Poll: 85% Restrict Night Outings as Security in Peru Shapes Daily Life
PERU · SECURITY
Key Facts
- —What happened An Ipsos poll found 85% of Peruvians have restricted night outings because of fear of crime.
- —How big Ipsos asked 1,217 people nationwide from 20 to 23 August 2026, with a 2.8 point margin of error.
- —What it means Fear of crime is changing daily habits for most Peruvians, and the effect is strongest in Lima.
- —The catch The poll measures fear and self-reported habits, not crime itself. Official 2026 figures diverge.
- —Who it hits Shopkeepers and bus drivers face extortion, while evening trade may fall as people stay home.
- —What comes next Further observatory reports and official crime data will show whether the 85% figure holds.
A new Ipsos poll shows how deeply security in Peru shapes daily life, with 85% of respondents restricting night outings. The survey measured fear, not crime itself.
A new Ipsos poll has found that 85% of Peruvians have restricted their night outings because of fear of crime. The survey offers a clear measure of how security in Peru now shapes daily habits.
What the poll asked and who answered
Ipsos ran the survey for the Observatorio del Crimen y la Violencia, a crime and violence observatory. Its backers are the bank BCP, the Credicorp Banco de Ideas platform and CHS Alternativo.
BCP stands for Banco de Crédito del Perú, a major Peruvian bank. CHS Alternativo is Capital Humano y Social, a Peruvian non-profit group.
Fieldwork ran from 20 to 23 August 2026 with 1,217 people nationwide, in urban and rural areas. The reported margin of error is 2.8 percentage points.
The exact question wording is not given in the available reporting. The poll forms part of the observatory seventh report on crime and violence.
The survey found that 85% of Peruvians had restricted night outings because of fear of crime. Another 58% said they go out less often than a year ago.
The 85% splits into two groups. Some 43% try not to leave home or their neighborhood from 8 in the evening or earlier.
Another 42% set that limit from 10 at night. In the capital the numbers run higher.
In Lima, 90% avoid going out after a certain hour at night. Some 49% there stop from 10 at night.
Fear is not the same as crime
A poll measures what people say they feel and do. It does not measure actual crime, which comes from police reports and official statistics.
The 85% figure describes self-reported behavior, not verified behavior. People told Ipsos they restrict outings, but the survey did not observe them.
This distinction matters for readers trying to understand security in Peru. Fear can rise even when reported crime falls.
The survey does not prove that crime caused the change in habits. It shows a strong link between fear and restricted movement.
What official crime data show
Official figures for 2026 point in different directions. The police force is called the National Police of Peru, or PNP.
The PNP said homicides fell 10.31% between 1 January and early April 2026, against the same period in 2025. Reported extortion cases fell 41.28% in that window.
Robbery cases fell 17.44% over the same dates, the PNP said. It later reported wider falls through 18 May 2026.
A first-quarter report from the Interior Ministry tells a different story on extortion. It said homicides fell 7%, from 709 to 656 cases.
The same report said extortion complaints rose 18% nationwide, from 24,283 to 28,674 cases. The Interior Ministry is known in Peru as Mininter.
El Comercio reported in July 2026 that police records on extortion and homicide did not match other official databases. Specialists said the gaps weaken trust in the numbers.
Extortion hits small businesses and transport
Extortion is a daily threat for many small businesses and transport workers in Peru. The first-quarter report showed extortion complaints rising even as homicides fell.
The PNP comparison for early 2026 showed extortion reports falling sharply instead. The two official pictures do not match.
For shopkeepers and bus drivers, extortion can mean regular payments to criminal groups. That cost is often passed on to customers through higher prices.
The survey did not ask specifically about extortion. Its focus was on how fear of crime changes night-time habits.
Why the night-time numbers matter
Night-time restrictions affect more than personal freedom. They change when people shop, eat out and travel, which can hurt local businesses.
The survey found that 58% of Peruvians go out less often than a year ago. That shift can reduce evening spending in cities across the country.
In Lima, 90% avoid going out after a certain hour. The effect on the evening economy is likely to be strongest there.
The survey did not measure economic impact directly. It recorded habits and fear, not sales or takings.
What the government says it is doing
The government points to the Plan Nacional de Seguridad Ciudadana 2026, a national public safety plan. The PNP has reported falls in homicides, extortion and robbery for parts of 2026.
Successive governments have declared repeated states of emergency in Lima and Callao since late 2025. President Keiko Fujimori took office on 28 July 2026.
Her government decreed a new 60-day state of emergency in Lima and Callao on 28 August 2026. La República reported the decision.
Such decrees restrict some constitutional rights, including freedom of assembly and movement. They also let the armed forces support the police.
The first-quarter report showed extortion complaints rising 18%. The PNP early-year comparison showed extortion falling 41.28%.
The government has not publicly reconciled the two sets of figures. Readers should treat both as official claims drawn from different records.
What to watch next
The observatory is expected to publish further reports tracking fear and behavior. Each new survey will show whether the 85% figure holds.
Official crime data for the rest of 2026 will show whether extortion keeps rising. The gap between the two official series may also be explained.
For now, the poll offers a clear snapshot of daily life after dark. It shows that fear of crime keeps most Peruvians at home at night.
More: Peru news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who carried out the Peru security poll?
Ipsos ran the survey for the Observatorio del Crimen y la Violencia, backed by BCP, Credicorp Banco de Ideas and CHS Alternativo.
How many people were asked in the poll?
Ipsos asked 1,217 people nationwide, urban and rural, between 20 and 23 August 2026. The margin of error is 2.8 points.
Does the poll measure actual crime rates?
No. It measures self-reported fear and habits. Official crime data come from police and government reports.
What do official crime figures show for Peru in 2026?
The PNP reported falls in homicides, extortion and robbery for early 2026. An Interior Ministry report showed extortion up 18% in the first quarter.
Sources: Sources: EFE via Infobae, La República, El Popular, Peru Interior Ministry. https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2026/09/12/un-85-de-peruanos-afirma-haber-cambiado-habitos-por-temor-a-delincuencia-segun-encuesta/ and https://larepublica.pe/economia/2026/09/12/inseguridad-cambia-la-vida-de-8-de-cada-10-peruanos-58-sale-menos-y-el-temor-golpea-al-consumo-hnews-969228 and https://elpopular.pe/actualidad/2026/09/13/inseguridad-cambia-la-vida-de-los-peruanos-85-evita-salir-de-noche-por-temor-a-la-delincuencia-430222 and https://cdn.www.gob.pe/uploads/document/file/9966842/8129905-reporte-del-primer-trimestre-de-2026-de-la-incidencia-delictiva-en-la-macro-region-norte.pdf and https://larepublica.pe/sociedad/2026/08/28/gobierno-de-keiko-fujimori-insiste-en-el-estado-de-emergencia-decretan-medida-en-lima-y-callao-por-60-dias-2714516
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