Only 38% of Filipinos expect better life; lowest since 2020 – SWS

 MANILA, Philippines — Fewer Filipinos expect their lives to improve over the next 12 months, with a new survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showing personal optimism dropping to its next lowest level since 2020.

The nationwide survey, conducted from March 24 to 31 through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults, showed 38 percent of adult Filipinos expect their quality of life to improve in the next 12 months, while 32 percent said it would stay the same, and 16 percent said it would worsen.

The resulting Net Personal Optimism score, which is computed as the percentage of “optimists” minus “pessimists”, fell to a “high” +23 in March 2026.

This is 13 points down from the “very high” +36 recorded in November 2025.

SWS said the latest score is also 16 points below the 2025 average of +39 and marked the next lowest optimism level since September 2020, when the score plunged to a “mediocre” +2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since April 1984, the survey question on the respondents’ prediction of their quality-of-life change over the next 12 months has been fielded 164 times,” SWS said in its report.

“Net Personal Optimism turned negative only 11 times, hitting a record low of -19 in May 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdowns.”

Net Personal Optimism score based on location, demographics

The decline in optimism was recorded across most areas of the country.

Luzon outside Metro Manila posted the sharpest drop, falling 18 points from an “excellent” +40 in November 2025 to a “high” +22 in March 2026.

Mindanao also declined by 15 points, from +35 to +20, while Metro Manila slipped from +36 to +28.

The Visayas was the only area that remained relatively stable, easing slightly from +29 to +27.

The survey also found optimism weakening in both rural and urban areas, among men and women, and across all age groups and educational levels.

Young adults aged 18 to 24 remained the most optimistic, posting a “very high” +39, while respondents aged 55 and above recorded the lowest score at a “fair” +10.

Meanwhile, Filipinos who said their quality of life improved over the past year registered the highest optimism score at an “excellent” +40. Those who said their lives worsened posted only a “mediocre” +6.

Under SWS classifications, Net Personal Optimism scores of +40 and above are considered “excellent,” +30 to +39 “very high,” +20 to +29 “high,” +10 to +19 “fair,” and +1 to +9 “mediocre.”

The survey had a ±3 percentage-point margin of error nationwide, ±6 points in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao, and ±4 points in Luzon outside Metro Manila.  /gsg /atm