印尼中产阶级规模不断缩小：他们为何苦苦挣扎？

The growing middle class was once considered the engine of Indonesia's leap to upper-middle income status. But 2024 revealed a startling statistic - the middle class in the world's fourth most populous nation is shrinking, even as its economy grows at a healthy 5%. Compared to 2019's numbers, over nine million Indonesians fell out of the middle class.
What lies behind this drop? Is it simply the long-tail effect of COVID-19, or have taxation, inflation and inequality changed what it means to be middle class in Indonesia? And with a new president at the helm, promising an 8% GDP growth, will the middle class be lifted by Prabowo's economic plans, or dragged down by them?

曾经蓬勃发展的中产阶级一度被视为印尼跃升至中高收入国家的引擎。然而2024年的统计数据令人震惊——这个世界第四人口大国虽然保持着5%的健康经济增长，其中产阶级规模却在萎缩。与2019年相比，已有超过900万印尼人跌出了中产阶级的行列。
这一现象背后究竟隐藏着什么？仅仅是新冠疫情的长尾效应，还是税收、通胀和不平等问题重新定义了印尼中产阶级的标准？随着新总统上任并承诺实现8%的GDP增长，中产阶级会因普拉博沃的经济计划而受益，还是反而会因此陷入更艰难的处境？

@nguyennguyen-vv9nx
I watched a vid yesterday and knew that Indonesia is ranked 8th among the 10 biggest economies in the world now. But it seems the money is not fairly distributed to all people. Just like my country - Vietnam, on mainstream news we only see the positive statistic but the reality is different. Many people struggle to make ends meet. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

我昨天看视频才了解到印尼如今已位列全球十大经济体第八名，但财富显然没有公平分配给所有人。就像我的祖国越南一样，主流媒体只报道光鲜的统计数据，现实却大相径庭。许多人艰难度日，贫富差距日益扩大。

@TheDenbagus4usa
Salam dari Munchen, Jerman, untuk pak Medy Soemarto, I hope you will be lucky in the future. Gak perlu minder, karena IPK(?) tidak tinggi, tapi keberanian, keuletan, dan bermoral tinggi, bisa mendapat sukses dimasa depan. I was like him when I was young, but struggling to live during young life is normal. I do pray for you, kang Medy!!! God Bless You.

来自德国慕尼黑的问候，致Medy Soemarto先生：祝您未来好运，不必因为GPA不高而自卑，勇气、韧性和高尚品德同样能带来成功。我年轻时也经历过类似的困境，年轻时的奋斗本是人生常态。为您祈祷，Medy兄弟！愿上帝保佑您。

@Arrz97
The current government has the largest cabinet in Indonesia's history, mostly consisting of sycophants, election supporters, family members, and political allies, with many of them being incompetent in their respective fields. Their policies mostly benefit the elites, while their people are suffering.

本届政府组建了印尼史上规模最大的内阁，其中充斥着阿谀奉承者、选举支持者、家族成员和政治盟友，许多人在各自的领域内都难堪大任。他们的政策主要惠及精英阶层，而普通民众却在受苦。

@bonky221
The middle class is shrinking globally. This was caused due to pandemic and government infusing money into the economic which caused financial crisis. We are facing our generation version of The great depression.

全球的中产阶级都在萎缩，这是疫情和政府向经济注资引发金融危机的结果，我们正面临属于这一代人的"大萧条"。

@reviewdarijepang318
This is true situation of Indonesia right now... I've move to Japan since 2017 to seek Job since there's uncertainty back then. Yet it is still continue up until 2025. We really hope that the current president will bring better life to Indonesia,, one of the very important thing to tackle now is the corruption which is already happened in almost all sectors including down to Top institutions!!! Now I have no plans for returning ��...

这就是印尼当下的真实状况...我2017年就因国内的不确定性而移居日本求职。这种情况一直持续到2025年，我们真心希望现任总统能改善印尼民众的生活，当前最需要解决的就是已渗透到各个领域甚至最高机构的腐败问题！！！我现在完全没有回国的打算...

@GreaterGood2025
It's happening all over the world in every country....
In Malaysia, the middle class is being squeezed because of inflation, stagnant wages, rising housing costs. Urbanisation has led to people being crowded in Dystopian smart cities which is causing high rates of suicides like in Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

这种现象正在全球各国上演...
在马来西亚，通胀、工资停滞和住房成本上涨正在挤压中产阶级。城市化让人们涌入反乌托邦式的智能城市，这导致自杀率居高不下，就像日本、新加坡和韩国一样。

@austintylereverhard1214
This is a great documentary, CNA team! Please create a similar documentary as well for the Philippines. The case for Philippines is interesting as the middle class are being heavily taxed, while the government has just given the highest budget to dole-outs for vote buying to those people who refuse to work.

