More than two-thirds of the rural population lives in poverty today, living on less than a dollar a day. It is estimated that only 82 percent of Peruvians residing in rural areas lacked basic potable water and sewerage – many of these were poor and non-poor alike. CARE Peru currently helps more than 1 million of the country's poorest people in their fight to overcome poverty, in addressing basic issues of health care, potable water, and education.