Zamboanga, BARMM have highest poverty rate; NCR 'least poor' among regions

MANILA, Philippines — The Zamboanga Peninsula has the highest poverty incidence among the country's regions, according to 2023 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority on Thursday.

Of households in Zamboanga or Region IX, 24.4% are living and earning below the poverty threshold. That means one of every four families there are very poor.

It is followed by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with a poverty incidence of 23.5%.

The poverty threshold per family for the Zamboanga Peninsula is at P13,897 per month, while the threshold for BARMM is P12,884. The poverty threshold is the minimum level of income or expenses is required to meet basic needs.

The newly established Negros Island Region is the third poorest region, with a poverty incidence of 22.6% and a poverty threshold of P14,185.

Lowest poverty rate. The National Capital Region (NCR) had the lowest poverty incidence at 1.1% but with a higher poverty threshold of P15,713.

"At the sub-national level, NCR remained the least poor among the regions, with a poverty incidence among families estimated at 1.1% in 2023," the PSA said in its report.

Here are the poverty incidences per region in 2023, with their respective poverty thresholds.

    NCR: 1.1% (poverty threshold: P15,713)
    Cordillera Administrative Region: 4.4% (poverty threshold: P13,239)
    Ilocos Region: 8.4% (poverty threshold: P14,356)
    Cagayan Valley:  7.2% (poverty threshold: P13,400)
    Central Luzon: 5.7% (poverty threshold: P16,046)  
    Calabarzon: 5.3% (poverty threshold: P15,457)
    Mimaropa: 16.3% (poverty threshold: P12,697)
    Bicol: 20.3% (poverty threshold: P13,989)
    Western Visayas: 9.8% (poverty threshold: P13,801)
    Negros Island Region: 22.6% (poverty threshold: P14,185)
    Central Visayas: 12.3% (poverty threshold: P14,397)
    Eastern Visayas: 20.3% (poverty threshold: P13,492)
    Zamboanga Peninsula: 24.4% (poverty threshold: P13,897)
    Northern Mindanao: 18.4% (poverty threshold: P13,964)
    Davao: 11.3% (poverty threshold: P13,134)  
    SOCCSKSARGEN: 17% (poverty threshold: P12,241)  
    Caraga: 14.9% (poverty threshold: P12,319)  
    BARMM: 23.5% (poverty threshold: P12,884)