Poverty and living standards in SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII), Philippines: official figures
17.0% of families in SOCCSKSARGEN lived below the poverty line in 2023 (official poverty statistics), against 10.9% of families nationally; it ranks 6th highest of 17 regions for poverty.
Is poverty falling in SOCCSKSARGEN?
Family poverty in SOCCSKSARGEN fell from 20.9% in 2021 to 17.0% in 2023, by 3.9 percentage points; nationally it moved from 13.2% to 10.9%.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyWhat is the poverty line in SOCCSKSARGEN?
The official poverty line in SOCCSKSARGEN was ₱29,379 a year per person in 2023 (about ₱2,448 a month); the national line was ₱33,296 a year, and SOCCSKSARGEN ranks the lowest of 17 regions for the level of the line.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority · saved copyHow many people in SOCCSKSARGEN are in the poorest fifth?
In the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey 40.4% of people in SOCCSKSARGEN were in the poorest fifth of the national wealth index, and 11.3% were in the richest fifth (a country-wide split would be 20% each); it ranks 3rd highest of 17 regions for the poorest fifth.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many homes in SOCCSKSARGEN have earth or bamboo floors?
13.7% of households in SOCCSKSARGEN lived in homes with rudimentary floors (earth, wood plank, palm or bamboo) in 2022, against 11.3% nationally; it ranks 8th highest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many households in SOCCSKSARGEN cook with clean fuel?
28.8% of households in SOCCSKSARGEN cooked with clean fuel (such as electricity or LPG) in 2022 (national: 59.5%); it ranks 4th lowest of 17 regions.
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) compares with other regions
People in the poorest fifth of the national wealth index (2022)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 3 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)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 14 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)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 8 | Caraga (Region XIII) | 14.9% |
| 9 | Central Visayas (Region VII) | 12.3% |
Change in family poverty incidence, 2021 to 2023 (percentage points) (2021-2023)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 13 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) | -2.5 |
| 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 |
Annual per capita poverty threshold (2023)
SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII) ranks 17 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 SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII): 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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