A recent survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) indicates that only 38% of Filipinos expect their quality of life to improve over the next year. This marks the lowest level of optimism since 2020.
Conducted between March 24 and 31, the survey involved 1,500 adult respondents and showed that 32% expect their lives to remain the same, while 16% believe it will worsen.
The Net Personal Optimism score, calculated by subtracting pessimists from optimists, dropped to +23, a significant decline from +36 in November 2025.
This latest score is 16 points lower than the average for 2025 (+39) and is the next lowest since September 2020, when the score fell to +2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regional and Demographic Insights
The decline in optimism is evident across various regions. Luzon outside Metro Manila experienced the steepest drop, falling from +40 to +22. Mindanao also saw a decrease from +35 to +20, while Metro Manila slipped from +36 to +28. The Visayas remained relatively stable, declining slightly from +29 to +27.
Optimism levels also decreased among different demographics, affecting both urban and rural areas, and all age groups. Young adults (ages 18-24) reported the highest optimism at +39, whereas those aged 55 and above scored the lowest at +10.
Net Personal Optimism scores of +40 and above are considered 'excellent,' while scores between +10 and +19 are deemed 'fair.'
Social Weather Stations
The survey has been conducted since April 1984, with the Net Personal Optimism score turning negative only 11 times in its history, hitting a low of -19 during the strict lockdowns in May 2020.
With a margin of error of ±3 percentage points nationwide, the survey highlights a concerning trend in Filipino sentiment about their future.