More Filipino families reported experiencing hunger in the first quarter of 2026, with the national hunger rate climbing to 23.2%, according to a Social Weather Stations survey released on May 12.
The figure means nearly one in four Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger, which SWS defines as “being hungry and having nothing to eat” at least once in the past three months. The survey was conducted from March 24 to 31 through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults nationwide.
The latest rate increased by 3.1 percentage points from 20.1% in November 2025. It was also 3 percentage points higher than the 2025 average of 20.2%, making it the highest recorded level since March 2025, when hunger reached 27.2%.
The Visayas recorded the highest hunger incidence among major areas at 28%. Luzon outside Metro Manila followed at 22.4%, while Metro Manila posted 22% and Mindanao registered 21.7%.
SWS said the national increase was driven by higher hunger rates in all major areas except Mindanao. Hunger rose by 7.7 percentage points in the Visayas, increased by 5.7 points in Luzon outside Metro Manila and went up by 1.7 points in Metro Manila. Mindanao was the only major area where hunger declined, falling by 5 percentage points.
The 23.2% national rate included 17.7% of families who experienced moderate hunger and 5.5% who experienced severe hunger. Moderate hunger refers to those who went hungry “Only Once” or “A Few Times” in the past three months, while severe hunger covers those who experienced it “Often” or “Always.”
The figures also showed hunger reports increasing across income groups. Among self-rated poor families, hunger slightly rose from 27% in November 2025 to 27.5% in March 2026. Among non-poor families, it climbed more sharply from 13% to 18.5%.
The survey had a national sampling error margin of ±3%.
