SWS Q1: 23.2% of Filipino familes experienced involuntary hunger

There are more Filipino families that have experienced involuntary hunger in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the last quarter of 2025, according to the national Social Weather Survey conducted from March 24-31, 2026.

The number of Filipino families that experienced involuntary hunger, being hungry and having nothing to eat, at least once in the past three months rose to 23.2% in March 2026 from 20.1% in November 2025, an increase by 3.1 points.

The figure is also considered the highest since the 27.2% recorded in March 2025 and 3.0 points above the 20.2% average of 2025, and 2.1 points above the record-high 21.1% average of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Incidence of hunger higher in all areas except in Mindanao

The SWS reported that as of March 2026, the experience of hunger is highest in the Visayas at 28.0%, followed by Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila) at 22.4%, Metro Manila at 22.0%, and Mindanao at 21.7%.

"The 3.1-point rise in hunger between November 2025 and March 2026 was due to increases in all areas except in Mindanao," the SWS reported.

Compared to November 2025, the incidence of hunger rose by 7.7 points from 20.3% in the Visayas, by 5.7 points from 16.7% in Balance Luzon, and by 1.7 points from 20.3% in Metro Manila.

The incidence of hunger, however, fell by 5.0 points from 26.7% in Mindanao.

The First Quarter 2026 Social Weather Survey was conducted from March 24 to 31, 2026, using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide. There were 300 respondents each in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao, and 600 in Balance Luzon.

The sampling error margins are ±3% for national percentages, ±6% each for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao, and ±4% for Balance Luzon.

Moderate Hunger, Severe Hunger

The SWS explained that the 23.2% hunger rate in March 2026 was the sum of 17.7% who experienced Moderate Hunger, refers to those who experienced hunger “Only Once” or “A Few Times” in the last three months, while 5.5% experienced Severe Hunger that refers to those who experienced it “Often” or “Always” in the previous three months.

The number of families that experienced Moderate Hunger in March 2026, compared to November 2025, rose by 2.1 points from 15.6%, while Severe Hunger fell by 1.0 point from 4.5%.

In Metro Manila, Moderate Hunger rose by 1.3 points from 14.0% in November 2025 to 15.3% in March 2026, while Severe Hunger rose by 0.4 points from 6.3% to 6.7%.

In Balance Luzon, Moderate Hunger rose by 3.9 points from 12.7% to 16.6%, while Severe Hunger rose by 1.8 points from 4.0% to 5.8%.

In the Visayas, Moderate Hunger rose by 5.0 points from 16.7% to 21.7%, while Severe Hunger rose by 2.7 points from 3.7% to 6.3%.

In Mindanao, Moderate Hunger fell by 3.7 points from 21.7% to 18.0%, while Severe Hunger fell by 1.3 points from 5.0% to 3.7%. — BAP, GMA News