The rate of adult literacy as share of the country's population 15 years and above in Peru stood at 94 percent in 2020. Between 1981 and 2020, the rate of adult literacy rose by 12 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

The statistic depicts the literacy rate in Peru from 2007 to 2020. The literacy rate measures the percentage of people aged 15 and above who can read and write. In 2020, Peru's literacy rate was around 94 percent.

Peru: Literacy rate: The latest value from 2020 is 94 percent, unchanged from 94 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 86.55 percent, based on data from 33 countries. Historically, the average for Peru from 1981 to 2020 is 90.92 percent. The minimum value, 82 percent, was reached in 1981 while the maximum of 94 percent was recorded in 2012.

Actual value and historical data chart for Peru Literacy Rate Adult Total Percent Of People Ages 15 And Above

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Peru (SEADTLITRZSPER) from 1981 to 2024 about Peru, literacy, adult, and rate.

Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 97.188 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 97.106 % for 2015. Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 94.541 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 97.188 % in 2016 and a record low of 90.144 % in 1981. Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Peru – Table PE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

The youth literacy rate (people aged 15-24) in Peru amounted to 99.3 percent in 2022. Between 1981 and 2022, the youth literacy rate rose by 6.3 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Historical dataset showing Peru literacy rate by year from 1981 to 2020.

View yearly updates and historical trends for Peru Adult Literacy Rate. Source: World Bank. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 data was reported at 98.883 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 99.010 % for 2015. Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 97.557 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.010 % in 2015 and a record low of 93.120 % in 1981. Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Peru – Table PE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Yearly (annual) dataset of the Peru Adult Literacy Rate, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1981-12-31 to 2020-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

Peru PE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data was reported at 0.996 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.995 Ratio for 2015. Peru PE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 0.985 Ratio from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.000 Ratio in 2012 and a record low of 0.930 Ratio in 1981. Peru PE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Peru – Table PE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Gender parity index for youth literacy rate is the ratio of females to males ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Actual value and historical data chart for Peru Literacy Rate Youth Male Percent Of Males Ages 15 24

Peru: Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2022 is 99.3 percent, an increase from 99.12 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 90.52 percent, based on data from 65 countries. Historically, the average for Peru from 1981 to 2022 is 97.98 percent. The minimum value, 93 percent, was reached in 1981 while the maximum of 99.52 percent was recorded in 2020.

Actual value and historical data chart for Peru Literacy Rate Youth Female Percent Of Females Ages 15 24

Peru: Male literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2022 is 99.31 percent, an increase from 99.07 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 91.06 percent, based on data from 65 countries. Historically, the average for Peru from 1981 to 2022 is 98.58 percent. The minimum value, 97 percent, was reached in 1981 while the maximum of 99.59 percent was recorded in 2020.

Actual value and historical data chart for Peru Elderly Literacy Rate Population 65 Years Both Sexes Percent

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male (%) in Peru was reported at 90.61 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Peru - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 91.189 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 91.247 % for 2015. Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 84.051 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 91.247 % in 2015 and a record low of 73.858 % in 1981. Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Peru – Table PE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 94.174 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 94.162 % for 2015. Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 89.145 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94.174 % in 2016 and a record low of 81.918 % in 1981. Peru PE: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Peru – Table PE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).