MANILA — Self-rated poverty in the Philippines has reached its highest level in 21 years, with 63% of Filipino families considering themselves poor, according to a December 2024 survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). This marks a four-point increase from 59% in September 2024, continuing a three-quarter upward trend.
The survey revealed a sharp rise in poverty in the Visayas (74% from 62%) and Mindanao (76% from 67%). Metro Manila remained steady at 52%, while Balance Luzon recorded no change at 55%.
Self-rated food poverty also climbed from 46% to 51%, the highest since March 2004. The Visayas reported the largest increase, from 49% to 61%, while Mindanao remained the highest at 68%.
The survey found 10.2% of families classified as “newly poor.” Among the 17.4 million self-rated poor families, 2.8 million were newly poor, 2.1 million were usually poor, and 12.4 million were always poor.
The self-rated poverty threshold — the minimum income families believe they need to escape poverty — dropped from ₱15,000 in June 2024 to ₱10,000 in December 2024. The median poverty gap, or the additional income needed to meet basic needs, remained at ₱5,000.
The survey, conducted from December 12 to 18, involved face-to-face interviews with 2,160 adults across the country. The margin of error was ±2% for national data.
Key Highlights:
Poverty surged in Visayas and Mindanao.
Food poverty rose to its highest level in two decades.
The national poverty threshold dropped, indicating worsening economic conditions.
This data underscores the urgency for government and private sector initiatives to address rising poverty levels across the country.
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