Indonesia now ranks second in the world for the number of school meal program recipients. The government’s Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG), managed by the National Nutrition Agency (Indonesia), has reached 61.2 million beneficiaries as of March 3, 2026. Around 49 million of them are school students.
Data compiled by the World Food Programme shows Indonesia trails only India, which serves about 118 million recipients. Indonesia has surpassed Brazil (38.5 million), China (34.57 million), and the United States (30.1 million).
Khairul Hidayarti, Head of Legal and Public Relations at the National Nutrition Agency, said the milestone shows Indonesia is starting to play a larger role in global efforts to strengthen children’s nutrition through school feeding programs. The goal is to ensure every child has access to proper nutrition.
Beyond improving food intake, the MBG program is designed to support students’ concentration and long-term health. The initiative also forms a key pillar of Indonesia’s human capital development strategy under President Prabowo Subianto.
The program expanded rapidly, reaching more than 61 million people in less than a year of nationwide implementation. The government aims to keep expanding coverage until every school-age child across the archipelago is included.