精彩的纪录片，CNA团队！请你们也为菲律宾制作类似的纪录片。菲律宾的情况很有趣，中产阶级被课以重税，而政府却将最高预算用于向不愿工作的人发放救济以换取选票。

@AnthonyTolhurst-dw1nc
The middle class in Murica were well paid semi skilled factory workers that earned enough to buy a home, car, married with children and live comfortably, with a little to save for the rainy day. Not a lot for excessive consumption. A mortgage, car payment and perhaps hire purchase for appliances, television and some decent furniture.

美国的传统中产阶级曾是收入丰厚的半熟练的工厂工人，他们能买房买车、结婚生子、舒适生活，还能存点应急钱。虽不足以过度消费，但足以支付房贷车贷，或许还能分期购买家电、电视和体面的家具。

@drewbledsoe2230
Dang, it's yet another look at Indonesia's middle-class life and their struggles. It reminds me that it's the same in Thailand and, in fact, all over Southeast Asia. The middle class is getting poorer every year.

唉，这又是一次对印尼中产阶级生活困境的观察，这让我想到泰国乃至整个东南亚地区都是如此，中产阶级正变得越来越穷。

@IzzaSaidatus-bw8nr
This all happened because of many reasons: first, the pandemic; then, government policies; and of course, the civilians. As an Indonesian, I have given my country the nickname 'the country with the least integrity.' There is a lot of corruption in Indonesia, and the law takes the side of the elites and their community instead of the public. But civilians are actually the same too, some people like to extort money.

造成这种情况的原因有很多：首先是疫情，其次是政府的政策，当然还有民众自身。作为印尼人，我给自己的国家起了个绰号叫"最缺乏诚信的国家"。印尼腐败猖獗，法律总是偏袒精英阶层而非公众。但普通民众也好不到哪去，有些人就喜欢敲诈勒索。

@XnonXte
CNA please get your stock footages up-to-date, we haven't seen those busses at 6:01 in years. Kopaja busses are pretty much 1:1 with TransJakarta busses now, they're clean and air conditioned.

CNA请更新你们的素材库，6分01秒出现的那些公交车早就淘汰了，现在的Kopaja公交车已经和TransJakarta公交车一样既干净又有空调了。

@ernstvonbohr8081
Indonesian has no future vision. Everyone just look for short term gain. Corruption. Pump and Dump.
Lack of development, trend follower even the market leaders in industries are not a national trend setter anymore.

印尼人缺乏长远眼光，人人都只顾眼前的利益，腐败盛行，投机取巧，发展滞后，就连行业领军企业也不再引领国家潮流，只会跟风。

@jasonc2029AD
Middle class like me & my family have been frugal with our weekly & daily spendings...cutting down on unnecessary buyings...eating out lesser...Inflation can be seen rising very scary after covid19 pandemic!!
but i save aside for yearly getaway & chillout with my family.

像我这样的中产阶级家庭已经开始精打细算...减少不必要的开支...少下馆子了...后疫情时代的通胀速度简直可怕！！不过我还是会存钱每年和家人一起度假放松。

@dzaki8331
in indonesia anyone who earns more than 20.000 rupiahs / day or 1.21 could be considered as middle class
but when it comes to Internation Standard you should earn atleast 2.15 $ USD a day to not fall into poverty group so when using international standard the number of people live below poverty skyrocketted

在印尼，日收入超过2万印尼盾(约1.21美元)就算中产阶级。但按国际标准，日收入至少要2.15美元才不算贫困人口。所以用国际标准衡量，印尼的贫困人口数量就暴增了。

@patrickgz
middle class size growth is another indicator of local economy besides gdp. when gdp increases but with shrinking middle class, bad times are not far away. this trend is common in most countries now.

中产阶级的规模是除GDP外的另一个重要的经济指标。当GDP增长但中产阶级萎缩时，好日子就到头了，如今这个趋势在多数国家都很普遍。

@sikachukuning2473
Indonesia leaders don't focus much on spurring manufacturing... current leadership focused too much on non-essential things, like military stuffs. The country"s enemy is internal poverty, not so much about external threat.

