More Filipinos rate themselves ‘poor’ for 3rd month — SWS

The number of Filipino families who consider themselves poor has increased for the third consecutive month, according to the latest self-rated poverty survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and the Stratbase Group.

The survey, conducted from 11 to 15 April, found that 55 percent of Filipino families rated themselves as "poor," marking a continued upward trend from 52 percent in March and 51 percent in February. 

This steady rise follows a sharp dip to 50 percent in January 2025, after self-rated poverty had soared to a record-high 63 percent in December 2024, the highest in over two decades.

The latest figure translates to approximately 15.5 million Filipino families who now see themselves as poor, an increase from 14.4 million families recorded in the previous month.

Meanwhile, the proportion of families who classified themselves as "not poor" declined to 32 percent in April, down from a record-high 36 percent sustained during the first quarter of 2025. This is still an improvement compared to 26 percent at the end of 2024.

The percentage of respondents who considered themselves "borderline" — neither poor nor not poor — remained relatively steady at 12 percent, consistent with trends from earlier months (13 percent in February and 14 percent in January).

Regional Breakdown:

• Mindanao posted the highest poverty rate at 70 percent, up from 60 percent in March.

• Visayas followed closely at 67 percent, increasing from 62 percent.

• Metro Manila saw a rise to 45 percent, from 41 percent the previous month.

• Balance Luzon (areas outside Metro Manila) slightly dipped to 44 percent, from 46 percent.
  

The survey interviewed 1,800 respondents nationwide and has a margin of error of ±2.31 percent.