Philippine poverty reporting and measurement

The Philippines has reported a significant decrease in poverty incidence, with individual poverty falling to 9.7 percent in 2025 from 18.1 percent in 2021. Officials at the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development characterized this as a major success, noting that 8.8 million Filipinos were lifted out of poverty over a four-year period.

However, the reported figures have faced scrutiny regarding measurement methodology. Critics have noted that the current poverty threshold for a family of five is based on a food bundle that National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa previously acknowledged as “really insufficient.” Additionally, rising costs for fuel, healthcare, and general living expenses continue to impact financial security for many families.

To complement income-based metrics, the Philippine Statistics Authority has released the country’s first Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). This index reveals that between 12% and 12.8% of Filipinos experience multidimensional poverty, which assesses deprivations in areas such as education, health, nutrition, housing, and sanitation. Data indicates that education is the most significant contributor to multidimensional poverty, particularly among adults who did not complete high school.