Protein Consumption and Socioeconomic Determinants in Indonesia: An Empirical Analysis of the Lowest-Income Households

Mohammad Nafi IzzuddinDavid ForgenieLia Rohmatul MaulaSukardi SukardiNikmatul Khoiriyah

DOI 10.7160/aol.2026.180302
No 3/2026, September
pp. 17-29

Izzudin, M. N., Maula, L. R., Forgenie, D., Sukardi, S. and Khoiriyah, N. (2026) "Protein Consumption and Socioeconomic Determinants in Indonesia: An Empirical Analysis of the Lowest-Income Households", AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 17-29. ISSN 1804-1930 DOI 10.7160/aol.2026.180302.

Abstract

Adequate protein consumption is essential for improving nutritional outcomes in developing countries, yet empirical evidence on the determinants of protein consumption among the poorest households in Indonesia remains scarce. This study investigates the socioeconomic determinants of protein consumption among the lowest-income households using nationally representative data from the 2023 Survei Sosial Ekonomi Nasional (Susenas), focusing on 67,918 households in the lowest income quintile (Q1). Protein-rich foods were classified into ten categories: eight animal-sourced foods (fish, seafood, beef, mutton, poultry, eggs, milk, and other meats) and two plant-based proteins (tofu and tempeh). A binary probit model was applied to examine the influence of household income, household size, and the relative prices of protein-rich foods on the probability of consumption. Marginal effects were calculated to interpret the change in probability associated with a one-unit change in each explanatory variable. The results reveal contrasting patterns across protein sources. Beef consumption is strongly influenced by all three socioeconomic factors — income, household size, and price — reflecting its status as a luxury protein largely inaccessible to the poorest households. In contrast, eggs emerge as a stable and affordable protein source consumed by nearly 79% of Q1 households, remaining largely insensitive to own-price changes and unaffected by household size. Household income significantly increases the probability of consuming nearly all protein categories, while price sensitivity drives poor households to rely more heavily on tofu and tempeh as affordable alternatives. This study provides novel empirical evidence on the probability-based determinants of protein consumption among Q1 households, offering practical insights for food subsidies, local production support, and nutrition education programs in Indonesia.

Keywords

Protein consumption, low-income households, socioeconomic determinants, household nutrition, food security, Indonesia

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