2025 POLICY ROAD MAPS

Access to international markets for new entrepreneurs in Peru remains limited. Although the adoption of digital tools and online sales channels has increased, this has not translated into a substantial expansion of international market participation. This situation reflects persistent structural constraints affecting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which account for most firms in the country. Limited scale, restricted access to finance, regulatory complexity and weak integration into international value chains continue to hinder the internationalization of new entrepreneurial ventures.

Over the past twelve months, no major structural policy reforms have been implemented that significantly change the entrepreneurial environment in Peru. While incremental initiatives related to entrepreneurship, innovation and digital transformation remain in place, their overall impact has been limited, particularly regarding reducing structural barriers to business growth and scaling.

2025 Framework Conditions Review

Participants in the GEM National Expert Survey have their entrepreneurial framework assessed by a group of that economy’s national experts, with the overall quality of the entrepreneurial environment represented by the National Entrepreneurial Context Index (NECI). Peru’s NECI score for 2025 is 3.9, a modest increase from 3.7 in 2024. This places Peru 46th out of 53 GEM economies globally, and notably low among middle-income countries. The slight improvement may be attributed to gains in education and infrastructure, though most framework conditions remain less than sufficient.

Of thirteen Framework Conditions, national experts rated only two of Peru’s as sufficient or better (i.e. score ≥ 5.0): Physical Infrastructure (5.2), and Social and Cultural Norms (5.1). This leaves the remaining eleven conditions assessed as insufficient, with particularly low scores for Government Policy: Support and Relevance (2.6), Research and Development Transfers (3.0) and Entrepreneurial Education at School (3.2). Compared to 2024, ten conditions improved their scores, including Commercial and Professional Infrastructure (from 3.7 to 4.3), Entrepreneurial Education Post-school (from 4.4 to 5.0) and both School conditions: at School (from 2.7 to 3.2) and Post-school (4.4 to 5.0). Only four conditions declined in score, notably Social and Cultural Norms (from 5.5 to 5.1).

New businesses’ prioritisation of sustainability is rated by national experts at 4.6, unchanged from 2024. Entrepreneurs’ awareness of the need to develop and implement AI solutions scores higher at 5.7, well up from 4.7 in 2024, reflecting growing engagement with digital transformation.

Peru’s entrepreneurial environment in 2025 shows slight improvement, with a higher NECI score and gains in education and infrastructure. However, most framework conditions remain below sufficiency, and the country ranks in the bottom ten globally for several key areas. Sustainability remains a secondary priority, but, more encouragingly, awareness of AI is growing, offering a potential avenue for future development. Strategic investment in policy reform, financial access, and digital capacity will be essential to strengthen Peru’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

2025 Entrepreneurial Activity Review

Just over one in four adults in Peru reported that their household income has fallen in 2025, while one in five adults intend to start a business in the next three years. Entrepreneurial confidence, opportunity recognition and awareness are all very high, with around four out of five adults knowing someone who has started a business recently, seeing themselves as having the skills and experience to start their own business or seeing good opportunities to start a business locally. Of the latter, a little fewer than a half would not start a business for fear it might fail.

In Peru, just over one in eight adults (12.8%) are starting or running a new business in 2025, with far fewer, (one in twenty), owning an established business. The ratio of new to established businesses suggests a dynamic entrepreneurial landscape with a strong early-stage presence. Women are slightly more likely than men to be starting a new business.

The most agreed motivation among new entrepreneurs is “to build great wealth or very high income”, agreed almost nine out of ten, while seven out of ten agreed with the motivation “to earn a living because jobs are scarce.” A similar seven out of ten new entrepreneurs expect to use more digital technology to sell their product in the next six months, while just one in eight have customers beyond Peru. One in four new entrepreneurs anticipate employing more than another five people in five years’ time. Finally, around one in three have taken steps to minimise environmental impacts or to maximise social impacts in the past twelve months. Just over half of those starting or running a new business report that they prioritise such impacts over profitability or growth.
 

Peru shows strong opportunity recognition and entrepreneurial confidence, with high motivation to build wealth and adopt digital tools. However, the relatively low international reach and environmental engagement may signal areas for policy support and development.