Literate and illiterate world population in Peru

Peru: Literate and illiterate world population was 6.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
6.3%
World rank
66th
of 128 countries
All-time high
52.5%
in 1950
All-time low
5.5%
in 2020
Years of data
15
1950–2024

Literate and illiterate world population in Peru, 1950–2024

10203040501950198720241950: 52.5 %1981: 18.1 %1993: 12.8 %2004: 12.3 %2005: 12.1 %2006: 11.3 %2007: 10.4 %2012: 6.2 %2014: 6.3 %2015: 5.8 %2016: 5.8 %2017: 5.8 %2018: 5.6 %2020: 5.5 %2024: 6.3 %

Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2024, literate and illiterate world population in Peru stood at 6.3%.

That represents a change of up 0.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literate and illiterate world population in Peru peaked at 52.5% in 1950 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 2020.

That places Peru 66th out of 128 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 52.5% 52.5% 52.5% 1
1980s 18.1% 18.1% 18.1% 1
1990s 12.8% 12.8% 12.8% 1
2000s 11.5% 10.4% 12.3% 4
2010s 5.9% 5.6% 6.3% 6
2020s 5.9% 5.5% 6.3% 2

Countries ranked near Peru

  1. 63 Malta 6.7% compare
  2. 64 Ecuador 6.5% compare
  3. 65 Myanmar 6.5% compare
  4. 67 Greece 6.1% compare
  5. 68 Seychelles 6.0% compare
  6. 69 Dominican Republic 6.0% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More population data for Peru

All data for Peru →

Frequently asked questions

What is literate and illiterate world population in Peru?
Literate and illiterate world population in Peru was 6.3% in 2024, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Peru?
The highest recorded value was 52.5% in 1950.
What is the lowest literate and illiterate world population recorded in Peru?
The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 2020.
How does Peru rank for literate and illiterate world population?
Peru ranks 66th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
Is literate and illiterate world population rising or falling in Peru?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Peru data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literate and illiterate world population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Literate and illiterate world population
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
128 places, 1,272 data points, 1475–2024
Last refreshed

Share of adults who cannot read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life.