MORE Filipinos experienced involuntary hunger in December 2023, the latest poll by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The survey found that 12.6% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger—being hungry and not having anything to eat—at least once in the past three months. 

It was an increase from 9.8% in September 2023. 

”This brings the 2023 annual hunger rate to 10.7%, 1.0 point below the 11.7% average in 2022 but 1.4 points above the pre-pandemic 9.3% average in 2019,” SWS said.

Of the 12.6%, 11.2% said they experienced moderate hunger, and 1.4% experienced severe hunger. 

Moderate hunger refers to those who experienced hunger once or a few times in the last three months, while severe hunger refers to those who experienced it often or always.

Compared to September 2023, moderate hunger increased by 2.8 points from 8.4%, while severe hunger hardly moved from 1.3%.

As of December 2023, the experience of hunger was highest in Balance Luzon at 14.3%. It was followed by Metro Manila at 12.7%, Mindanao at 12.0%, and the Visayas at 9.3%. 

The survey was conducted from December 8 to 11, 2023, through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide.

Sampling error margins are ±2.8% for national percentages and ±5.7% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.