Peru
The figures from Peru, tracked since 2000, show consistent public commitment to education but underline the need for continued efforts to meet international benchmarks. The latest available data (2023) indicates that 4.24% of GDP was allocated to public education—below the 6% target set in 2015, though above the regional average. Education represented 18.89% of total government expenditure, under the recommended 20% benchmark yet also above the regional average. Public spending per school-age person was USD 1,367.49 (2023), below the regional average, revealing persistent inequalities in education financing and access. These figures highlight the need to sustain and equitably expand investment to ensure inclusive and quality education for all learners.
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Peru’s public financial effort in education demonstrates progress relative to its regional peers but remains short of international targets. In 2023, 4.24% of GDP and 18.89% of total government expenditure were devoted to education—both below the global benchmarks of 6% and 20%, respectively, yet above regional averages.
Public expenditure on education as a % of GDP
Public expenditure on education as a % of total public expenditure
Peru’s per capita education spending in 2023 was USD 1,367.49, still below the regional average. However, it shows increased resource availability compared to 2000, when spending per student was only USD 196.
Public spending per school-age person
Equity indicators reveal near gender parity and relatively low inequality across income groups. The gender ratio in 2022 stood at 0.97, slightly below the regional average, indicating near-equal participation of girls and boys in schooling. The wealth parity index was 1.00, suggesting full parity in school attendance between children from the richest and poorest households. This level of equality is below the regional average, indicating a comparatively fairer distribution of educational access. Continued attention to intersectional disparities—particularly in rural, Indigenous, and low-income communities—remains critical to ensuring equity within the education system.