Influence of public investment in education and monetary poverty on the illiteracy rate in Peru, 2007–2024

Introduction In Peru, in recent decades, the State has shown efforts to increase public investment in education and reduce levels of monetary poverty; However, the illiteracy rate persists as a structural problem that especially affects rural populations, women, children and the elderly. The objective was to determine the influence of public investment in education and monetary poverty on the literacy rate in Peru, 2007-2024. Methods A quantitative approach was used, explanatory and with a non-experimental descriptive and correlational design, based on econometric models of panel data applied to departmental information. Results It was determined that public investment in education has a negative and statistically significant effect on the literacy rate, which confirms that greater state funding contributes to reducing educational gaps between departments; The monetary poverty index has a positive and significant relationship with illiteracy, showing that poverty is one of the main structural barriers to access to education, especially in regions with greater socioeconomic vulnerability. Discussions Factors related to social well-being, such as chronic disease in households and the accumulation of human capital as measured by the average years of schooling, significantly influence literacy levels. Therefore, the reduction of illiteracy requires comprehensive public policies that strengthen educational investment and articulate strategies for poverty reduction, social protection and access to health services to reduce regional inequalities.