GIS-Based Spatial Analytics for Poverty Mapping and Socio-Economic Vulnerability in Aceh Province, Indonesia

Poverty remains a persistent development challenge in Aceh Province, characterized by considerable regional disparities and multidimensional socio-economic vulnerability. This study analyzes poverty trends, maps poverty distribution, identifies priority high-poverty areas, and examines socio-economic vulnerability across 23 regencies and cities in Aceh using 2025 data. A descriptive quantitative approach was applied using secondary data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS). The analysis comprised descriptive statistics, Geographic Information System–based thematic mapping, poverty-level classification, urban–rural comparison, and evaluation of the poverty line, Poverty Gap Index (P1), and Poverty Severity Index (P2). The results show that Aceh’s poverty rate declined from 12.33% in March 2025 to 12.22% in September 2025, while the number of poor people decreased from 704.69 thousand to 703.33 thousand. However, substantial spatial disparities persisted, with poverty rates ranging from 5.45% in Banda Aceh City to 17.07% in Aceh Singkil Regency. Eight regencies—Aceh Singkil, Gayo Lues, Pidie, Bener Meriah, Pidie Jaya, Simeulue, West Aceh, and Nagan Raya—were classified as priority high-poverty areas. Rural areas exhibited greater vulnerability than urban areas due to limited infrastructure, market access, employment diversification, and dependence on the primary sector. The poverty line increased from IDR 676,247 to IDR 715,103 per capita per month, with food accounting for 76.56% of its composition. Despite the declining poverty rate, P1 increased from 1.836 to 2.055 and P2 from 0.420 to 0.523, indicating deeper poverty and greater inequality among poor households. These findings highlight the need for place-based poverty alleviation policies focused on rural economic development, infrastructure improvement, food-price stabilization, and targeted protection for chronically poor households