Central Statistics Agency (BPS) chairman Suhariyanto and BPS deputy chairman for services and distribution statistics Yunita Rusanti at the BPS office, Pasar Baru, Jakarta, March 2018. TEMPO/Lani Diana

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded that the country’s Human Development Index (IPM) in 2018 reached 71.39—up by 0.58 points or 0.82 percent compared to the previous year’s 70.81.

BPS head Suhariyanto said the increase spelled good news. “IPM has been showing a good trend since 2010,” he told a press conference at his office in Jakarta, Monday, April 15, 2019.

The figure, however, was lower than the government’s target mentioned in the state budget (APBN), which was pegged at 71.50.

Read: 2018 Economic Growth Rate Highest in 4 Years: BPS

Suhariyanto said despite the unmet target the margin was relatively small, meaning that the country’s IPM is presently showing an upward trend.

“Although it was a little bit lower than the target, I see that the trend is on the right track,” the BPS head said.

DIAS PRASONGKO