印尼领导人不太重视制造业的发展...现任政府过于关注军事等非必要的事务。这个国家真正的敌人是内部贫困，而非外部威胁。

@Luqi2yanto
If left unchecked, in 10 years, economic disparity may worsen, and the living standards of Indonesians could regress by several decades. It's disheartening that despite its natural wealth and demographic surplus, Indonesia is instead experiencing a decline.

若不加以控制，十年内经济差距会进一步恶化，印尼人的生活水平可能倒退几十年。令人沮丧的是尽管拥有丰富的自然资源和人口红利，印尼却在走下坡路。

@Abraham-uk4xy
You mean Singapore middle class not struggling?
Please make programs of your people's suffering across different income groups.
One tik toker was screaming insults and called Singapore a premium prison.

难道新加坡的中产阶级就没有困境吗？
请制作反映各收入阶层民众疾苦的节目。
有个TikTok博主曾怒斥新加坡是"高级监狱"。

@PmayAwas
Hey can instead of using subtitles please use voice translator because I can't focus on twice at once when I sees subtitles I can't see the pictures and when I see video can't see subtitles it's only one thing to improve otherwise I watch daily this channel and it's worth it thank you

建议使用语音翻译替代字幕，因为我无法同时关注画面和字幕。看字幕时就看不到画面，看画面时又看不到字幕。这是唯一需要改进的地方，我每天都看这个频道，内容很棒，谢谢。

@wanttowatchtv656
My partner is a local. They work so SO SO much to make ends meet. Every single day, no off days. No help, no handouts. They also are usually supporting their parents. But they never complain and always smiling. I have so much respect for them. The struggle is real.

我的伴侣是本地人。为了维持生计，他们工作非常非常辛苦。每天如此，没有休息日。没有援助，没有救济。通常还要赡养父母。但他们从不抱怨，总是面带微笑。我非常敬佩他们，生活确实不易。

@sheerluck2646
"Unlike the poor, the middle class in Indonesia do not get social support." As a Filipino, this statement resonates deeply. Middle Class are highly tax yet they don't get any financial support from the Government.

"与穷人不同，印尼的中产阶级得不到任何社会支持。"作为菲律宾人，这句话让我深有共鸣。中产阶级缴纳高额的税款，却得不到政府的任何财政支持。

@yansuyantolubis
As part of the group (Middle class Indonesian) i felt it getting harder. Post covid-19, inflation went up and many goods prices rising averagely around 50% in the last 5 years.
The main factor in grass root were struggling to find job therefore the buying force are declining.
Government failed to create job even though creating "UU Cipta Kerja" or Job creation laws. I think the regulation mostly helps owner business or conglomerate compared to labor or employee.
Start 2025 inflation hit lowest in the past 20 years. It getting hard for Indonesian middle class. We need to fight together.

作为印尼中产阶级的一员，我感觉生活越来越艰难。后疫情时代，通胀加剧，过去五年许多商品的价格上涨了约50%。
底层民众找工作困难导致购买力下降是主要的原因。
尽管出台了《就业创造法》，但政府未能创造就业机会，我认为这些法规更多是帮助企业家和财团而非普通的劳动者。
2025年初通胀率创20年新低，印尼的中产阶级处境艰难，我们需要共同抗争。

@ciptaan_ayah_ibu
As a result of parents carelessly having children without educating them or passing down skills...
Every year, 5 million babies are born. 4 million graduates are ready to work but left confused, plus the previous generations who are also a burden.

由于父母不负责任地生育却不教育或传授技能...
印尼每年有500万新生儿，400万毕业生准备就业却茫然无措，再加上前几代人也是负担。

@kmr42-g2i
There is 1 thing I noticed about CNA watching it as a foreigner from North-east Asia for 2 years - this channel loves to highlight the broadr socio-economic problems of other Asian countries yet..... Not so much about the problems in Singapore? In Korea, news channels focuses more on domestic problems than problems of other countries.

作为来自东北亚的外国观众，我注意到CNA的一个特点：这个频道热衷于报道其他亚洲国家的社会经济问题，却很少关注新加坡本土的问题？在韩国，新闻频道更关注国内问题而非他国问题。

@cheekbonesin4532
Honestly, I don't have any confidence in the new government what with the extra fat cabinet and the militaristic tendency. Golden Indonesia is just a meaningless slogan. Dark Indonesia seems to becoming more real as days go by.

