According to indexmundi, as seen in the table below, the literacy rate in Peru has been dropping each year since 2004, when it was at approximately 87%.
| Year | Literacy (%) |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 83 |
| 2001 | 83 |
| 2002 | 83 |
| 2003 | 86.8 |
| 2004 | 86.8 |
| 2005 | 82.1 |
| 2006 | 82.1 |
| 2007 | 82.1 |
| 2008 | 8.21 |
In Lima, with a population of approximately 9,000,000, only 2 of the libraries have a reading room for children. Ms. Bakal visited one – it was quite beautiful however it only has about 600 books and an average of 15 to 20 children visiting per day (Monday through Friday).