Peru on the Brink of Poverty
Introduction
Because of the quarantine, many people got paid less or lost their jobs, leaving them without any income. Last year's figures reflect the impact of the pandemic on the economic sector.
11 Million Peruvians are at Risk of Falling Into Poverty
By the end of last year, 11 million 430 thousand people were declared at risk of falling into poverty. Comparing the rates before the pandemic, the greatest increase in vulnerable people is observed in the Sierra with 1.4%, followed by the Selva with 1.1% and the Coast with 0.2%.
Economic vulnerability is now 0.6% higher than that registered in 2019, which means that last year it increased by 506,000 people. It should be remembered that if a family of four members cannot cover the cost of a basic consumption basket of S/.1,512 per month, it is considered to be in a situation of poverty. Regarding extreme poverty, it is estimated that they do not cover the cost of a basic food consumption basket for four people of S/.804 per month.
26 Out of Every 100 Peruvians are Currently Living in Poverty
As of 2018, 20.5% of the population of Peru is at or below the poverty line, constituting around 6,765,000 people. Only 2.8% (924,000 people) of the Peruvian population find themselves in extreme poverty.
According to INEI figures, 70% of households nationwide suffer from high financial stress, which means that it barely manages to balance their income and expenses. In 2021, the levels of poverty in our country increased significantly in all age groups, the survey indicated that this affected 37.2% of girls and boys under 5 years of age and 28.6% of adolescents from 15 to 19 of age. The INEI warns that poverty has a greater impact on these age groups since it affects their development in the future and is very likely to be perpetuated from generation to generation.
Although it is expected that we will have an economic increase of 3% this year, it is still insufficient for the needs that we have as a country.
4.1% of Peruvians are Unable to Cover the Minimum Food Basket
More than 1.3 million Peruvians ended 2021 in a situation of extreme poverty, representing 4.1% of the country's population, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI).
This rate was only reduced by 1% compared to the 2020 figure, but it is still 1.2% above the pre-pandemic level, so there are 422,000 more people in extreme poverty than in 2019. The INEI maintains that those whose income does not even cover the cost of a minimum food basket, which had a value of S/. 201 per month per person in 2021, is considered extremely poor.
In addition, only 37.4% of households in extreme poverty have a public sewage network, 16% live in overcrowding, only 15.1% have Internet access even though 88% have a mobile phone, and 98% work. informally.
- RPP. (2022, May 18). 26 de cada 100 peruanos en situación de pobreza: ¿Qué medidas adoptar para reducir esta cifra? [26 out of every 100 Peruvians are living in poverty: What measures to adopt to reduce this figure?]. https://rpp.pe/peru/actualidad/26-de-cada-100-peruanos-en-situacion-de-pobreza-que-medidas-adoptar-para-reducir-esta-cifra-noticia-1406070
- RPP. (2022, May 12). Ingresos de más de 1.3 millones de peruanos no alcanzan para cubrir la canasta mínima de alimentos. [The income of more than 1.3 million Peruvians is not enough to cover the minimum food basket]. https://rpp.pe/economia/economia/ingresos-de-mas-de-13-millones-de-peruanos-no-alcanzan-para-cubrir-la-canasta-minima-de-alimentos-noticia-1404834
- RPP. (2022, May 9). Más de 11 millones de peruanos están en riesgo de caer en la pobreza, según el INEI. [More than 11 million Peruvians are at risk of falling into poverty, according to the INEI]. https://rpp.pe/economia/economia/mas-de-11-millones-de-peruanos-estan-en-riesgo-de-caer-en-la-pobreza-segun-el-inei-noticia-1404060#:~:text=Un%20total%20de%2011%20millones,Estad%C3%ADstica%20e%20Inform%C3%A1tica%20(INEI).