Poverty and living standards in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines: official figures
23.5% of families in the Bangsamoro region (BARMM) lived below the poverty line in 2023 (official poverty statistics), against 10.9% of families nationally; it ranks 2nd highest of 17 regions for poverty.
Is poverty falling in the Bangsamoro region (BARMM)?
Family poverty in the Bangsamoro region (BARMM) fell from 28.0% in 2021 to 23.5% in 2023, by 4.5 percentage points; nationally it moved from 13.2% to 10.9%.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyWhat is the poverty line in the Bangsamoro region (BARMM)?
The official poverty line in the Bangsamoro region (BARMM) was ₱30,922 a year per person in 2023 (about ₱2,577 a month); the national line was ₱33,296 a year, and the Bangsamoro region (BARMM) ranks 4th lowest of 17 regions for the level of the line.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow many people in the Bangsamoro region (BARMM) are in the poorest fifth?
In the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey 73.2% of people in the Bangsamoro region (BARMM) were in the poorest fifth of the national wealth index, and 1.6% were in the richest fifth (a country-wide split would be 20% each); it ranks the highest of 17 regions for the poorest fifth.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many homes in the Bangsamoro region (BARMM) have earth or bamboo floors?
44.5% of households in the Bangsamoro region (BARMM) lived in homes with rudimentary floors (earth, wood plank, palm or bamboo) in 2022, against 11.3% nationally; it ranks 2nd highest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many households in the Bangsamoro region (BARMM) cook with clean fuel?
11.7% of households in the Bangsamoro region (BARMM) cooked with clean fuel (such as electricity or LPG) in 2022 (national: 59.5%); it ranks the lowest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) compares with other regions
People in the poorest fifth of the national wealth index (2022)
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ranks 1 of 17, highest first. Western Visayas and Central Visayas still include Negros in this source. Survey estimate with a margin of error.
| Rank | Region | People in the poorest fifth of the national wealth index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) | 73.2% |
| 2 | Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) | 49.7% |
| 3 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | 40.4% |
| 4 | Northern Mindanao (Region X) | 35.0% |
| 5 | Caraga (Region XIII) | 33.1% |
| 6 | MIMAROPA Region (Region IV-B) | 30.0% |
| 7 | Bicol Region (Region V) | 29.3% |
Households cooking with clean fuel (2022)
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ranks 17 of 17, highest first. Western Visayas and Central Visayas still include Negros in this source. Survey estimate with a margin of error.
| Rank | Region | Households cooking with clean fuel |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Caraga (Region XIII) | 33.9% |
| 12 | Northern Mindanao (Region X) | 31.8% |
| 13 | MIMAROPA Region (Region IV-B) | 31.0% |
| 14 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | 28.8% |
| 15 | Western Visayas (Region VI) | 28.4% |
| 16 | Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) | 20.7% |
| 17 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) | 11.7% |
Poverty incidence among families (2023)
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ranks 2 of 17, highest first. The Negros Island Region, created in 2024, is not listed; Western Visayas and Central Visayas exclude Negros in this table.
| Rank | Region | Poverty incidence among families |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) | 24.2% |
| 2 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) | 23.5% |
| 3 | Bicol Region (Region V) | 20.3% |
| 4 | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | 20.3% |
| 5 | Northern Mindanao (Region X) | 18.4% |
| 6 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | 17.0% |
| 7 | MIMAROPA Region (Region IV-B) | 16.3% |
Change in family poverty incidence, 2021 to 2023 (percentage points) (2021-2023)
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ranks 15 of 17, highest first. The Negros Island Region, created in 2024, is not listed; Western Visayas and Central Visayas exclude Negros in this table.
| Rank | Region | Change in family poverty incidence, 2021 to 2023 (percentage points) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Ilocos Region (Region I) | -2.6 |
| 12 | Central Luzon (Region III) | -2.6 |
| 13 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | -3.9 |
| 14 | Cagayan Valley (Region II) | -4.5 |
| 15 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) | -4.5 |
| 16 | Central Visayas (Region VII) | -9.7 |
| 17 | Caraga (Region XIII) | -11.0 |
Annual per capita poverty threshold (2023)
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) ranks 14 of 17, highest first. The Negros Island Region, created in 2024, is not listed; Western Visayas and Central Visayas exclude Negros in this table.
| Rank | Region | Annual per capita poverty threshold |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Cagayan Valley (Region II) | ₱32,160 |
| 12 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) | ₱31,774 |
| 13 | Davao Region (Region XI) | ₱31,521 |
| 14 | Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) | ₱30,922 |
| 15 | MIMAROPA Region (Region IV-B) | ₱30,472 |
| 16 | Caraga (Region XIII) | ₱29,565 |
| 17 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | ₱29,379 |
More on Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM): overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the Philippines
Sources
- Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program): 2022 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey: selected national and regional indicators (DHS Program API), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 401a0e9d6912…)
- Philippine Statistics Authority: Official poverty statistics, Table 1: Annual Per Capita Poverty Threshold and Poverty Incidence Among Families with Measures of Precision, by Region and Province: 2018, 2021 and 2023 (OpenStat table 0011F3DF010, CSV export), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5a5a465011bf…)
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