Filipino self-rated poverty rises to 52%

According to a recent Stratbase-Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from March 15 to 20, 2025, the percentage of Filipino families considering themselves 'mahirap' or poor increased slightly to 52 percent.

This marks an increase from 51 percent in February and follows a decline from 63 percent in December 2024.

The survey also found that 12 percent of families rated themselves as 'borderline,' while 36 percent considered themselves 'hindi mahirap' or not poor.

Self-rated poverty increased by five points in the Visayas and three points in Balance Luzon, but decreased slightly in Mindanao and Metro Manila.

Additionally, a separate SWS survey on hunger revealed that 27.2 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months, with the rate among self-rated poor rising sharply from 26.4 percent to 35.6 percent.