In 2023, a family of five in the Philippines had a poverty threshold of a little 13,873 Philippine pesos per month. That was higher than the monthly poverty threshold in 2018, which amounted to around about 12,000 Philippine pesos.

Based on preliminary results in 2023, the proportion of families in the Philippines with income below the poverty threshold was estimated at **** percent, lower than the estimate for 2018. In that year, the average per capita food threshold reached ****** Philippine pesos.

Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty lines (% of population) in Philippines was reported at 15.5 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Philippines - Poverty headcount ratio at national poverty line (% of population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Philippines Per Capita Poverty Threshold: CALABARZON data was reported at 22,121.000 PHP in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 19,137.000 PHP for 2012. Philippines Per Capita Poverty Threshold: CALABARZON data is updated yearly, averaging 13,670.000 PHP from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2015, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 22,121.000 PHP in 2015 and a record low of 6,409.000 PHP in 1991. Philippines Per Capita Poverty Threshold: CALABARZON data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Philippine Statistics Authority. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Philippines – Table PH.H025: Family Income and Expenditure Survey: Poverty Statistics and Proportion of Poor Population: By Regions.

Historical dataset showing Philippines poverty rate by year from 1985 to 2023.

In 2023, a family of five in the Philippines had an estimated food threshold of about 9,581 Philippine pesos per month. That was higher than the monthly poverty threshold in 2015.

The poverty incidence among farmers in the Philippines was at **** percent in 2023, indicating a decrease from the previous year. The share of farmers belonging to families living below the official poverty threshold declined since 2015.

Based on preliminary results in 2023, it was estimated that there were about 17.54 million poor people in the Philippines, indicating a decrease from 20 million in 2021. In that year, the average per capita food threshold reached 23,000 Philippine pesos.

Abstract

Estimated at 10 to 20 percent of the 109 million population in Philippines, Indigenous Peoples (IPs) are among the poorest and most marginalized, although they live in regions with vast natural resources. The lack of representation of IPs in official surveys and administrative data prevents an accurate assessment of their living conditions and the socio-economic challenges they face. This silences their voice, obscures state accountability towards them, and limits their agency to take on a more active role in society. The few available data and anecdotal evidence reveal that IPs face important inequalities of opportunity in several human development dimensions, which are likely aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the extent of these inequalities is not well understood, due to scant data and research on IPs. The lack of surveys with information on ethnicity has also made it difficult to examine the type and extent of inequalities among and within ethnic groups in the country, as well as the impact of intersectionality with gender, disability, and place of residence on their inclusion. This represents a significant challenge when creating public policy at the national level or poverty reduction programs at the local level, as IPs remain unnoticed, unaccounted for, and ultimately deprived of their rights and any real benefit.

Therefore, reliable data on IPs is urgently needed, particularly in this COVID-19 era where IPs can be disproportionately disadvantaged due to legacies of inequality and exclusion. Hence, to collect data and inform evidence-based policy/decision making to better target the needs of IPs, the World Bank commissioned this first ever IP-specific household (HH) survey in Philippines to Philippine Survey and Research Center, Inc. (PSRC).

The main objective of this quantitative household survey is to improve the current understanding about the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) population in the Philippines, and eventually, craft strategies when addressing inequality or representation of the group. Specifically, the study aims to: 1. Collect as much data and inform evidence-based policy/decision making to better target the needs of IPs; 2. Gauge a better view/understanding of the IPs’ poverty, socio-economic condition and the exercise of their rights; 3. Add current knowledge into the ongoing World Bank Advisory Services and Analytics on the Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines.

Geographic coverage

Selected IP areas in the Philippines

Analysis unit

Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Non-Indigenous Peoples (NIPs) with the following specifications: • Male/Female • 18 years old and above

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Stratified multi-stage area probability sampling was employed as follows: • Stratification: The sample was stratified by region and by locale (i.e., urban/rural) • First Stage: Independent random selection of PSUs (barangays) within the strata • Second Stage: Selection of SSUs (households) within the sampled PSUs

A household is defined as a social unit consisting of a person or a group of persons who sleep in the same housing unit and have a common arrangement in the preparation and consumption of food. Household is often comprised of individuals related by blood . Other members of households not related to the household head by blood such as helper, borders, and non relatives can be included as member of the household as long they prepare and consume food together and do not go home to the fa mily more than once in a week. The domain was the Philippines’ 17 administrative regions. Using the Indigenous Peoples (IP) household population from the 2020 Census, the following information were computed: • Proportion of IP household population from Census for each region • Proportion of each region out of total IP household population

To manage cost and timings, sampling coverage was focused on regions greater than or about 3% from both information above and IP household population of at least 250,000. The 2,400 sample was then split into these regions to arrive at the desired area cuts: • CAR • Other Selected Luzon Regions (Cagayan Valley, MIMAROPA) • Western Visayas • Other Mindanao Regions (Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, CARAGA) • BARMM

From the sample of 2,400, there were 240 PSUs across the 10 covered regions. The 240 PSUs covered were split proportionately across the 10 regions using the IP household population. The table below shows the sampling breakdown at regional level.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Available in the English language but conducted in either English or Tagalog

Response rate

To achieve 2,400 completed interviews, 12,131 households were approached/ knocked. Of the 12,131 households knocked, 2,273 refused, 3,028 gave no reply or door locked, and 4,430 were not eligible given the specific requirements that we were looking for. The response rate among eligible interviews is 51%. Response rate is higher in Luzon and lowest in Mindanao.

Unemployment Rate in Philippines decreased to 3.90 percent in May from 4.10 percent in April of 2025. This dataset provides - Philippines Unemployment Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Based on preliminary results in 2023, it was estimated that there were about 4.84 million food poor people in the Philippines, indicating a decrease from 6.55 million in 2021. In that year, the average per capita food threshold reached 23,000 Philippine pesos.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Philippines expanded 5.40 percent in the first quarter of 2025 over the same quarter of the previous year. This dataset provides - Philippines GDP Annual Growth Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Based on preliminary results in 2023, it was estimated that there were about 0.74 million food poor families in the Philippines, indicating a significant decline from 1.04 million in 2021. In that year, the average per capita food threshold reached 23,000 Philippine pesos.

The number of poor farmers in the Philippines was estimated at *** million in 2023, or those belonging to poor families with a per capita income of less than the per capita poverty threshold. This was significantly lower than the estimated number in 2015.

In 2024, the total population of the Philippines was at approximately 114.17 million inhabitants. For the foreseeable future, the Filipino population is expected to increase slightly, despite a current overall downward trend in population growth. The dwindling Filipino population For now, the population figures in the Philippines still show a steady increase and the country is still one of the most densely populated countries in the Asia-Pacific region, however, all signs point to a decline in the number of inhabitants in the long run: Just like the population growth rate, the country’s fertility rate, for example, has also been decreasing for years now, while the death rate has been increasing simultaneously.   Poor healthcare to blame One of the reasons for the downward trend is the aging population; fewer babies are born each year, while life expectancy at birth has been steady over the years. Another reason is poor healthcare in the country: The Philippines have a high tuberculosis incidence rate, a highly infectious disease, and are among the countries with a high probability of death from noncommunicable diseases as well.