89% of Pinoys entering new year with hope, lowest since 2009 – SWS

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January 2, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Although still a majority, the number of Filipinos who entered the new year with hope has dropped to its lowest since 2009, a survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The survey, conducted from Nov. 24 to 30, found that 89 percent of the respondents entered 2026 with hope.

It was down from 90 percent in December 2024 and the lowest since the 89 percent obtained in December 2009.

Meanwhile, 11 percent said they entered 2026 with fear, up from 10 percent in December 2024. It was also at 11 percent in December 2009.

Those who entered the new year with fear was lowest among those in Mindanao at 84 percent, followed by those in the Visayas at 85 percent, Metro Manila at 90 percent and the rest of Luzon at 92 percent.

It was lowest among non-elementary graduates at 81 percent, followed by elementary graduates (86 percent),
junior high school graduates (90 percent), college graduates (91 percent) and those with some senior high school education (93 percent).

Earlier results of the fourth quarter survey released by SWS showed that 36 percent of the respondents felt their quality of life worsened in the past year.

It went up from 32 percent in September and 23 percent at the end of 2024.

Only 29 percent of the respondents said their lives improved in the past 12 months, while 34 percent said it stayed the same.

The survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent.