How about you? SWS poll shows 29% say life got better, 36% say it got worse over past year

Twenty-nine percent of Filipino adults reported that their quality of life had improved (gainers) compared to 12 months ago. In contrast, 36% reported that theirs had worsened (losers), according to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). 

Thirty-four percent of respondents said their quality of life remained the same. 

The November 2025 survey showed a net gainers score of -7 (% gainers minus % losers), which the polling firm classifies as “fair.” This is lower than the -2 in September and the lowest in four years since the “mediocre” -16 net gainers score in December 2021, the SWS said. 

Further, the SWS also noted that the net gainers' score is highest in Mindanao at “high” +2, followed by Balance Luzon at “fair” -7, Metro Manila at “mediocre” -12, and the Visayas at “mediocre” -14. 

The survey also showed that net gainers also declined in both urban and rural areas compared to the September results. Net gainers dropped from “high” +1 to “fair” -3 in rural areas. Meanwhile, it also fell in urban areas from “fair” 5 to “mediocre” -5. 

The non-commissioned survey was conducted from November 24 to 30 through face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults aged 18 years old and above: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila), the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The area estimates were weighted by the Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2025 to obtain the national estimates.

The respondents were asked: “Comparing your quality of life these days to how it was 12 months ago, would you say that your quality of life is BETTER NOW THAN BEFORE, SAME AS BEFORE, or WORSE NOW THAN BEFORE?” 

The sampling error margins are ±3% for national percentages and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. –NB, GMA Integrated News