More Filipino Families Feel Poor. Here’s What the Latest SWS Survey Reveals.

Self-rated poverty rose to 55% of Filipino families in September 2026, up from 49% in June, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. The six-point increase suggests that more households now consider themselves poor, while self-rated food poverty has also climbed.

SWS released its third-quarter findings on October 13. The organization estimates that 16.8 million Filipino families rated themselves poor in September, compared with 13.6 million in June.

But what does self-rated poverty actually measure? And what do the latest numbers tell us about the financial pressure Filipino households face?

What Does Self-Rated Poverty Mean?

SWS asks respondents to classify their families as Mahirap (Poor), Hindi Mahirap (Not Poor), or somewhere in between. The survey measures how people assess their own economic situation rather than determining poverty based on a fixed income threshold.

That makes self-rated poverty different from the official poverty statistics published by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The two measures answer different questions: official statistics use established income and poverty thresholds, while SWS asks families how they perceive their circumstances.

Both offer useful information, but readers should not treat them as interchangeable. A rise in self-rated poverty tells us that more respondents consider their families poor. By itself, it does not establish what caused that change.

The Shift Behind the Rising Poverty Figures

One detail stands out: fewer families placed themselves in the middle. The share who considered themselves “Borderline” fell from 14% in June to 9% in September, while the share who said they were “Not Poor” slipped from 37% to 36%.

According to SWS findings, the decline in the Borderline group largely explains the increase in self-rated poverty.

September’s 55% reading was the highest since December 2024, when the figure reached 63%. It also matched the rate recorded in April 2025.

The survey doesn’t establish whether rising prices, wages, employment, or other economic factors caused the increase. Those explanations require additional evidence.

Mindanao and the Visayas Record the Highest Rates

Mindanao recorded the highest self-rated poverty rate at 64%, followed by the Visayas at 63%. Balance Luzon, which covers Luzon outside Metro Manila, recorded 51%, while Metro Manila stood at 44%.

In Balance Luzon, the rate rose from 41% in June to 51% in September. The available figures don’t provide June comparisons for the other three areas.

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More Families Struggle to Afford Food

Self-rated food poverty also increased, rising from 36% in June to 44% in September.

SWS reported that the September figure was three percentage points above the 2025 annual average of 41%. It was also the highest since December 2024, when self-rated food poverty reached 51%.

These figures show that more families consider themselves poor when it comes to food. However, the survey doesn’t identify what caused the increase.

Poverty Can Last for Years

SWS also looked at how families who rated themselves poor viewed their financial situation over time.

• Newly Poor (7.2%): Said they were not poor one to four years ago.
• Usually Poor (9.0%): Said they were not poor five or more years ago.
• Always Poor (38.7%): Said they had never experienced being not poor.

SWS estimates that these groups represent approximately 2.2 million newly poor families, 2.7 million usually poor families, and 11.7 million always poor families.

The largest group consists of families who say they have always been poor, showing that poverty remains a long-term experience for many households.

How Was the Survey Done?

SWS interviewed 1,500 adults face-to-face from Sept. 21 to 27: 600 in Balance Luzon and 300 each in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The margin of error is ±3 points nationally and ±6 points for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The release doesn’t say what drove the increase. That is for economists and policymakers to explain.

Next time someone in power tells you the economy is doing well, keep this number in mind. More than half of families say they don’t feel it.

Behind the Numbers of Self-Rated Poverty Survey Are Filipino Families

A survey can measure how many families consider themselves poor, but each percentage represents households assessing their own circumstances and what they can afford.

With 55% of families rating themselves poor and 44% saying they struggle with food poverty, the latest SWS findings offer a sobering look at how Filipinos view their financial security.

The numbers don’t tell every family’s story. But they give us a reason to pay attention to the people behind them, especially those who say poverty has been part of their lives for years.