老实说，我对臃肿的内阁和军事化倾向的新政府毫无信心。"黄金印尼"只是个空洞的口号。"黑暗印尼"似乎正日益成为现实。

@corpslave
Yes, the government has its share of responsibility, but we must also reflect on the financial habits within Indonesia's middle class.
Take these examples in the video:
A ride-hailing driver who chose to buy a brand-new motorcycle when a reliable secondhand one could've cost half as much.
Someone who splurges on international travel yet struggles to maintain sufficient savings.
A person without a stable income who dines at an upscale cafe, with a high-end laptop.
These choices add up. Before pointing fingers at external factors, it's important for us, as Indonesia's middle class, to reflect on our own financial priorities and decisions.

政府固然有责任，但印尼的中产阶级的消费习惯也值得反思。
比如视频中的例子：
网约车司机本可以买辆可靠的二手车省下一半的钱，却选择购买全新的摩托车。
有人豪掷千金出国旅游，却连基本的储蓄都难以维持。
收入不稳定的人在高档咖啡馆用着高端笔记本。
这些消费选择累积起来影响很大。在指责外部因素前，我们印尼的中产阶级也该反思自己的财务优先级和决策。

@concernedcitizens4110
This is why Southeast Asia is nicknamed the 'rice balkans'. Almost every country there (except for maybe Singapore) has a corruption problem, incompetent political dynasties ruling for decades and of course unhealthy dose of nationalism. Indonesia just like many of its neighbors are now facing make or break situations until people elect competent technocrats to lead them.

这就是东南亚被称为"稻米巴尔干"的原因，几乎每个国家(也许除了新加坡)都存在腐败问题、无能的世袭政治家族统治以及过度的民族主义。印尼和许多邻国一样，正处于生死存亡的关头，除非民众能选出有能力的技术官僚来领导。

@Intan_Archive
Hi, Indonesian is here.
Like some stories in the video, I also stop spending for non-primary needs.
By next week, there is EID Al Fitri celebration, usually I will spend almost 3 Millions IDR for sending hampers to all relatives. This year, I and my husband decided to not do it. We kept our money due to unstable situtation. Hope everything is getting better.

我是印尼人。
和视频里的一些故事一样，我也不再购买非必需品。
下周就是开斋节了，往年我都会花近300万印尼盾给所有亲戚送节日礼篮。今年我和丈夫决定取消这个传统。由于形势不稳，我们要把钱存起来。希望一切能好转。

@anthonytjokro2150
This is one aspect that always puzzles me, that how the government agency categorized the aspiring middle class or even the middle class while you have big companies that keep lobbying against the raise of UMR's (regional minimum wages)

有件事一直让我困惑：在大公司不断游说反对提高地区最低工资(UMR)的同时，政府机构是如何界定中产阶级或准中产阶级的？

@petros2308
A salary of USD 254 per month is considered a lower-income earnings in Malaysia, not a middle-class income. I feel sympathetic... it should be classified as the lower class, while those who are truly wealthy should be considered the middle class.

月薪254美元在马来西亚属于低收入，根本达不到中产阶级的标准。真令人同情...这应该被归为底层阶级，而那些真正富裕的人才算中产阶级。

@archingelus
indonesia has a great solution to make a good data, why take the hard way to increase wellbeing and quality of people if we can just survey them with a lower standard to get a "good amount" of great data

印尼在数据美化方面很有一套，既然降低标准做调查就能获得"漂亮"的数据，何必费劲去真正提升民众福祉和生活质量呢？

@seanlennart4740
I'm always sad to see people in Indonesia struggling, I hear it from so many people, lost jobs, lack of jobs, corruption, unproductive work culture, environmenalt pollution, so many people I talk to have high blood pressure��

看到印尼民众生活艰难总是让我难过。我听很多人说起失业、工作机会少、腐败、低效的工作文化、环境污染...我认识的很多人都患有高血压。

@harywhizz7856
Economic down turn is one thing .... Another main reason why middle class is so fragile because less financial literation. Most of them do not have knowledge how to manage their income. They just spend and spend ....

经济衰退是一回事...中产阶级如此脆弱的另一个主因是缺乏理财知识。大多数人不知道如何管理收入，只会不停地花钱...

@Mipaz1
You can root every social problems cause in the goverment. they are still stuck in the old days as everyone advances and not only that, they are also not the most capable , hungry for power , and corruption is going crazy here. I really do hope that our goverment will be better soon.

所有社会问题根源都在政府。当其他国家都在进步时，他们还停留在过去。不仅如此，他们能力不足、贪恋权力，腐败现象猖獗。我真心希望我们的政府能尽快改善。

@johnjohnfrederickh.webber2124
Worldwide the middle class are unable to cope with the extensive "costs" to exist in these modern cities or municipalities. It seems that a return to Agricultural or Animal Husbandry projects may provide the "big income" every one needs aside from the cheap cost of living "price tag" rural living can provide. Government should give a contract to buy to everyone willing to relocate in the country side.

