SWS SURVEY SHOWS INCREASE IN POOR FAMILIES, REACHING 15.5 MILLION

Self-rated poverty among Filipinos has been steadily rising over the past four months, according to a recent survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

After a sharp decline in January, poverty rates increased from 50% in January to 55% in April, affecting an estimated 15.5 million families.

This marks a notable rise from 14.4 million in March and is a sharp contrast to the 63% poverty rate recorded in December 2024.
The survey also revealed a drop in the percentage of families considering themselves “not poor,” which decreased to 32% from 36% in the first quarter of the year.

The highest self-rated poverty was reported in Mindanao (70%) and the Visayas (67%), while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon saw more significant percentages of families rating themselves as “not poor.”

Source: PhilNews24 | April 27, 2025