During 2022, monetary poverty affected 27.5% of the Peruvian population, increasing by 1.6 percentage points compared to 2021 (25.9%) and by 7.3 percentage points compared to 2019, the
The research established that poverty line is the monetary equivalent to the cost of a basic basket for food and non-food consumption.
Last year, it amounted to S/415 (about US$112) per inhabitant on a monthly basis. Thus, said amount stood at S/1,660 (about US$448) for a family of four members every month.
On the other hand, the extreme poverty line for 2022 stood at S/226 (about US$61) per person on a monthly basis, considering people in extreme poverty situation those whose monthly spending does not cover the value of the basic food consumption basket. For a four-member family, said amount stands at S/904 (US$244) per month.
The measurement of monetary poverty in Peru is carried out through the expenditure indicator since this variable is close to a quantification of living standards based on what people, plus households consume, buy, and acquire.
In 2022, the real average monthly expense per person was S/825 (about US$223), increasing by 0.7% if compared to the level recorded in 2021 (S/820 = US$222). Nonetheless, it decreased by 10% compared to 2019 (S/917 = US$248).
Likewise, income grew 1.4% between 2021 and 2022 (from S/1,074 = US$290 to S/1,089 = US$294). However, it declined by 9.2% if compared to 2019 (S/1,200 = US$324).
Impact on rural and urban areas
By geographical areas, monetary poverty affected 41.1% of the population in rural areas and 24.1% in urban areas in 2022, registering increases of 1.4 and 1.8 percentage points, respectively.
When comparing these results with those reported in 2019, the incidence of poverty grew by 9.5 percentage points in urban areas and by 0.3 percentage point in rural ones.
Poverty levels above 40% registered in five regions
Among the jurisdictions with poverty levels above 40% were: Cajamarca, Huanuco, Puno, Ayacucho, and Pasco.
They were followed by those registering between 30% and 40%, such as Loreto, Huancavelica, Callao, and Piura.
Poverty levels between 20% and 30% were recorded in La Libertad, Amazonas, Metropolitan Lima, San Martin, Tumbes, Apurimac, Tacna, Lima Provinces, Ucayali, Cusco, Junin, and Ancash.
On the other hand, lower poverty incidence was reported in Ica, Moquegua, Madre de Dios, Arequipa, and Lambayeque.
Extreme poverty
The
National Household Survey (Enaho) revealed that in
2022 extreme poverty reached 5% of the country's population and rose by 0.9 percentage point over the previous year.
It was also higher by 2.1 percentage points if compared to 2019.