全球中产阶级都难以负担现代城市的生存"成本"，回归农业或畜牧业或许能提供人们所需的"高收入"，同时农村的生活成本也更低。政府应该为愿意迁往农村的人提供收购合同。

@reimasashi
I think this all happening in SEA. Even in Philippines its getting harder to have stable life even if youre in the middle class.
My family is in the average middle class, but we somehow we felt the impact of pandemic

我认为整个东南亚都是如此。即使在菲律宾，中产阶级想过上稳定的生活也越来越难。
我家属于普通中产，但也深刻感受到了疫情的影响。

@mersaultrashkolnikov519
Indonesia government put a lot of tax. Value added taxes, motorized vehicle tax, income tax, other like BPJS, Tapera. and then government official use these tax money to enrich themself and their families making government need to add more tax to the people to cover the deficit in their budget. DPR (Dewan perwakilan rakyat) are elected government official that should have represent the will of its people, the will of Indonesia citizen. Right now the Indonesian citizen have been demanding government to punish corruptor severely to take back their asset and their beneficiary asset, but why isn't it done?? instead they push for RUU TNI to make government more authoritan. Is DPR representing Indonesian people or the will of someone else?

印尼政府征收重税：增值税、机动车税、所得税，还有BPJS、Tapera等。然后官员用税款中饱私囊，导致政府不得不加税填补赤字。国会(人民代表会议)本应代表人民意志，现在民众强烈要求严惩腐败分子并追回赃款，为何不执行？反而推动《国军法案》让政府更专制。国会到底代表印尼人民还是某些人的意志？

@BadasHype
In Indonesia the USD340 family income is considered secondary, while in Malaysia enter the poor category. It is strange that prices of Malaysian essential goods such as petrol, rice, public transport fares are cheaper than the higher cost of living in Indonesia.

在印尼，月收入340美元的家庭算中等收入，在马来西亚却属于贫困。奇怪的是马来西亚的汽油、大米、公交费等必需品的价格比物价更高的印尼还便宜。

@AlexBD-k1h
Middle class relies mainly on the host countries economic policies. Indonesia still lucky that you've had subsidies than your neighboring countries. In the Philippines we have been taxed on medicine, toll roads, heavily taxed on processed foods 12 percent with no subsidized to basic services, and yet our politicians afford to have confidential funds and other luxury benefits from the coffer of the government.

中产阶级的处境主要取决于国家的经济政策。印尼还算幸运，至少比邻国享有更多补贴。在菲律宾，药品、高速公路都要征税，加工食品税高达12%，基本服务没有补贴，而政客们却能从国库中获取机密资金和其他奢侈的福利。

@chacmool2581
It's a global phenomenon, but in the case of Indonesia it is aggravated by official incompetence, corruption and general low levels of education among the population. Countries don't make a leap to high income but simply doing more of the same thing. They do so by doing things better, more efficiently and competently. Is Indonesia ready to make that leap? No. Maybe in several decades of hard work, but certainly not in the foreseeable future or even our lifetime. The country is a chronic underachiever.

这是全球现象，但在印尼，官员无能、腐败和民众教育水平低下加剧了问题。国家要实现高收入不能靠重复老路，而要靠更高效、更有能力的治理。印尼准备好飞跃了吗？没有。也许经过几十年努力可以，但在可预见的未来甚至我们有生之年都不可能。这个国家的长期表现不佳。

@whitemoon5752
Textiles industries have moved to Bangladesh mostly, it is now second most textile exporter after China who shares shrank from world's 60% from 5 years ago to 40% last year all those factories from China have moved to Bangladesh and Vietnam. And Indonesia also lost because companies need to consolidate orders for economies of scale.

纺织业大多已迁往孟加拉国，该国现已成为仅次于中国的第二大纺织品出口国。中国的全球份额从五年前的60%降至去年的40%，工厂都迁到了孟加拉国和越南。由于企业需要整合订单实现规模经济，印尼也失去了机会。

@orgkampong
(1) corruption at all level.
(2) Govt keep a high taxation for the public and low taxes for the rich
(3) High unemployment among the young population dan rate of retrenchment and uncertainty of govt (failed) policies confounded the situation further !

(1) 各级腐败
(2) 政府对公众课以重税，对富人却征收轻税
(3) 年轻人的高失业率、裁员潮和政府(失败)政策的不确定性使情况雪上加霜！