As of September 2024, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) study found that over 16.3 million Filipino families considered themselves poor. This is a marginal increase from June’s 58% to 59% of families, or roughly 300,000 more families perceiving themselves as impoverished.
In Metro Manila, where it increased by 13 points to 52%, the increase in self-rated poverty was particularly noticeable. While it somewhat declined in the Visayas (62%) and Mindanao (67%), it rose by 3 points to 55% in Balance Luzon.
Additionally, 9.1% of families are now “newly poor,” and 13% of families were classified as “borderline poor.” In contrast, the percentage of families who said they were “not poor” decreased to 28%.
Although Metro Manila showed an 8-point increase, self-rated food poverty stayed stable at 46%. Metro Manila now has a self-rated food poverty rate of 39%, Balance Luzon has a rate of 39%, the Visayas has a rate of 49%, and Mindanao has a rate of 61%.
Families’ stated minimum income to escape poverty decreased to P12,000 from P15,000 between April 2022 and June 2024.
1,500 persons countrywide participated in the SWS survey between September 14 and 23.
