The December survey also indicates that 10.2% of poor families were "newly poor," having been non-poor within the past four years.
A SOCIAL Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted in December 2024 reveals a stark increase in self-rated poverty in the Philippines, reaching its highest level in 21 years.
Sixty-three percent of Filipino families—approximately 17.4 million—classified themselves as poor, a four-percentage-point jump from September 2024’s 59%. This figure surpasses the previous 21-year high of 64% recorded in November 2003.
The annual average for 2024 stands at 57%, significantly higher than the 48% recorded in both 2023 and 2022. The December survey also indicates that 10.2% of poor families were “newly poor,” having been non-poor within the past four years.
While 11% of families identified as borderline poor—a slight decrease from previous surveys—only 26% considered themselves non-poor, a decline from 28% in September and a record high of 30% in June. Regional disparities were significant, with Mindanao reporting the highest self-rated poverty at 76%, followed by the Visayas (74%), Balance Luzon (55%), and Metro Manila (51%). The increase was particularly pronounced in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The survey also examined self-rated food poverty. Fifty-one percent of families classified themselves as food-poor in December 2024, a five-point increase from September and June and the highest level in over 20 years.
Mindanao again registered the highest rate at 68%, followed by the Visayas (61%), Balance Luzon (42%), and Metro Manila (39%). The SWS conducted this non-commissioned survey through face-to-face interviews with 2,160 adults across the country. The findings highlight a concerning trend of increasing poverty and food insecurity in the Philippines.
