The Extremely Long Commute in Peru

Peru ranks among the countries with the longest commuting times worldwide, yet this topic has received limited empirical attention. This study analyzes commuting patterns in Peru using data from the National Time Use Survey (ENUT) for 2010 and 2024. The results reveal a significant increase in commuting durations over this period, particularly in urban areas and among women. A considerable share of the labor force spends more than two hours per day commuting. Urban regions, most notably Metropolitan Lima, exhibit the longest commute times, with the city’s northern districts recording the highest averages. Although women generally experience shorter commutes than men, their average commuting time increased substantially between 2010 and 2024 on both weekdays and weekends. Commute duration is also associated with factors such as age, working hours, educational attainment, and employment type. Overall, longer commuting times are correlated with higher-income occupations.