Gender wage gap persists globally and in Peru

Global gender wage gaps persist, with women earning an average of 20 percent less than men. This disparity is exacerbated by high rates of informal employment, where women often work without contracts, social security, or legal protections. In Latin America, nearly half of working women are in the informal sector, making it difficult to accurately measure or address the gap through official statistics.

In Peru, the IPE reports that the gender wage gap reached 25.5 percent in 2025. While this is a decrease from 27.1 percent in 2024, women still earn significantly less than men on average. The gap is more pronounced in rural areas (36.2 percent) compared to urban areas (25.9 percent).

Labor market participation also shows a significant divide: 80 percent of men of working age are active in the market, compared to 63 percent of women. Factors such as unpaid domestic responsibilities, maternity, and teenage pregnancy contribute to these differences. For instance, the wage gap rises to 33 percent between parents, compared to 21.3 percent for those without children. Additionally, a higher percentage of young women (ages 15-29) are neither studying nor working, often citing domestic duties as a barrier to employment.