Philippines hits lowest poverty rate in recorded history
The Philippines has achieved its lowest poverty rate on record, falling to 9.7 percent in 2025. Economic planners attribute this success to sustained GDP growth, low unemployment, and effective social protection programs.
Why it matters
Reaching single-digit poverty levels ahead of schedule marks a major economic milestone for the nation's development goals.
Manila Bulletin - Philippines hits lowest poverty rate in recorded history
Philippines hits lowest poverty rate in recorded history
Densely packed stilt houses line a coastal waterway in an informal settlement. Following a historic drop in national poverty to 9.7 percent in 2025, economic planners stress that shock-responsive social protection is vital to prevent vulnerable families from slipping back below the poverty line amid global economic headwinds. (Manila Bulletin file photo)
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