The SWS Surveys of Philippine Hunger, 1998–2024

Eliminating hunger and poverty is central to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the Philippines addresses this through both national policy and empirical monitoring. This paper presents findings from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey series, which have measured self-reported poverty since 1985 and hunger since 1998. Conducted quarterly through nationwide face-to-face interviews—except during the 2020 lockdowns when mobile phone surveys were used—the SWS provides a uniquely consistent and extensive dataset. The paper highlights recent trends showing a resurgence of hunger, with the September 2024 survey recording the highest level since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hunger is most prevalent in Mindanao and among self-rated poor and food-poor households, and it fluctuates across regions, socioeconomic classes, and food quality assessments. The study also examines the link between hunger and self-rated poverty, noting that they often move together but at times diverge. These insights contribute to understanding the persistence of hunger and poverty in the Philippines and their implications for policy.