commodities contributing the most to both urban and rural poverty lines are housing (8.28 percent in urban areas and 9.77 percent in rural areas), gasoline (3.51 percent in urban areas and 3.88 percent in rural areas), and electricity (3.13 percent in urban areas and 2.18 percent in rural areas). Next in line is the contribution from education, followed by others.
Compared to September 2025, the Poverty Gap Index (P1) in March 2026 increased in both urban and rural areas. This indicates that the average expenditure gap of the poor population relative to the poverty line has widened in both urban and rural areas. The Poverty Severity Index (P2) also rose in urban and rural areas during the same period. This means that expenditure distribution inequality among the poor population in urban and rural areas has increased.
Inequality level in Bengkulu Province rises
BPS also recorded an increase in the inequality level in Bengkulu Province. The inequality level is measured...
