More than a quarter of the country’s population, or 27.2 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger — being hungry and not having anything to eat — at least once in the past three months.

This was revealed in the latest self-rated poverty survey of the Stratbase-Social Weather Stations (SWS) conducted last month, and released on Saturday.

Based on the survey, the rate of total hunger rose sharply among the Self-Rated Poor from 26.4 percent in February 2025 to 35.6 percent in March. It rose slightly among the Non-Poor (Not Poor plus Borderline Poor) from 16.2 percent to 18.3 percent.

“Hunger occurs at different rates among the Poor and the Non-Poor. At any single point in time, hunger is usually higher among the Poor. From quarter to quarter, however, the hunger rates among the poor and the non-poor may change, either upward or downward,” the polling firm said.

The survey also found that more than half of the population in the Philippines consider themselves as “mahirap” or poor.

According to the survey, 52 percent of Filipino families in March rated themselves poor, which is 1 percent higher from 51 percent last February.

“The estimated numbers of Self-Rated Poor families were 14.3 million in February 2025 and 14.4 million in March 2025. The percentage of respondent households rating themselves as poor was applied to the Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2025 to arrive at the estimated numbers of Self-Rated Poor families,” the survey said.

The survey revealed that the 1-point increase in the nationwide Self-Rated Poverty between February 2025 and March 2024 was due to slight increases in the Visayas and Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila), combined with slight decreases in Mindanao and Metro Manila.

“As of March 2025, Self-Rated Poverty was highest in the Visayas at 62 percent, followed by Mindanao at 60 percent, Balance Luzon at 46 percent, and Metro Manila at 41 percent,” it said.

“Compared to February 2025, Self-Rated Poverty rose slightly by 5 points from 57 percent in the Visayas and 3 points from 43 percent in Balance Luzon. However, it fell slightly by 5 points from 65 percent in Mindanao and 46 percent in Metro Manila,” it added.

The survey conducted last month also found the percentage of Borderline families at 12 percent, down slightly from 13 percent in February 2025 and 14 percent in January 2025, following a slight increase from the record-low 11 percent in December 2024.

A 2024 survey highlighted that 54 percent of Filipinos identified rising food prices as the primary cause of food insecurity, surpassing concerns like job loss or natural disasters.

The slight decrease in the number of borderline families was attributed to the 11 points slide from the 24 percent of families in Visayas who rated themselves as such in February.

Despite the slide in the Visayas, Borderline families in Metro Manila and Balance of Luzon rose slightly from 8 percent to 11 percent, and 9 percent to 11 percent, respectively. Borderline families in Mindanao did not change as it stayed at 13 percent.

Meanwhile, the percentage of Filipino families who consider themselves as “hindi mahirap” or not poor stayed at record-high 36 percent for three consecutive months since January 2025, following a 10-point increase from 26 percent in December 2024.

“The 36 percent of Not Poor families from January to March 2025 surpassed the previous record of 30 percent in June 2024 and December 2014,” the survey said.

The Stratbase-SWS March 2025 National Survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,800 registered voters (18 years old and above) nationwide: 300 in Metro Manila, 900 in Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila), 300 in the Visayas, and 300 in Mindanao.

The sampling error margins are ±2.31 percent for national percentages, ±3.27 percent for Balance Luzon, and ±5.66 percent each for Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Eradicate hunger, poverty

In October last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to eradicating hunger and poverty by endorsing the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) through a Joint Memorandum Circular.

The initiative unites 34 partners, including national agencies and international organizations, to harmonize efforts in combating hunger and poverty across the country.

The EPAHP aims to improve farm productivity, connect farmers and fisherfolk to larger markets, and provide secure income, ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to nutritious food.

A 14-member Steering Committee, chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, will oversee the program’s implementation. As of May 2024, the initiative has facilitated over P200 million in sales and contracts between 122 community-based organizations and government feeding programs.

Additionally, a Digital Mapping System developed with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization is being utilized to connect organizations with prospective markets.

As of 2024, the Philippines holds the 67th position out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI), with a score of 14.4, indicating a “moderate” level of hunger.

The score reflects a significant improvement from 2000, when the country had a “serious” hunger level with a score of 24.9.

The Philippines’ GHI score is higher than the global average of 18.3 and notably above the East and Southeast Asia regional average of 8.3. The GHI assesses hunger based on four key indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality.

A 2024 survey highlighted that 54 percent of Filipinos identified rising food prices as the primary cause of food insecurity, surpassing concerns like job loss or natural disasters.

These challenges, coupled with climate change impacts and economic disparities, hinder the country’s efforts to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030.