13.7 million Filipino families see themselves as poor – SWS

Nearly half of Filipino families, or 49 percent, rated themselves as “mahirap” or poor in the latest national survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS), conducted from June 25 to 29.

- By JEL SANTOS

This translates to an estimated 13.7 million households who see themselves as poor.

The number is slightly lower than the 50 percent recorded in April 2025, continuing a gradual decline from 55 percent earlier that month.

“The percentage of Self- Rated Poor (SRP) families has dropped slightly, but 49 percent is still a staggering figure," SWS said in its report.

The SWS said the small national decline was due to drops in the Visayas (from 67 percent to 60 percent) and Balance Luzon (from 43 percent to 38 percent).

However, these were offset by increases in Mindanao (from 61 percent to 69 percent) and Metro Manila (from 33 percent to 36 percent).

Self-Rated Poverty remains highest in Mindanao at 69 percent, followed by the Visayas at 60 percent, Balance Luzon at 38 percent, and Metro Manila at 36 percent.

"The regional shifts suggest continued economic pressure in Mindanao and Metro Manila, even as other areas show modest improvements," SWS added.

Borderline and not poor

The share of families placing themselves on the dividing line between Poor and Not Poor, or "Borderline," rose to 10 percent, up from the record-low eight percent in April.

Those who identified as Not Poor dropped slightly to 41 percent, just one point below the all-time high of 42 percent in April.

Food poverty static at 41%