GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Beautiful view of Lima's coastline merging with the urban skyline and lush greenery.Stunning aerial view of Lima's coastline featuring cliffs and modern buildings by the Pacific Ocean.

Peru

South America

Medium safetyVery affordable cost of livingHigh development

Access to essential health services is patchy.

BackpackerVery affordable cost of living.
vs Ecuadorvs Colombiavs Bolivia
Safety

106th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.120lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#106 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
8.6per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2021
Safety index
33.1Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$8,430national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
11.3New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
15.0years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 209% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 68% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$10K$20K$18,816 PPP$9,684Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $3,130 a person, $7,214 at PPP, inflation 2%2007, $3,581 a person, $7,982 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2008, $4,198 a person, $8,820 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2009, $4,181 a person, $8,917 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2010, $5,072 a person, $9,713 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2011, $5,861 a person, $10,463 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2012, $6,519 a person, $10,757 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2013, $6,747 a person, $11,291 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2014, $6,667 a person, $11,518 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2015, $6,232 a person, $11,600 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2016, $6,217 a person, $12,067 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2017, $6,736 a person, $12,592 at PPP, inflation 3%2018, $6,978 a person, $13,078 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2019, $7,037 a person, $13,564 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2020, $6,133 a person, $12,563 at PPP, inflation 2%2021, $6,829 a person, $15,286 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2022, $7,354 a person, $16,674 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2023, $7,919 a person, $17,042 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2024, $8,526 a person, $17,882 at PPP, inflation 2%2025, $9,684 a person, $18,816 at PPP, inflation 1.5%$0$10K$20KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $3,130 a person, $7,214 at PPP, inflation 2%2007, $3,581 a person, $7,982 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2008, $4,198 a person, $8,820 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2009, $4,181 a person, $8,917 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2010, $5,072 a person, $9,713 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2011, $5,861 a person, $10,463 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2012, $6,519 a person, $10,757 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2013, $6,747 a person, $11,291 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2014, $6,667 a person, $11,518 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2015, $6,232 a person, $11,600 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2016, $6,217 a person, $12,067 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2017, $6,736 a person, $12,592 at PPP, inflation 3%2018, $6,978 a person, $13,078 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2019, $7,037 a person, $13,564 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2020, $6,133 a person, $12,563 at PPP, inflation 2%2021, $6,829 a person, $15,286 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2022, $7,354 a person, $16,674 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2023, $7,919 a person, $17,042 at PPP, inflation 6.5%2024, $8,526 a person, $17,882 at PPP, inflation 2%2025, $9,684 a person, $18,816 at PPP, inflation 1.5%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Above-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
77.9years, at birthHigh
#60 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
68WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
16.2PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
5.1%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
260 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
519EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet260 MbpsVery fast
Mobile38 MbpsVery slow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Stunning aerial view of Lima's coastline featuring cliffs and modern buildings by the Pacific Ocean.
How it changed

Peru's Human Development Index

0.794High human development

79th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 4th of 12 in South America.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #76Thailand0.798
  2. #78China0.797
  3. #79Peru0.794
  4. #80Grenada0.791
  5. #81Azerbaijan0.789
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.625 in 1990 to 0.794 in 2023.

0.600.720.850.79419902000201020231990: 0.6251991: 0.6281992: 0.6291993: 0.6331994: 0.6441995: 0.6541996: 0.6581997: 0.6631998: 0.6711999: 0.6802000: 0.6822001: 0.6902002: 0.6902003: 0.6892004: 0.6942005: 0.6912006: 0.6972007: 0.7082008: 0.7142009: 0.7172010: 0.7312011: 0.7382012: 0.7482013: 0.7572014: 0.7632015: 0.7682016: 0.7752017: 0.7752018: 0.7802019: 0.7842020: 0.7692021: 0.7642022: 0.7902023: 0.7940.600.720.8519902000201020231990: 0.6251991: 0.6281992: 0.6291993: 0.6331994: 0.6441995: 0.6541996: 0.6581997: 0.6631998: 0.6711999: 0.6802000: 0.6822001: 0.6902002: 0.6902003: 0.6892004: 0.6942005: 0.6912006: 0.6972007: 0.7082008: 0.7142009: 0.7172010: 0.7312011: 0.7382012: 0.7482013: 0.7572014: 0.7632015: 0.7682016: 0.7752017: 0.7752018: 0.7802019: 0.7842020: 0.7692021: 0.7642022: 0.7902023: 0.794

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
77.9 years2024at birthUp 6 years from 72 years in 2005
Internet users
82%2024of people onlineUp 61 points from 21% in 2006
Urban population
86%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 10 points from 75% in 2006
Births per woman
1.972024births per womanDown 0.67 from 2.64 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
31%2021of energy usedDown 7 points from 38% in 2004
Access to electricity
97%2024of people with electricityUp 19 points from 77% in 2005
Infant mortality
112024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 10 from 21 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
2 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.9 t from 1.1 t in 2005
Forest area
56%2023of land under forestDown 2 points from 58% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

World-class cuisine and ancient history; political instability, but tourist zones are safe. The case against is patchy access to essential health services.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalLima
  • LanguagesAymara, Quechua, Spanish
  • CurrencyPeruvian sol (PEN)
  • Area1,280,000 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B/C
  • Drives on theright
Weigh Peru against your priorities
Every figure

Everything we hold on Peru

Compare Peru

Borders

BoliviaBrazilChileColombiaEcuador

Side by side

vs Ecuadorvs Colombiavs Boliviavs ChileCompare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Peru's Human Development Index?

Peru's Human Development Index is 0.794 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #79 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Peru safe?

Peru scores 2.12 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #106 of 161 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.