Half of households across the Philippines continue to see themselves as struggling, according to the latest nationwide Social Weather Survey. Conducted from September 24 to 30, the poll found that 50 percent of respondents, representing roughly 14.2 million families, identified as poor.
Another 38 percent said they do not consider themselves poor, while 12 percent placed themselves on the borderline. The proportion of self-rated poor households inched up from 49 percent in June, returning to levels recorded in late April.
Regional differences tell a sharper story. Mindanao recorded the highest rate of self-rated poverty at 69 percent, unchanged from June. The Visayas followed at 54 percent, down slightly from 60 percent. In Metro Manila, the figure rose to 43 percent, while Luzon outside the capital reached 42 percent.
The share of families who described themselves as not poor shrank in most areas. In Metro Manila, the rate slid from 57 percent in June to 51 percent. The Visayas dropped from 28 percent to 23 percent, and Luzon outside Metro Manila slipped from 52 percent to 49 percent. Mindanao remained nearly steady at 20 percent.
Food insecurity also surfaced in the findings. The survey showed that 41 percent of families considered themselves “food-poor,” a level unchanged since April 2025. Meanwhile, 47 percent said they were not food-poor, dipping from 49 percent in June. Eleven percent placed themselves at the borderline when asked about food sufficiency.
Mindanao again reported the steepest food-poverty perception at 61 percent. The Visayas followed at 40 percent, while Metro Manila and areas in Luzon outside the capital posted 35 percent and 33 percent, respectively.
The non-commissioned poll used face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults nationwide. It carried a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 points for national results, and higher margins for regional estimates.
