Poverty and living standards in Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), Philippines: official figures
20.3% of families in Eastern Visayas lived below the poverty line in 2023 (official poverty statistics), against 10.9% of families nationally; it ranks joint 3rd highest of 17 regions for poverty.
Is poverty falling in Eastern Visayas?
Family poverty in Eastern Visayas fell from 22.2% in 2021 to 20.3% in 2023, by 1.9 percentage points; nationally it moved from 13.2% to 10.9%.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow has poverty in Eastern Visayas changed since 2018?
Since 2018, when 23.9% of families in Eastern Visayas were poor, the rate has fallen by 3.6 percentage points to 20.3% in 2023; the national rate went from 12.1% to 10.9%.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyWhat is the poverty line in Eastern Visayas?
The official poverty line in Eastern Visayas was ₱32,381 a year per person in 2023 (about ₱2,698 a month); the national line was ₱33,296 a year, and Eastern Visayas ranks 8th lowest of 17 regions for the level of the line.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow many people in Eastern Visayas are in the poorest fifth?
In the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey 25.7% of people in Eastern Visayas were in the poorest fifth of the national wealth index, and 17.0% were in the richest fifth (a country-wide split would be 20% each); it ranks 9th highest of 17 regions for the poorest fifth.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many homes in Eastern Visayas have earth or bamboo floors?
15.7% of households in Eastern Visayas lived in homes with rudimentary floors (earth, wood plank, palm or bamboo) in 2022, against 11.3% nationally; it ranks 7th highest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many households in Eastern Visayas cook with clean fuel?
43.9% of households in Eastern Visayas cooked with clean fuel (such as electricity or LPG) in 2022 (national: 59.5%); it ranks 9th highest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) compares with other regions
People in the poorest fifth of the national wealth index (2022)
Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) ranks 9 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | MIMAROPA Region (Region IV-B) | 30.0% |
| 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% |
Households cooking with clean fuel (2022)
Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) ranks 9 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 10 | Bicol Region (Region V) | 37.9% |
| 11 | Caraga (Region XIII) | 33.9% |
| 12 | Northern Mindanao (Region X) | 31.8% |
Poverty incidence among families (2023)
Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) 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 | 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)
Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) ranks 7 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Northern Mindanao (Region X) | -0.8 |
| 5 | National Capital Region (NCR) | -1.1 |
| 6 | Bicol Region (Region V) | -1.6 |
| 7 | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | -1.9 |
| 8 | CALABARZON (Region IV-A) | -1.9 |
| 9 | Western Visayas (Region VI) | -2.3 |
| 10 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) | -2.5 |
Annual per capita poverty threshold (2023)
Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) ranks 10 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Northern Mindanao (Region X) | ₱33,513 |
| 8 | Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) | ₱33,353 |
| 9 | Western Visayas (Region VI) | ₱33,122 |
| 10 | Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) | ₱32,381 |
| 11 | Cagayan Valley (Region II) | ₱32,160 |
| 12 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) | ₱31,774 |
| 13 | Davao Region (Region XI) | ₱31,521 |
More on Eastern Visayas (Region VIII): 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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