Poverty and living standards in Central Visayas (Region VII), Philippines: official figures
12.3% of families in Central Visayas lived below the poverty line in 2023 (official poverty statistics), against 10.9% of families nationally; it ranks 9th highest of 17 regions for poverty. Since 2024 the Negros Island Region is counted as a region of its own, so this figure leaves out Negros.
Is poverty falling in Central Visayas?
Family poverty in Central Visayas fell from 22.0% in 2021 to 12.3% in 2023, by 9.7 percentage points; nationally it moved from 13.2% to 10.9%.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow has poverty in Central Visayas changed since 2018?
Since 2018, when 12.2% of families in Central Visayas were poor, the rate has risen by 0.1 percentage points to 12.3% in 2023; the national rate went from 12.1% to 10.9%.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyWhat is the poverty line in Central Visayas?
The official poverty line in Central Visayas was ₱34,553 a year per person in 2023 (about ₱2,879 a month); the national line was ₱33,296 a year, and Central Visayas ranks 4th highest of 17 regions for the level of the line.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow many people in Central Visayas are in the poorest fifth?
In the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey 24.8% of people in Central Visayas were in the poorest fifth of the national wealth index, and 15.6% were in the richest fifth (a country-wide split would be 20% each); it ranks 8th lowest of 17 regions for the poorest fifth. This source predates the Negros Island Region, created in 2024, so it has no separate figure for Negros.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many homes in Central Visayas have earth or bamboo floors?
13.3% of households in Central Visayas lived in homes with rudimentary floors (earth, wood plank, palm or bamboo) in 2022, against 11.3% nationally; it ranks 9th highest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many households in Central Visayas cook with clean fuel?
55.8% of households in Central Visayas cooked with clean fuel (such as electricity or LPG) in 2022 (national: 59.5%); it ranks 6th highest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow Central Visayas (Region VII) compares with other regions
People in the poorest fifth of the national wealth index (2022)
Central Visayas (Region VII) ranks 10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Bicol Region (Region V) | 29.3% |
| 8 | Western Visayas (Region VI) | 26.1% |
| 9 | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | 25.7% |
| 10 | Central Visayas (Region VII) | 24.8% |
| 11 | Davao Region (Region XI) | 23.7% |
| 12 | Cagayan Valley (Region II) | 14.6% |
| 13 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) | 12.4% |
Households cooking with clean fuel (2022)
Central Visayas (Region VII) ranks 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | CALABARZON (Region IV-A) | 84.1% |
| 4 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) | 77.0% |
| 5 | Ilocos Region (Region I) | 57.9% |
| 6 | Central Visayas (Region VII) | 55.8% |
| 7 | Cagayan Valley (Region II) | 53.1% |
| 8 | Davao Region (Region XI) | 47.3% |
| 9 | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | 43.9% |
Poverty incidence among families (2023)
Central Visayas (Region VII) ranks 9 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) | 17.0% |
| 7 | MIMAROPA Region (Region IV-B) | 16.3% |
| 8 | Caraga (Region XIII) | 14.9% |
| 9 | Central Visayas (Region VII) | 12.3% |
| 10 | Davao Region (Region XI) | 11.3% |
| 11 | Western Visayas (Region VI) | 9.8% |
| 12 | Ilocos Region (Region I) | 8.4% |
Change in family poverty incidence, 2021 to 2023 (percentage points) (2021-2023)
Central Visayas (Region VII) ranks 16 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)
Central Visayas (Region VII) ranks 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Luzon (Region III) | ₱38,510 |
| 2 | National Capital Region (NCR) | ₱37,711 |
| 3 | CALABARZON (Region IV-A) | ₱37,096 |
| 4 | Central Visayas (Region VII) | ₱34,553 |
| 5 | Ilocos Region (Region I) | ₱34,454 |
| 6 | Bicol Region (Region V) | ₱33,575 |
| 7 | Northern Mindanao (Region X) | ₱33,513 |
More on Central Visayas (Region VII): 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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