A third of Peruvians will remain below the poverty line, World Bank warns

The latest 2021 figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) show that just two years ago, 8.5 million Peruvians, 25% of the country’s population, were affected by poverty, but how many are now poor?

Recent assessment The World Bank indicates that in Peru, about a third of the population will remain in poverty in the medium term due to the economic downturn, inflation and high levels of informal employment.

It is estimated that almost three out of every 10 Peruvians live in households with an income below the poverty line, US$6.85 per day per person, and 37.7% of the population is vulnerable and at risk of falling below the poverty line.

The organization points out that Peru is “facing serious internal and external risks” such as ongoing social unrest that could slow exports and private investment in a scenario where inflation it will take more time to decrease; while at the global level, commodity prices are falling and the cost of food and energy is rising.

In addition, the World Bank website adds that in 2022, about 700,000 Peruvians would move from middle class to vulnerable, and another 700,000 would move from vulnerable to poverty.

“Higher inflation and slower recovery labor market would also affect the vulnerable and the middle class,” they say.

It is worth noting that recently the World Bank also announced that its forecast the economic growth for Peru this year 2023 it is 2.4%, which is lower than the estimates of other organizations.