In 2005, Loreto’s poverty incidence was 71.65 which was described as “significantly above average” based on a partial survey with CBMS. In 2015, the municipality’s poverty incidence was at around 49 %. Although it decreased by 22 %, it is still under “significantly above average” based on FIES 2003 standard. The 2018 CBMS survey revealed that 56.96% or 5,317 households are living with an income below the poverty threshold (Php 22,957 per capita annually).
The proportion living below the food threshold (Php 16,013 per capita annually) is 46.97% or 4, 385 households. The barangays with the highest proportion of (households) below the poverty threshold are Kasapa (282 households) or 91.9% of its total household (307). Kapda has the second-highest proportion (90 households) or 90.9% (out of 97 households). Among its 24 barangays, only Mabuhay has a proportion of below 40%. It has the lowest proportion of households below the poverty threshold which is 27.5% of 77, of its total household. The rest of the barangays have a proportion of households below the poverty threshold between 40% - 89% of their total household which ranges from 82 to 1,420.
Barangay Poblacion has the highest proportion of households with income below the poverty/food threshold. The proportion of households with income below the food threshold in the barangay is 33.5% of its total households or 476 households.