Banda Aceh vs Medan: Who’s Better in Numbers?

The two provincial capitals at the tip of Sumatra Island, Banda Aceh and Medan, are relatively close geographically. In theory, this proximity could result in similar development patterns in various aspects, from economy, welfare, to tourism. But does the statistical reality show such similarities? Or are there striking differences in the key indicators of these two cities?

To answer this question, let's explore further by comparing some key indicators. Here are the statistical figures of both cities that are interesting to study:

Socio-Economics

Aceh is often cited as one of the poorest provinces on the island of Sumatra, and even in Indonesia as a whole. However, if we look in more detail, Banda Aceh City actually recorded the lowest poverty percentage in the province, at 7.04% in 2023. This figure is lower than Medan City, which has a poverty percentage of 8%.

This difference can also be seen in the poverty lines of the two cities. Banda Aceh's poverty line stands at Rp814,530 per month, while Medan has a lower poverty line of Rp651,901 per month. The higher poverty line in Banda Aceh indicates that the city's minimum standard of living is greater than Medan's. This could reflect better welfare, but it could also indicate that the cost of living in Banda Aceh is higher.

In addition, the difference in community welfare is also influenced by the unemployment rate in each city. Medan city has an Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) of 8.67%, slightly higher than Banda Aceh at 8.03%. However, Medan's economic productivity is higher. This is reflected in Medan's Regional Original Revenue (PAD) in 2023, which is IDR2.44 trillion, far exceeding Banda Aceh which only reached IDR287.44 billion. This difference can also be attributed to the fact that Medan is a metropolitan city with a larger economic scale and a more developed industrial and trade sector than Banda Aceh.

However, when viewed from social welfare indicators, Banda Aceh actually superior. Banda Aceh's Human Development Index (HDI) reached 88.32, higher than Medan's 82.61. The higher HDI indicates that the quality of life of the people of Banda Aceh is generally improving despite their lower economic income. This could be due to factors such as more equitable access to health and education services, and longer life expectancy.

Demographics

Based on area, the two cities have significant differences. Medan City covers 265.1 km², almost 24 times larger than Banda Aceh City, which is only 61.36 km². This difference certainly affects the number of people residing by each region.

Medan City has a population of 2.47 million people, which is almost 11 times more than Banda Aceh which is only 261.96 thousand people.

In terms of population growth, historical data shows that Medan City experienced a decrease in population growth of 0.82% in 2023. In contrast, Banda Aceh actually experienced a population increase of 1.23% in the same year.

In terms of population density, Medan has a fairly high population density of 9,333 people per km². Meanwhile, Banda Aceh has a lower population density of 4,260 people per km².

Health

Furthermore, one important factor that illustrates the livability of a region is the level of health. This indicator can be measured through the morbidity rate, which shows the proportion of the population experiencing health complaints within a certain period of time.

Banda Aceh recorded a morbidity rate of 27.8%, higher than Medan City at 17.54%. This means that the morbidity rate in Banda Aceh is 10% higher than Medan. This indicates that residents of Banda Aceh are more vulnerable to health problems than residents of Medan.

Education

Based on the proportion of the population with the highest level of education, Banda Aceh City has a higher percentage of people with a bachelor degree than Medan City, at 31.01% of the total labor force. Meanwhile, Medan only recorded 16.86%.

This figure shows that more Banda Aceh residents have completed their education up to university level, exceeding the mandatory schooling limit. This can also be interpreted as easier access to higher education in Banda Aceh compared to Medan. Meanwhile, almost half of Medan's residents have the highest level of education up to senior high school, at 51.2%.

Environment

Green Open Space is one of the important indicators to measure the quality of the environment in an area. Based on 2023 data, Banda Aceh City has a proportion of green open space of 13.76% of its total area. This figure is higher than Medan City, which only reached 11.04%.

This difference indicates that Banda Aceh has a wider availability of green space than Medan. Adequate green open space not only plays a role in maintaining air quality and ecosystems, but also has a positive impact on people's welfare, such as reducing pollution and providing recreational areas.

However, it is interesting to study further: Has this green open space been optimally utilized to improve environmental quality, or is it still neglected?

Tourism

In addition to economic and welfare indicators, the tourism sector is also an important aspect in describing the dynamics of the two cities. In terms of domestic tourists, Banda Aceh recorded a total of 355,251 domestic tourist visits in a given year, much higher than Medan which only received 263,793 visits. This difference shows that Banda Aceh has a stronger attraction for domestic tourists, whether due to its distinctive cultural, religious or historical factors.

However, the situation is inversely proportional when looking at the number of foreign tourists. Medan received 162,438 foreign tourist visits, far more than Banda Aceh which only recorded 26,778 visits, or around 17% of the total foreign tourists in Medan. One of the main factors causing the high number of foreign tourist visits to Medan is the openness of international transportation access. Kualanamu International Airport, as one of the largest airports in Indonesia, has more direct flight routes to various countries than Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport in Banda Aceh.

From the comparison of the various indicators mentioned above, it can be seen that Banda Aceh City and Medan City have their own advantages and challenges in their development. These differences show that each region has different development priorities, depending on its potential, needs and challenges. By understanding the uniqueness and differences of each city, more targeted policies can be designed to promote sustainable and inclusive development for its people.