Poverty & Income · PSA Data
Philippine Poverty Statistics 2026
Official PSA data on poverty incidence, regional inequality, income class distribution, and the government programs that protect vulnerable Filipinos.
Source: PSA Family Income and Expenditure Survey 2023 · NEDA Annual Report · Last updated: May 2026
Poverty rate over time
Philippine poverty fell consistently from 33% in 2006 to 18.1% in 2021 — then reversed course to 22.4% in 2023, largely due to COVID-19 economic impacts and post-pandemic inflation eroding household purchasing power.
PSA FIES / Official Poverty Statistics 2006–2023
Poverty vs. food poverty
Food poverty (subsistence incidence) measures families whose income is not enough to meet minimum caloric requirements even if spent entirely on food. It is a subset of overall poverty — and a more acute indicator of deprivation.
PSA Official Poverty Statistics 2012–2023
Under RA 11291 (Magna Carta of the Poor), the government is mandated to provide a social protection floor — meaning every Filipino below the poverty threshold is entitled to basic social services including health, education, and food assistance. Non-implementation can be grounds for mandamus petitions.
Poverty by region (2021)
Regional poverty varies by a factor of 8x — from BARMM (61.8%) to NCR (7.5%). Mindanao regions consistently have the highest poverty rates; Luzon urban corridors have the lowest.
Rates are percentages, not absolute counts. 2021 FIES data is the most recent full regional breakdown available.
PSA Regional Poverty Statistics 2021
Income class distribution
Using PSA 2023 thresholds: a family of 5 is poor if monthly income is below ₱12,030. The low-income bracket (₱12,030–₱36,090) encompasses the largest share — these are the working poor who earn above poverty but remain financially vulnerable.
PSA FIES Income Classification 2023
Government welfare programs
The Philippines runs several poverty-targeted programs. 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program) is the flagship conditional cash transfer, reaching 4.6M families and linked to school attendance and health check-ups.
DSWD 4Ps Annual Report 2023 · PhilSys Registry Office 2024
Under RA 11310 (4Ps Act), the Pantawid Pamilya program is now a permanent law — not just a presidential program. Qualified beneficiaries cannot be removed without due process. Grievance mechanisms at the barangay level allow families to contest improper delisting.
Key poverty-fighting laws
RA 11310 — 4Ps Act (2019)
Institutionalizes conditional cash transfers for poorest 20% of families
Read more →RA 11291 — Magna Carta of the Poor (2019)
Mandates a social protection floor for all Filipinos below the poverty line
Read more →RA 10707 — Solo Parents Act (2015 amendment)
Financial and social benefits including flexible work arrangements for solo parents
Read more →RA 9994 — Expanded Senior Citizens Act
20% discount and PhilHealth coverage for all seniors aged 60+
Read more →Rights of poor and marginalized Filipinos
Right to free government legal assistance through the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) — no income threshold required
Right to 4Ps cash transfer if family is in the poorest income decile and has children aged 0–18
Right to PhilHealth Indigent Program — free hospitalization for those who cannot pay
Right to free public education from Kinder to Grade 12 (RA 10533 — K to 12 Act)
Right to Libreng Sakay — free bus rides in Metro Manila for students, workers, and senior citizens
Right to financial assistance under AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations) from DSWD