More than 17 million of women commemorate their day this March 8

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, that is commemorated each March 8th, the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) informed that in Peru, according to estimates and projections of population, there are 17 million 162 thousand 819 women that represents the 50.4% of the total population. For the past two decades, the female population reached 13 million 810 thousand 703 women (50.2%).

 

According to age group, women under 15 years old reached 4 million 370 (23.3%), women aged 15 to 49 years old reached 8 million 877 thousand 924 (51.7%), women aged 50 to 59 years old reached 1 million 790 thousand 993 (10.4%) and women are older adults of 60 years old and older reached 2 million 493 thousand 532 (14.5%). At present, the average age of Peruvian women is of 34 years old being six years more than two decades ago (28 years old).

 

Live expectancy at birth of Peruvian women had been increased, in the past two decades ago was of 74.9 years old now is 80.0 years old, it means women live in average five years more than men (74.7 years old).

 

The Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES) of 2022 reveled that the number of children that in average has each woman in childbearing age (15 to 49 years old) is of 1.9 children a lower figure to the registered in the past two decades (2.4 children). The fertility rate is not uniform across the country level of since there were observed differences, according to residence area and education level. In the rural area, the average of children per woman is of 2.8 children greater than the urban area (1.7 children). According to education level, women without education level have in average 4.6 children compared to those that have reached a superior education level (1.5 children).

 

According to the National Household Survey (ENAHO), in the last decade, the average of years of study of women aged 15 years old and older increased, by going from 9.9 years in 2012 to 10.2 years in 2022.  In the urban area women have an average 10.7 years of study and in rural area have an average 7.8 years of study.

According to the ENAHO, at present, women aged 15 years old and older that have access to superior education level reach 30.8% (16.2% have university superior education level and 14.6% had access to non-university superior education level). During the year 2012, 29.5% of women of 15 years old and over had superior education level.

The attendance to childhood education level of girls aged 3 to 5 years old reached 78.1%; meanwhile, during the year 1012 was of 71.3%, observing an increase of 6.8 percentage points. The attendance to elementary education level of girls between 6 to 11 years old reached 93.9%, 2.2 percentage points more than the year 2012 (91.7%) and in high-school education level reached 85.6%; meanwhile, in the year 2012 it reached 80.3%.

According to the National Jury of Elections (JNE) the participation of women in politics had increased, therefore you can observe that for the period 2011-2016, 21.5% of parliamentarians were women; meanwhile that for the period 2022-2026, 37.7% are women. At present six women are part of the Council of Ministers.

According to the 2022 ENAHO information reveals that 35.5% of the households of the country are women-headed; meanwhile, in the year 2011 the 25.4% of the households were households headed by women, observing an increase of 11.1 percentage points. During the year 2022, by type of household, it is appreciated that the 68.9% of the households headed by women are single-parent household, it means made up by the female-headed of the household without spouse, with children or other relatives and the 31.1% are two-parent household (Chief of the household and spouse with children and without children or other relatives). 

The activity rate of women, or the proportion of women in working age that actively participate in the working market, whether working or looking for a job, was of 63.3% in the year 2022, according to data of the Permanent Survey of National Employment (EPEN). Meanwhile, the activity rate of men reached 79.6%, being a gap of 16.3 percentage points in favor of men.

According to the 2022 EPEN, of the total of employed persons of 14 years old and older, 44.5% are women and the remaining 55.5% are men. By age group, it is observed a greater participation (47.3%) among older women of 25 to 44 years old, it follows in importance, the group of women of 45 to 59 years old, that represented 24.4%. The young women under 25 years old represented 16.7% and women of 60 years old and older represented 11.6%. Among men, the composition by age is not much different, 48.6% are between 25 to 44 years old, 22.8% belong to the group of 45 to 59 years old, 15.6% are young men of 25 years old and 13.0% are adults aged 60 years old and older.

The 2022 EPEN also reveals that 41.3% of employed women are involved in the Services activity; 26.3% in Commerce, 24.2% in Agriculture, Fishing and Mining; 7.6% in Manufacturing and 0.7% in Construction. Meanwhile, among men, 40.2% perform activities in the Service sector, 26.7% in Agriculture, Fishing and Mining, 12.5% in Construction, 11.6% in Commerce and 8.9% in Manufacturing.

The same survey also stresses that 72.4% of employed women worked in companies of 1 to 5 employees, 10.1% in establishments of 6 to 50 employees and 17.5% in economic units of 51 and more employees. 

42.2% of women that work in some economic activities do it in an independent way and 43.2% are dependent workers. It should be noted that 14.6% of women that work in some economic activity have the condition of contributing family workers.