Aklan records lowest poverty rate in Western Visayas

KALIBO, Aklan — The poverty incidence in Aklan dropped to 4.6% in 2023 from 20.2% in 2021, according to the latest statistics from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

This decrease means that approximately 46 out of every 1,000 individuals in Aklan are considered poor, equating to around 28,430 people. This figure represents a significant reduction of 94,850 from the 123,280 recorded in 2021.

Aklan’s poverty incidence is the lowest among provinces in Western Visayas, placing it among the 39 least impoverished provinces in the country, alongside Abra, Biliran, Camiguin, Davao de Oro, and Ilocos Sur.

Meanwhile, the poverty threshold, or the minimum income required to meet basic food and non-food needs, was estimated at ₱30,138. A family of five would need to earn at least ₱12,558 per month to cover daily nutritional and basic non-food requirements.

The poverty incidence among Aklanon families was estimated at 3.1% in 2023, a decrease from 13.9% in 2021. This means that 31 out of every 1,000 families, or approximately 5,000 families, are considered poor, down from 21,490 in 2021.

The per capita food threshold, or the minimum amount needed to meet an individual’s basic food needs, was estimated at ₱21,537, which translates to ₱1,795 per month. A family of five needs at least ₱8,974 per month to meet basic food needs.

On average, the income of poor families in Aklan in 2023 was 10% short of the poverty threshold. This indicates that an additional monthly income of ₱1,256 is required for a poor family with five members to rise above the poverty line.

Poverty incidence refers to the proportion of families or individuals with per capita income less than the per capita poverty threshold relative to the total number of families or individuals.