Peru
South America · South America
World-class cuisine and ancient history; political instability, but tourist zones are safe.
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Peru's Human Development Index
0.762
High human development#87 of 191 countries worldwide, #5 of 12 in South America.
Higher than 55% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Peru
Peru is one of the great destinations of South America, combining the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, the ancient floating islands of Lake Titicaca, the Amazon jungle, and the Pacific coast, all overseen by the remarkable capital Lima, which has become one of the world's foremost food cities. The culture is a vibrant blend of Andean, Amazonian, Spanish, and Asian influences, particularly visible in the extraordinary variety of cuisine. Those who take the time to go beyond Cusco and Machu Picchu will discover one of the continent's most layered and rewarding countries.
- Origin of the potato — over 4,000 varieties are still grown here.
- Machu Picchu was built without the wheel, iron tools, or mortar.
- Amazon basin covers 60% of the country — most Peruvians have never been there.
Quick Facts
Capital
Lima
Languages
Aymara, Quechua, Spanish
Currency
S/ PEN
Area
1.28M km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
260Mbps
Mobile
38Mbps
GDP / Capita
$10K
PPP / Capita
$19K
Inflation
1.5%
Unemployment
5.1%
Innovation (GII)
26.5
GNI / Capita
$8K
Tax Revenue
15.9%
FDI Inflows
3.1%
Education Spend
4.4%
Cost of Living
33.5
Price Level Index
38th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.620 → 0.762 (+0.142)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Peru's Human Development Index?
Peru's Human Development Index is 0.762 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #87 of 191 countries.
Is Peru safe?
Peru scores 2.12 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #106 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Peru?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Peru at 33.5 (New York = 100); that is #40 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Peru?
Life expectancy at birth in Peru is 77.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #60 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Peru?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Peru at 92.3, ranked #79 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.