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Peru's People Moving Abroad by the Hundreds of Thousands

(LIP-ir) -- In its emigration report for the month of September, Peru's National Statistics Institute (INEI) reported that 36,251 Peruvians had left the country and decided to permanently live abroad. This is equivalent to the population of Barranco, a district in Lima, Peru.

In 2007, 294 thousand Peruvians left the country to live or study abroad between January and September. Could you imagine crossing the border and finding the region of Tacna or the district of Surco in Lima without its 272 thousand inhabitants, asked a reporter for El Comercio.

After subtracting the number of Peruvians that leave the country from the ones that enter the country, Peru's Immigration Services and INEI established that in the month of September over thirty six thousand Peruvians permanently left the country.

"We have to be careful with short-term numbers. There are people that could travel for more than a month and then come back, they would appear as emigrants," warned Carlos Eduardo Aramburú, a researcher for Católica University.

Nevertheless, after examining statistics for all of 2007, it does not appear to be an isolated case, there is a constant deficit. An average of 32,659 citizens permanently leave Peru on a monthly basis, showing a 7.5 percent increase in emigration when compared to last year.

Over the past several years, an upward trend has been seen in the emigration rate. Statistics show that in 2004, 290 thousand Peruvians did not return while in 2005 329 thousand remained abroad. More than 336 thousand citizens emigrated in 2006 and it is projected that 2007 will surpass previous years.

Chile (23.5%) and Bolivia (18.8%) are the top destinations for emigrating Peruvians, followed by the United States (17.9%), Spain (7.2%), Ecuador (6.4%) and Argentina (6.1%).

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# Michael says :
15 November, 2007 [ 09:13 ]

It would be interesting to know how many were students - those who more than likely are returning.

Also, adding in the current birth and death rates, is Peru having a net loss of population or a net increase still?

# xc says :
15 November, 2007 [ 09:26 ]

More space for us...

# Elizabeth says :
15 November, 2007 [ 09:50 ]

It would be interested to see how many are coming back to Peru as well to make a fair assestmnet.  I know that a big % going abroad are students, but to be honest being in Peru at this time, is probably the best time.  Peru is stable, growing and is just a beautiful country with wonderful people. Here in the USA, we are in a bad situation and getting worse economically.  The world has change and I am proud that Peru has changed with it.

# Cabrito says :
15 November, 2007 [ 15:40 ]

Unfortunately there will not be more space. Thanks to stupid igorant religious idiots who don't use birth control, the population will continue to increase until the Pope makes it a sin to have more than one or two children.

# Michael says :
15 November, 2007 [ 16:04 ]

I guess it depends on who you are and what you do as far as your economic situation in Peru vs. USA.  My business and income has been continually up for 4 years running - with things getting busier every month for me this year.

Meanwhile, my wife's father, who has a business that deals directly with town and regional governments, is struggling more than ever against corruption to win business and find opportunities.

He says it has never been worse.

So I think it depends on what you do, not necessarily by where you live.

# Splaktar says :
15 November, 2007 [ 16:47 ]

I know a lot of Peruvians who live in either Europe or the USA.  All of them who have managed to legally get residency will not come back.  They all talk about how much they want to move back, but they acknowledge that it will never happen.  Many of them complain non-stop about missing Peru, but can hardly find time out of their busy lives to even make a visit back to Peru (many never returning for 10-15 years).  Of course there are a few who do return every couple years, but only for a quick visit.  The fact is that they have decently well paid jobs there and if they were to return to Peru they are guaranteed to have lower paying jobs (if they can even find them).

The only place that I've seen Peruvians leave so that they could really come back to Peru to live is..... Venezula... because they dislike Chavez and what he's doing to the country.

Things are improving in Peru, but there are still a lot of skilled jobs that need to be created to sustain the people who are here already, let alone any that were to come back.  I know an engineer who just graduated here in Peru and he's been looking for a job for many months now with no real leads at all.  His next best option is to try and find one in Spain.  This sort of thing is commonplace here for those graduating college.

# Elizabeth says :
16 November, 2007 [ 01:05 ]

I guess we all have our own opinion about leaving Peru for a better life, but like some of you have mention,  sometimes the  social status can make a diffence not just in Peru but here in the states.
My sister graduated from USC, here in California, she got her Master in the University of Hawai, but she CHOOSE to get her PHD in La Universidad Catolica De Lima. 
It has to come from the heart to  go back to the Country you were born.  Other countries are going through some very hard times, including the USA.  There is poverty and corruption here as well. People with no jobs and now with no homes.
China and India with population that is in the billions.  People all over the world dying of hunger. 
So take a good look at Peru and you will only see growth and stability. The world loves the Peruvian people, their culture and their fabulous food.

