Indonesia

Indonesia is a diverse archipelago spanning more than 17,000 islands and over 300 ethnic groups. Its economy grew by 5% in 2024, supported by domestic consumption, infrastructure investment, and digital transformation.

Despite progress in poverty reduction and maternal-child health, Indonesia faces a triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition, overweight and obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies. Adult obesity is rising and contributes to noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Indonesia continues to face significant nutrition challenges. Among children under five, 19.8% are stunted and 3.4% are affected by overweight and obesity.

Anemia remains a major concern, affecting 26.8% of children aged 5–14 years and 32% of young people aged 15–24 years.

Diets remain heavily rice-based, with rice providing more than 50% of daily calories, while fruit, vegetable, and protein-rich food intake remain below recommended levels.

Food insecurity remains a challenge, especially in rural and eastern provinces, where climate risks and food price inflation affect access to diverse and nutritious diets.

Vulnerable groups include low-income households and indigenous communities, who face greater exposure to food access barriers and nutrition insecurity.

Women play a central role in household food decisions but remain disproportionately affected by malnutrition, showing how nutrition outcomes are shaped by gender, geography, income, and social inequality.

Nutrition governance is coordinated by the Ministry of Health through the National Nutrition Program, with support from ministries responsible for agriculture, education, finance, and social protection.

Key policy actions include the Indonesia Country Strategic Plan 2026–2030, the Free Nutritious Meals Program launched in 2025, the National Strategy to Accelerate Stunting Reduction 2021–2024, and renewed Nutrition for Growth commitments in 2025.

Other measures include mandatory fortification of cooking oil with vitamin A, breastmilk substitute marketing restrictions, and ongoing discussion around a sugar-sweetened beverage tax.

Indonesia’s food environment is shaped by traditional markets, warungs, expanding supermarkets, convenience stores, e-commerce, and online food delivery platforms.

Traditional wet markets and warungs remain dominant, accounting for around 70% of food retail sales, while modern retail continues to expand in urban centers.

Rapid urbanization, supermarket expansion, and pervasive digital marketing have shifted consumption toward processed foods, increasing risks linked to obesity and diet-related disease.

Diets are heavily rice-based, with rice providing more than half of daily calories.

Intake of fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods remains below recommended levels.

Noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease account for more than half of all deaths.

Rising adult obesity increases the need for stronger food environment and preventive nutrition policies.