One in every two Filipinos now says life has become harder over the past year, according to a new Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that points to widening economic strain across households.
The March 24–31, 2026 survey found that 50 percent of adult respondents said their quality of life worsened compared to 12 months earlier.
About 23 percent reported improvement, while 26 percent said their situation remained unchanged.
SWS uses a “Net Gainers” score to measure overall sentiment by subtracting the percentage of those who say life worsened from those who say it improved.
The latest figure stood at -26, meaning there are 26 percentage points more Filipinos who feel worse off than those who feel better off.
The latest reading marks a steep decline from -7 in November 2025 and represents the lowest level recorded in more than four years, dating back to the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.
The survey results suggest a reversal of earlier recovery trends seen in 2023 and parts of 2024, when more Filipinos were beginning to report improvements in living conditions following the pandemic period.
SWS said the decline reflects a broad-based deterioration in sentiment rather than isolated cases, with negative perceptions recorded across major regions of the country.
Mindanao and Metro Manila posted the lowest Net Gainers score at -31.
The Visayas followed at -25, while Balance Luzon registered -23.
All regions showed weaker results compared to late 2025, with Mindanao posting the sharpest drop.
The downward trend also appeared across both urban and rural areas, indicating that the perception of worsening conditions is not limited to specific localities.
Age data showed that older Filipinos felt the impact more strongly. Respondents aged 55 and above recorded -39, while those aged 45 to 54 posted -38.
Younger adults aged 18 to 24 registered -4, showing a less negative but still downward sentiment.
SWS noted that the results cut across gender and educational attainment, although the decline was more pronounced among respondents with lower levels of schooling.
The survey asked respondents: “Kung ikukumpara ang uri ng inyong kasalukuyang pamumuhay sa nakaraang 12 buwan, masasabi ba ninyo na ang uri ng inyong pamumuhay ay MAS MABUTI KAYSA NOON, KAPAREHO NG DATI, o MAS MASAMA KAYSA NOON?”
For many respondents, the answer leaned increasingly toward “worse,” reflecting what SWS described as a growing perception of financial pressure and uncertainty affecting daily living conditions.
The survey did not attribute causes but comes amid continuing concerns over rising costs and household pressures that have shaped public sentiment in recent months. (LLP)
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