# Bob says :
16 November, 2007 [ 01:28 ]

Amen Elizabeth about Peru. There is another nickname for USC. University of Spoiled Children.

# Elizabeth says :
16 November, 2007 [ 09:46 ]

Bob
I thought the USC nickname is TROJANS?! Not everyone that goes to USC are spoiled kids you know.Glad you agree with my comments about Peru.  :0) 

# Rob says :
16 November, 2007 [ 13:59 ]

Anecdotally I am seeing the opposite this study would suggest.  My wife has many friends that have moved overseas over the years and several of them have moved back to Peru recently in order to pursue business interests.  One obvious case is a Peruvian couple that were both realtors in the USA, they have cashed in their homes in the states and are now here investing in real estate since the markets are so awful in the USA.  Another case which I think is becoming more common is a retired Aunt and Uncle that lived in Florida and are now returning to Peru.  They have a bit of money saved and small pensions and now they can return to Peru, buy a nice apartment, have a housekeeper and have a much higher standard of living here than in the states.

No question there is still a scarcity of high paying skill jobs here, but every year the opportunities seem to get better, and especially for enterpreneurs with money to invest it is a gold mine.

# Michael says :
16 November, 2007 [ 14:33 ]

I have no doubt that Peru is doing better economically than it was, but the situation in the USA is far from a crisis (that's a media label), and certainly substantially better than Peru.  There are certainly going to be people affected by the mortgage issue, but a large percentage of them are people who were investing and speculating on houses and that market.

Interestingly, many people moving back to Peru earned a good deal of money overseas first.  Then they have moved back to start businesses or retire.  I think that is great, and I hope the economics of Peru changes as quickly as possible, but it still points to where money is currently being made by many Peruvians: overseas.  Even people with lower skill sets are able to make some money in either place
and come back to start a business or retire.

One can only hope that with the opportunities available in Peru right now, that those investing from money made elsewhere are bringing, will be able to improve the situation.

From a corruption standpoint, I would say the major difference is that in the US and Europe, it is largely hidden because people do get arrested and prosecuted for it quickly.  In Peru (as in much of latin america), it is almost a point of culture - often people are flaunting their corruption (I am guessing it because they think it is their "right" rather than seeing it as an ethics issue).  Corruption is also much more widespread in Peru than the US or Europe.

I would also like to point out that if things in Peru are as good as Elizabeth says they are, then not as many people would be leaving.  That's not what the statisitics are saying - they are saying that people are leaving.  And the reasons why are obvious.

I find it hopeful for Peru that some people are returning and investing in their home country.  Hopefully investment will continue and help the country out of the quagmire of poverty and corruption.

# Elizabeth says :
16 November, 2007 [ 22:01 ]

Michael
Most retire people  in the USA are leaving this country as well because they can not afford to live their golden years here in the states!! They have moved to Mexico, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico.
The Social Security is in the brink of going away by the time I retire. 
Medical coverage is expensive.
Imigration issues that have people here very uncomfortable.  The war has ruin the American economy.  The Sub Lending is in shambles and so on. 
Corruption in Washington where should I began?  But the bottom line is that you are going to live where is best for you and your family and not worry about who is leaving or coming to Peru.  I love both contries for diferrent reasons.  Just my thoughs

# Rob says :
17 November, 2007 [ 06:24 ]

"From a corruption standpoint, I would say the major difference is that in the US and Europe, it is largely hidden because people do get arrested and prosecuted for it quickly"

That provided a good laugh.

# Stephanie says :
4 December, 2007 [ 09:38 ]

Love Peru, just can't stand the thought of not being able to drive peacefully, or not wearing the clothes or jewelry I would wear in Europe or the US ... can't stand the fact that one of my loved ones could be kidnapped, or turn the TV on only to find out there are people on strike etc etc etc I could just go on and on.

I visit every two years or so, love it so much, yet I can't see myself living there.

# R says :
4 December, 2007 [ 11:24 ]

I´m a professional 25 year old male with a degree from an american university and I just moved back to Lima, I have the chance to work in the US as my father is American, but I chose to move back and to nationalize myself Peruvian, I´ve come back to invest in my country and to stick it out, and never leave it. All my friends from highschool are moving back as well, this country will only get better, its the best decision i have ever made.

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