Based on the latest poverty estimates of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), 17.5 percent of all families in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were poor in 2012. This estimate is lower than the 2009 and 2006 poverty incidence figures, which were estimated at 19.2 and 21.1 percent, respectively. In terms of magnitude among poor families, there was a decrease of about 595 families from 66,111 in 2009 to 65,516 in 2012.

In terms of poverty incidence among population, 22.8 percent of all persons in CAR lived below the annual poverty threshold in 2012. This estimate is lower than the 2009 and 2006 figures of 25.1 and 26.0 percent, respectively. In terms of magnitude among poor population, there was a decrease of 16,326 from 390,066 in 2009 to 373,740 in 2012.

Poverty incidence of families is the proportion of poor families to total families. Poverty incidence of population is the proportion of poor individuals to total population. The poverty threshold is the per capita income required or the amount to be spent to satisfy basic food requirements and other non-food basic needs.