02/07/2026
The Philippines is now officially an "upper middle income" country (even if we don’t feel it in our wallets)
The World Bank has one main way of sorting countries: average income per person, called GNI per capita. Ours just hit $4,850, crossing the $4,636 line that separates "lower middle income" from "upper middle income."
We were stuck in that lower bracket since 1987, so yes, totoo naman siya.
This is an average and it includes OFW earnings sent home. It doesn't mean our paychecks grew. Prices are still high, underemployment is still high.
Yes the label can help long term (credit rating, investor confidence) but it won't change your budget tomorrow.
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.PP.CD?locations=PH