51 percent of Filipino families rate themselves poor — SWS

The national Social Weather Survey (SWS) conducted from 24 to 30 November 2025 found that an estimated 14.3 million Filipino families considered themselves poor.

The survey showed that 51 percent of Filipino families rated themselves as poor, while 37 percent said they were not poor and 12 percent placed themselves on the borderline between poor and not poor.

Self-rated poverty in November was one point higher than the 50 percent recorded in September. The 2025 annual average stood at 51 percent, down six points from 57 percent in 2024.

Poverty remained highest in Mindanao at 65 percent, followed by the Visayas at 58 percent, Balance Luzon at 45 percent, and Metro Manila at 37 percent.

Self-rated food poverty followed a similar pattern, with the highest level in Mindanao at 55 percent and the lowest in Metro Manila at 24 percent.

The national median self-rated poverty threshold rose from P12,000 to P15,000, while the poverty gap increased from P5,000 to P6,000, indicating tighter household budgets.

Median monthly household expenses nationwide were P3,000 for rent, P2,000 for transportation, P800 for internet, and P400 for mobile phone load.

The survey also found that 6.5 percent of families were classified as newly poor, while 35.6 percent were considered always poor.

The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults aged 18 and above nationwide.