* Cuneiform was a complex system: It involved thousands of signs, each with multiple meanings and pronunciations. Mastering it required years of dedicated study.
* Social Hierarchy: Ancient Sumerian society was stratified. Scribes, priests, and officials were the elite who needed cuneiform for record-keeping, administration, and religious texts.
* Specialized Skills: Many occupations wouldn't require cuneiform. Farmers, artisans, and laborers likely had limited literacy needs.
* Lack of Widespread Education: While some schools existed, education wasn't compulsory.
* Limited Resources: Writing materials like clay tablets were expensive, making them inaccessible to most people.
Therefore, it's safe to assume that only a small percentage of Sumerians were literate in cuneiform.
It's also worth noting that there are ongoing debates among historians about the actual literacy rate in ancient Sumer. While we can't know for certain, the evidence suggests it was far from universal.