What every visitor should know about Peru:

Money
The currency is the Peruvian nuevo sol (PEN). 1 PEN is worth about US$0.36, or €0.25.
Crime
CrimeSafe Travel Score™: 3 out of 5 (Average)

Areas of concern:

  • Mugging
  • Pick-pocketing / bag-snatching
  • Armed robbery is rare but occurs
  • Carjacking
  • Robberies in unlicensed taxis
Capital
Lima
Tap water
Not recommended. Water is usually drinkable in large cities, but quality is uneven.

Peru facts and figures:

People

Population
29,546,963
Language
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number of minor Amazonian languages
Ethnicity
Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Economy

GDP
US$8,500 (per capita)
Income equality
Moderate
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved. More guides: ►Africa ►Americas ►Asia ►Europe ►Middle East ►Pacific