Quick facts
Peru population overview
Peru is the 4th most populous of 14 countries and territories in South America. The United Nations put the population at 34,753,337 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +1% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 923 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 531,726 births (15.3 per 1,000 people) and 198,094 deaths (5.7 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 6,951 people. The infant mortality rate is 9.6 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 10,174,127 in 1960 to 34,576,665 in 2025 — a change of +239.8%, or +1.9% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 30.6 years; life expectancy at birth is 78.3 years; women have on average 2 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 23.6% of residents are under 15 and 9.5% are 65 or older (2025); 85.6% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Lima. Peru covers 1,285,216 km², giving a population density of about 27.3 people per km². GDP was $334.85B in 2025 — about $9,684 per person (World Bank classification: upper middle income).
Peru population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #48 of 238 → | 35,023,168 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 34,753,337 |
| World rank | #48 of 238 |
| Rank in South America | #4 of 14 |
| Share of world population | 0.4% |
| Annual growth rate #100 of 238 → | +1% |
| Births per year est. | 531,726 |
| Deaths per year est. | 198,094 |
| Net migration per year est. · #93 of 238 → | +6,951 |
| Birth rate #100 of 216 → | 15.3 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #174 of 216 → | 5.7 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #116 of 238 → | 9.6 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #102 of 238 → | 98.9 males per 100 females |
| Median age #132 of 238 → | 30.6 years |
| Life expectancy #72 of 216 → | 78.3 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #103 of 216 → | 2 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #46 of 216 → | 85.6% |
| Surface area 2023 · #19 of 215 → | 1,285,216 km² |
| Population density #175 of 215 → | 27.3 per km² |
| Capital | Lima |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #47 of 212 → | $334.85B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #105 of 212 → | $9,684 |
| Income group World Bank | Upper middle income |
Peru population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 35,023,168 | – | – |
| 2025 | 34,576,665 | +358,817 | +1% |
| 2024 | 34,217,848 | +372,231 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 33,845,617 | +370,179 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 33,475,438 | +319,556 | +1% |
| 2021 | 33,155,882 | +317,303 | +1% |
| 2020 | 32,838,579 | +2,380,979 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 30,457,600 | +1,371,581 | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 29,086,019 | +984,839 | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 28,101,180 | +1,502,849 | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 26,598,331 | +2,249,412 | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 24,348,919 | +2,334,148 | +2% |
| 1990 | 22,014,771 | +2,366,567 | +2.3% |
| 1985 | 19,648,204 | +2,287,255 | +2.5% |
| 1980 | 17,360,949 | +2,026,992 | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 15,333,957 | +1,832,720 | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 13,501,237 | +1,740,152 | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 11,761,085 | +1,586,958 | +2.9% |
| 1960 | 10,174,127 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Peru
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lima Capital | 7,737,002 | 22.1% |
| 2 | Callao | 1,226,200 | 3.5% |
| 3 | Arequipa | 1,195,700 | 3.4% |
| 4 | Trujillo | 1,067,700 | 3% |
| 5 | Piura | 630,000 | 1.8% |
| 6 | Chiclayo | 609,400 | 1.7% |
| 7 | Huancayo | 456,250 | 1.3% |
| 8 | Cusco | 428,450 | 1.2% |
Lima is the largest city with 7,737,002 people and is also the capital. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Peru cities →
About Peru
Population over time
- From 10,174,127 in 1960 to 35,023,168 today — up 244.2%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +1.3% per year.
- World rank: Population #48 of 238 · Population growth rate #100 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 77.9 years (2024), up 27.3 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 2 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #72 of 216 · Fertility rate #103 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 15.8 births vs 5.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 10.2 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #100 of 216 · Death rate #174 of 216.
Age structure
- 23.6% of the population is under 15 and 9.5% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 3.7% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #106 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #104 of 216 · Median age #132 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 69.27 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions are at or near their historical peak.
- Per person: 2.02 t in 2024, vs 1.29 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #49 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #114 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 823.4 kg of oil equivalent per person (2023), up 86.2% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 30.6% of final energy in 2021 (-8.8 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #103 of 150 · Renewable energy share #79 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 56.1% of land area (2023).
- Net deforestation: cover fell from 59.7% to 56.1% since 1990 — roughly 46,556 km² of forest lost.
- World rank: Forest area #38 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 85.6% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 46.7% in 1960 (+38.9 points).
- Became majority-urban around 1964.
- World rank: Urban population #46 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low — freshwater withdrawals are 1.6% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 49,021 m³ in 2022, down 68.7% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #11 of 183 · Water stress #140 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $334.85B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 76.4% since 2015.
- That works out to $9,684 per person.
- World rank: GDP #47 of 212 · GDP per capita #105 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 5.1% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 1.5% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #94 of 186 · Inflation rate #141 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 82% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 124.6 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #102 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #77 of 210.
Peru in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Peru in 2026?
As of October 2026, Peru has an estimated population of 35,023,168. The United Nations estimated 34,753,337 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +1% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Peru growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +1% per year — roughly 923 more people every day. Each year there are about 531,726 births and 198,094 deaths, with net migration of +6,951.
What is the population density of Peru?
About 27.3 people per square kilometre: 35,023,168 people living on 1,285,216 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Peru?
The median age is 30.6 years, and life expectancy at birth is 78.3 years. 23.6% of the population is under 15 and 9.5% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Peru rank by population?
Peru is the 48th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 4th in South America, with 0.4% of the global population.
How has the population of Peru changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 10,174,127; by 2025 it had grown to 34,576,665 (+239.8%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Glostats. (2026). Peru Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/peru/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/peru/">Peru Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+1%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.