Peru has a population of 34.3 million people.[1] The majority of Peruvians, 79%, live in urban regions,[2] while only 21% lives in rural areas.[3] The agricultural sector assumes 24% of total employment in Peru.[4] A sector that represents 6% of the national GDP.[5]
Despite the prosperity Peru and its agriculture have witnessed during the last two decades, this wealth has yet to reach the country’s smallholder farmers, the majority of which lives in poverty. Smallholders make up 80% of agricultural holdings, with plots of less than 5 hectares. Although the returns on such farms are significantly low, the lack of other opportunities pushes rural inhabitants to keep on working on these family farms. Thus, only a small percentage of farmers, mostly with large holdings, enjoy the country’s newly-gained wealth from agricultural exports.[6]
The top produced crops in Peru are sugar cane, potatoes, rice, bananas and fresh cow milk. [7] Peru’s top export commodities in terms of quantity are avocados, grapes, onions and shallots, berries, and prepared fruit. [8]
- ^ World Bank (2024). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=PE
- ^ World Bank (2024). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS?locations=PE
- ^ World Bank (2024). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS?locations=PE
- ^ World Bank (2024). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.AGR.EMPL.ZS?locations=PE
- ^ World Bank (2024). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NV.AGR.TOTL.ZS?locations=PE
- ^ World Bank. 2017.Gaining Momentum in Peruvian Agriculture : Opportunities to Increase Productivity and Enhance Competitiveness. World Bank, Lima. © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/27517 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
- ^ FAOSTAT (2022). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country
- ^ FAOSTAT (2022). http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/commodities_by_country_exports
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Peru is set by law for the private sector at 1,130 Peruvian Sol (289 EUR) per month. It is based on 8 hours per day, with at least one day of rest per week.[1] It is estimated that the national minimum wage in Peru is below the poverty income level. Furthermore, approximately 70% of the workforce is in the informal economy where wages do not reach the level of a minimum wage.[2]
The Anker Research Institute has developed 2 reference value studies for rural Peru based on the Anker methodology, one for living wage and one for living income.
- ^ Wage Indicator Foundation (2024). Minimum Wage-Peru. https://wageindicator.org/salary/minimum-wage/peru
- ^ U.S. Department of State. 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Peru. https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/peru/
Living Wage
The Anker Living Wage Reference Value in rural Peru is estimated at 1,997 Peruvian Sol (510 EUR) per month. This is the wage required for workers in a typical rural area of Peru to afford a basic but decent standard of living.[1]
Living Income
The Anker Living Income Reference Value is estimated at 2,522 Peruvian Sol (644 EUR) per month for a typical rural family of 2 adults and 3 children. This is the living income estimate for a typical family in rural Peru to cover the monthly cost of a basic but decent standard of living in 2024.[1]
Living Wage Reference Value, Rural Peru 
Living wage estimate updated for workers in a typical rural area of Peru to afford a basic but decent living standard. Anker Research Institute, 2024
Living Income Reference Value, Rural Peru
Living income estimate updated for a typical family in rural Peru to afford the monthly cost of a decent standard of living. Anker Research Institute, 2024
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