Indonesia Ranks Second Globally in School Meal Program Reach

Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesia has emerged as the second-largest provider of school meal programs worldwide, reaching over 61.2 million beneficiaries, according to data released by the World Food Programme (WFP) on March 3, 2026 and reported by the National Nutrition Agency (BGN).

Extent of Indonesia’s School Meal Program

The WFP data indicates that approximately 174.9 million children globally benefit from school meal programs. Of the 174 countries with such programs, 107 have implemented them as a national initiative.

Indonesia’s program currently supports 61,239,037 individuals, with 49,057,682 being students. This places Indonesia second only to India, which provides school meals to 118 million students. Brazil follows with 38,531,387 students, China with 34,570,000, and the United States with 30,100,000.

Government Commitment to Nutrition

Khairul Hidayati, Head of BGN’s Legal and Public Relations Bureau, emphasized the significance of this achievement. “With more than 61.2 million beneficiaries, Indonesia is now one of the countries with the largest school meal program in the world. This shows the government’s commitment to ensuring every child has access to safe and quality nutritious food,” Hidayati stated.

MBG Program: A Long-Term Investment

The MBG (Makanan Bergizi – Nutritious Food) program in Indonesia is viewed by the BGN as a long-term investment in human capital development. The agency believes the program will contribute to improved health, enhanced concentration in learning, and the development of a healthy, intelligent, and productive Indonesian generation.

WFP’s Role in Indonesia

The World Food Programme engages in policy dialogue and provides technical assistance to the Indonesian government on food security and nutrition analysis, climate and disaster risk management, and healthy diets. World Food Programme

National Nutrition Agency Mandate

Established in August 2024, the National Nutrition Agency (Badan Gizi Nasional) is a cabinet-level agency tasked with initiating a free lunch program for students and ensuring nutritional adequacy for students, toddlers, pregnant women, and lactating women. National Nutrition Agency – Wikipedia The agency has an annual budget of IDR 71 Trillions (USD 4.542 Billions) for 2025. National Nutrition Agency – Wikipedia