MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has finally crossed into upper-middle income status—after nearly four decades as a lower-middle-income economy.
Yet for many Filipinos still grappling with poverty or the high cost of living, the milestone raises an obvious question: Does it actually reflect the reality on the ground?
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For some economists, the answer is a nuanced yes. For another, however, it is ultimately “meaningless.”FEATURED STORIES
On July 1, the World Bank reclassified the Philippines as an upper-middle-income country (UMIC) after its gross national income (GNI) per capita reached $4,850 in 2025, up from $4,470 a year earlier. This year, the threshold was between $4,636 and $14,375.
