Hunger Filipinos Hits 20% in April 2025 – SWS
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JUNE 29,2025
MANILA, Philippines — Hunger continues to burden many Filipino families. According to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, 20% of Filipinos experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the last three months.
The number rose slightly from 19.1% in a previous April survey. This came after a significant drop from 27.2% in March. The latest survey took place from April 23 to 28, 2025 and involved 1,500 adult respondents. The margin of error is ±3%.
Mindanao Posts Highest Hunger Rate
Mindanao recorded the highest hunger rate at 26.3%. This was a sharp increase of 9 points from 17.3% earlier in April.
Metro Manila followed with 20.3%, while the Visayas logged 19.7%. Balance Luzon had the lowest at 17%.
Compared to the April 11–15 survey, hunger in Metro Manila dropped by 5.7 points, and Balance Luzon saw a 3.5-point decline. However, hunger in Mindanao and the Visayas rose by 9 and 5.4 points, respectively.
Hunger Filipinos Moderate and Severe Hunger Breakdown
Of the total 20%, 16.4% of families experienced moderate hunger, meaning they went hungry “only once” or “a few times.”
Severe hunger was reported by 3.6%, meaning they experienced it “often” or “always.”
Moderate and severe hunger dropped in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon, but increased in the Visayas and Mindanao.
In Mindanao, severe hunger rose from 3.7% to 5%.
Poor Households Still Hit the Hardest
Hunger remained more common among self-rated poor families. In April, 50% of families identified as poor, 8% as borderline, and 42% as not poor.
Among the less fortunate, hunger rose slightly from 24.4% to 25.9%. Among the non-poor, it increased from 13.4% to 14.1%
Hunger Filipinos Highest Among the Food-Poor
The survey also measured self-rated food poverty.
41% of families considered themselves food-poor, and this group had the highest hunger rate.
Hunger among the food-poor dropped from 35.7% in December 2024 to 28.4%. Among the non-food-poor, it declined slightly from 15.6% to 14.1%.
A Nation in Need of Support
The results show a troubling trend. Hunger is still a major concern, especially in areas like Mindanao and among poor households. NOWTREND
There is a growing need for food assistance programs, economic relief, and livelihood support.
The hunger crisis shows that many Filipino families are still struggling to meet basic needs in 2025.
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