10 answers, 3 from Peru's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
93.7% of Peruvians aged 15 and over could read and write in 2024, according to the World Bank, using UNESCO Institute for Statistics data. The figure was 94.5% in 2020.
Literacy is measured by asking people in household surveys whether they can read and write, so it is a basic measure. It does not measure reading skill or comprehension, which national and international school assessments test.
Government spending on education in Peru was 4.36% of GDP in 2024, up from 4.25% in 2023, according to the World Bank, using UNESCO data.
The figure covers spending by national, regional and local government on all levels of education. Allocations for each year are set in the budget law, which the Ministry of Economy and Finance publishes with the 2027 budget bill.
Peru's Ministry of Education publishes enrolment, schools and teacher numbers for every school in its ESCALE statistics portal, based on the annual school census. The national totals could not be read as text from the portal on 15 October 2026.
The ministry announced on its news page that it has begun distributing teaching materials for the 2027 school year.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
95.7%: that is net primary school enrolment in Peru for 2018, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Its high point since 2005 was 2010, at 96.6%; its low point was 2012, at 91.9%. It is 7th highest of 17 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 92.9%. World rank, highest first: 18th of 69.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross secondary school enrolment in Peru was 108.3% in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2023, at 111.4%; its low point was 2005, at 82.8%. It is 3rd highest of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 91.6%. Worldwide: 16th of 100.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 71.2%. That compares with 33.9% in 2006. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 51.0%, and Peru placed 4th highest of 17. Worldwide: 31st of 130.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the adult literacy rate in Peru at 93.7% in 2024. The peak was 94.5% in 2020 and the low 87.9% in 2005. It is 9th highest of 13 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 94.7%.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts government spending on education in Peru at 4.4% of GDP in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Latin America & Caribbean median: 3.8% of GDP; Peru is 5th highest of 11. Worldwide: 17th of 36.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2018, is 17. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 18, and Peru placed 10th highest of 18. Of 85 countries with 2018 data, 55th highest.
95.0%: that is the primary completion rate in Peru for 2019, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2005 it has ranged from 92.8% (2018) to 104.5% (2010). Latin America & Caribbean median: 93.7%; Peru is 10th highest of 23. Of 136 countries with 2019 data, 74th highest.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error