Jokowi faced financial difficulties since his childhood. He started working at an early age to earn money to support his studies. At the age of 12, he started working in his father's shop where he used to sell bamboo furnitures.

Widodo joined Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and in 2005, he was elected mayor of Solo – a city in the centre of Java.

Widodo became very popular among his electorate as he was always very concerned about the people who formed the lowest strata of the society.

He was elected for the second time in 2010 with more than 90 percent of the vote. His electorate rewarded him for implementing pro-people policies and boosting small and local businesses.