Does Peru Use the Metric System?
Up until 1862, Peru used the old Spanish system of weights and measures, most of which are now antiquated and obsolete in both Spain and Spanish-speaking countries.
In 1862, some 41 years after Peru declared its independence from Spain, the Peruvian government officially adopted the metric system.
As is often the case with such sweeping alterations to the norms accepted by the general public, most Peruvians happily ignored the new metric system and continued with the weights and measures to which they were accustomed.
Not to be undone, the Peruvian government passed a law in 1869 that made the new system compulsory. With schools now diligently (or perhaps reluctantly) teaching the metric system, it was only a matter of time before it caught on.
The National Congress of Peru last updated the laws governing measurements in 1982. The current law – Law 23560 -- clearly states that Peru uses the International System of Units (SI, the modern form of the metric system) and non-SI units accepted for use with the SI.
In other words, Peruvians are perfectly at home using metric measurements such as:
Some common exceptions to the metric system as used in Peru today include:
In 1862, some 41 years after Peru declared its independence from Spain, the Peruvian government officially adopted the metric system.
As is often the case with such sweeping alterations to the norms accepted by the general public, most Peruvians happily ignored the new metric system and continued with the weights and measures to which they were accustomed.
Not to be undone, the Peruvian government passed a law in 1869 that made the new system compulsory. With schools now diligently (or perhaps reluctantly) teaching the metric system, it was only a matter of time before it caught on.
The National Congress of Peru last updated the laws governing measurements in 1982. The current law – Law 23560 -- clearly states that Peru uses the International System of Units (SI, the modern form of the metric system) and non-SI units accepted for use with the SI.
In other words, Peruvians are perfectly at home using metric measurements such as:
- meters, centimeters, kilometers and kilograms (metros, centímetros, kilómetros y kilogramos)
- hectares, liters and metric tons (hectáreas, litros y toneladas)
Modern Exceptions to the Metric System in Peru
Some common exceptions to the metric system as used in Peru today include:
- inches (pulgadas) – used for measuring television, computer and laptop screens (diagonally), as well as nails.
- gallons (galones) – used for gasoline and kerosene.
- arrobas – a measurement that has somehow survived from the old Spanish system. Arroba is used in Peru mainly as a weight for coca leaves (although it is sometimes used for other products, such as potatoes, in some regions). After harvesting and drying, coca leaves are traditionally wrapped in packets equal to one arroba, equivalent to 11.5 kg. You can see an example of the usage of arroba in the following RPP Noticias article: “Cusco: Enaco incrementa precio de arroba de hoja de coca” (“Cusco: Enaco increase the price for an arroba of coca leaves”).