Share of workers in informal employment in Peru
Peru: Share of workers in informal employment was 70.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in informal employment in Peru, 2002–2025
Source: International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in informal employment in Peru is 70.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 1.3% on the previous year and up 1.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in informal employment in Peru peaked at 98.4% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 68.1%, in 2016.
Peru ranks 19th of 82 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Share of workers in informal employment in Peru, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 98.3% | — |
| 2003 | 98.4% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 91.1% | -7.5% |
| 2005 | 83.7% | -8.1% |
| 2006 | 82.0% | -2.1% |
| 2007 | 79.2% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 78.8% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 77.1% | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 76.8% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 75.6% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 70.7% | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 69.8% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 68.6% | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 69.2% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 68.1% | -1.7% |
| 2017 | 68.1% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 68.5% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 68.4% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 70.1% | +2.6% |
| 2021 | 68.4% | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 74.4% | +8.7% |
| 2023 | 76.8% | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 71.4% | -7.1% |
| 2025 | 70.5% | -1.3% |
Peru compared with similar countries
- Peru's 70.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 54.7%, 1.3× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Peru's 70.5% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 56.0%, 1.3× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 86.1% | 77.1% | 98.4% | 8 |
| 2010s | 70.4% | 68.1% | 76.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.9% | 68.4% | 76.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Peru
More work & labour data for Peru
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4349 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4225 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4473 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.6786 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 35,667 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,953 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 19,027 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 19,136 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 38,163 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of workers in informal employment in Peru?
- Share of workers in informal employment in Peru was 70.5% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Peru?
- The highest recorded value was 98.4% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of workers in informal employment recorded in Peru?
- The lowest recorded value was 68.1% in 2016.
- How does Peru rank for share of workers in informal employment?
- Peru ranks 19th out of 82 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in informal employment rising or falling in Peru?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Peru data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in informal employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed people working in jobs that lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits. Does not include illegal and illicit activities. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.