NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
More Filipinos Say Life Got Worse As Sws Survey Hits Four Year Low
Photo credit: DA
More Filipinos are feeling the strain of daily life, with a new survey showing a sharp drop in how people view their quality of living.
The latest poll by Social Weather Stations found that half of adult Filipinos—50 percent—said their quality of life has worsened over the past year. Only 23 percent said things improved, while 26 percent said their situation stayed the same.
That gap translates to a Net Gainers score of -26, a level classified as “low” and a steep decline from -7 recorded in November 2025. It’s also the lowest reading in over four years, or since the height of the pandemic in 2021.
The drop was felt across the country.
Mindanao and Metro Manila posted the lowest scores at -31, both considered “very low,” followed by the Visayas at -25 and the rest of Luzon at -23. Compared to late last year, all regions saw noticeable declines, with Mindanao taking the biggest hit.
The same downward trend showed up regardless of location or background.
Both urban and rural communities reported worsening conditions, with urban areas dropping more sharply. Men and women also shared similar views, with both groups sliding into “low” territory.
Age made a difference—but not in a good way.
Younger Filipinos aged 18 to 24 had the least negative outlook at -4, though even that marked a major drop from a positive score just months earlier. Older groups were more pessimistic, with those aged 55 and above registering the lowest at -39.
Education levels didn’t offer much relief either.
Across all categories—from those with limited schooling to college graduates—scores declined, showing that concerns about quality of life are being felt widely.
The survey, conducted from March 24 to 31, 2026, interviewed 1,500 adults nationwide through face-to-face interviews. It forms part of SWS’ long-running tracking of how Filipinos perceive their living conditions—a question the group has been asking since 1983.
Historically, scores were mostly negative until improvements began around 2015. But the COVID-19 pandemic reversed that trend, and while there were signs of recovery in recent years, the latest results suggest that many Filipinos are once again feeling the pressure.
For now, the numbers paint a clear picture: more people feel life is getting harder, not better.
The latest poll by Social Weather Stations found that half of adult Filipinos—50 percent—said their quality of life has worsened over the past year. Only 23 percent said things improved, while 26 percent said their situation stayed the same.
That gap translates to a Net Gainers score of -26, a level classified as “low” and a steep decline from -7 recorded in November 2025. It’s also the lowest reading in over four years, or since the height of the pandemic in 2021.
The drop was felt across the country.
Mindanao and Metro Manila posted the lowest scores at -31, both considered “very low,” followed by the Visayas at -25 and the rest of Luzon at -23. Compared to late last year, all regions saw noticeable declines, with Mindanao taking the biggest hit.
The same downward trend showed up regardless of location or background.
Both urban and rural communities reported worsening conditions, with urban areas dropping more sharply. Men and women also shared similar views, with both groups sliding into “low” territory.
Age made a difference—but not in a good way.
Younger Filipinos aged 18 to 24 had the least negative outlook at -4, though even that marked a major drop from a positive score just months earlier. Older groups were more pessimistic, with those aged 55 and above registering the lowest at -39.
Education levels didn’t offer much relief either.
Across all categories—from those with limited schooling to college graduates—scores declined, showing that concerns about quality of life are being felt widely.
The survey, conducted from March 24 to 31, 2026, interviewed 1,500 adults nationwide through face-to-face interviews. It forms part of SWS’ long-running tracking of how Filipinos perceive their living conditions—a question the group has been asking since 1983.
Historically, scores were mostly negative until improvements began around 2015. But the COVID-19 pandemic reversed that trend, and while there were signs of recovery in recent years, the latest results suggest that many Filipinos are once again feeling the pressure.
For now, the numbers paint a clear picture: more people feel life is getting harder, not better.
Apr 24, 2026
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