Poverty: Self Classification

Published

November 27, 2025

Self classification is highly correlated with income and employment status

Individual characteristics by self-reported class

Limited predictability of income and low resilience

For low-income people, uncertainty and risk of poverty are high, leading to costly coping strategies

Self-Perception of Poverty: Key Determinants

Only data from the last 12 months is used (November 2024 to October 2025) for this analysis

Variables used on this page

Variables Used in Self-Classification Analysis Self-Classification Measures

  • wb32: Self-reported economic class (1=Extreme poor to 5=Rich)
  • wb33: Expected economic class in 5 years (same scale)
  • vw23: Self-identifies as poor (Yes/No binary)
  • clean_class: Derived variable categorizing into “Poor”, “Lower middle class”, “Upper middle class”
  • self_poor: Binary indicator for self-identified poverty

Income and Financial Resilience

  • pc_inc_real_spadef: Real per capita income (inflation-adjusted)
  • sv30: Ability to pay emergency expense of 300,000 Rupiah
  • quint: Income quintile (1=Poorest to 5=Richest)

Individual Characteristics

  • looking_work: Currently looking for work
  • part_time: Works part-time
  • disability: Has disability

Financial Hardship Indicators

  • wb5: Ability to pay utilities
  • wb6: Borrowed money for basic needs
  • wb7: Used savings for basic needs
  • wb8: Sold assets for basic needs
  • wb1/wb2: Financial wellbeing compared to last/next month
  • sv3: Ability to save money
  • forgo_health: Foregone healthcare due to cost

Household Challenges

  • sh1/sh4/sh5: Water/electricity disruptions
  • sh12/sh14: Internet disruptions
  • sh16: Children missed school
  • sh21_a-f: Major life events (birth, illness, injury, death)
  • wb12: Household sickness
  • maj_illInj: Major illness or injury in household

Food Security Measures

  • totfoodinsec: Food insecurity index
  • Individual food insecurity indicators: worried, unhealthy, low_diversity, skip_meal, eat_less, ran_out, went_hungry, whole_day

Economic Perceptions

  • wb14: Local economic conditions perception
  • vw9/vw10: Job market and business climate perceptions
  • vw13: Economic optimism/pessimism