SWS: Self-rated poverty at 63% in Dec. 2024, highest in 21 years

Sixty-three percent or around 17.4 million families considered themselves poor, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted in December 2024.

The study, which was conducted from December 12 to 18, showed that the percentage of Self-Rated Poor Families increased by four percentage points from 59% in September 2024.

According to the SWS, the December survey result was the highest percentage of Self-Rated Poor Families in 21 years since the 64% in November 2003.

The 2024 annual average Self-Rated Poor Families of 57% was also higher than the 48% annual average recorded in 2023 and 2022.

The December 2024 study also showed that the total percentage of poor families consists of 10.2% who were "newly poor" or those who were non-poor one to four years ago.

Meanwhile, the December 2024 survey showed that 11% of Filipino families considered themselves as borderline or those who placed themselves on a line dividing poor and not poor classifications. This is a slight decrease from 13% in September 2024 and 12% in June 2024.

The SWS also recorded 26% of Filipino Families who tagged themselves as "not poor" families. This is a slight decline from 28% in September 2024 and the record-high 30% in June 2024.

According to the survey firm, the self-rated poverty was highest in Mindanao at 76%, followed by the Visayas at 74%, Balance Luzon at 55%, and Metro Manila at 51%.

"Compared to September 2024, Self-Rated Poverty rose by 12 points from 62% in the Visayas, and 9 points from 67% in Mindanao. However, it stayed at 55% in Balance Luzon, while it hardly moved from 52% in Metro Manila," the SWS said.

The poll firm also included in their study the Self-Rated Food Poverty which showed that as of December 2024, 51% of families rated themselves as Food-Poor, 13% rated themselves as Food Borderline or placed themselves on the line dividing Food-Poor and Not Food-Poor, and 36% rating themselves Not Food-Poor.

The 51% rating in December 2024 was a five-point increase from the 46% in September 2024 and June 2024.

According to the SWS, this was the highest in over 20 years or since the 51% in March 2004.

The study showed that Self-Rated Food Poverty stayed highest in Mindanao at 68%, followed by the Visayas at 61%, Balance Luzon at 42%, and Metro Manila at 39%.

"Compared to September 2024, Self-Rated Food Poverty rose by 12 points from 49% in the Visayas, 7 points from 61% in Mindanao, and 3 points from 39% in Balance Luzon. However, it stayed at 39% in Metro Manila," said the SWS.

The non-commissioned survey was conducted among 2,160 adults in Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao using face-to-face interviews.

The survey questions about Self-Rated Poverty and Self-Rated Food Poverty were directed to household heads.

The sampling error margins are ±2% for national percentages, ±3% in Balance Luzon, and ±5% each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.—LDF, GMA Integrated News