Peru has a population of approximately 34 million people as of 2025, making it the 43rd most populous country in the world and the fourth most populous in South America. Spread across Pacific coastal deserts, the towering Andes, and the western Amazon, that population is unevenly distributed, with the majority clustered along a narrow strip of coast that holds the capital, Lima.
How Many People Live in Peru?
At around 34 million inhabitants, Peru sits behind Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina among South American nations, and ranks roughly 43rd globally. It is the third-largest country in South America by land area, yet much of that territory is sparsely settled. The Amazon rainforest, which covers more than half of Peru's surface, is home to only a small fraction of its people, while the desert coast and the Andean highlands carry the demographic weight.
Peru's overall population density averages about 26 people per square kilometre, a figure that masks enormous variation. Lima's metropolitan area is densely packed, whereas vast stretches of jungle in the Loreto and Ucayali regions have fewer than three people per square kilometre. For more on the country's geography and culture, see our peru country guide.
Population Growth and Trends
Peru's population is currently growing at roughly 0.81% per year, a moderate pace by global standards and a sharp slowdown from the boom decades of the 20th century. In the 1970s, annual growth exceeded 2.8%, driven by high birth rates and falling mortality. Since then the fertility rate has dropped to about 2.2 children per woman, hovering just above the replacement level.
This decline reflects familiar forces: urbanisation, rising education levels (especially for women), wider access to family planning, and the economic pressures of city life. Demographers project that Peru's population will continue to expand but at an ever-slower rate, peaking somewhere around 2055 at roughly 40 million before beginning a gradual decline.
Migration has also shaped these numbers. During the internal conflict with the Shining Path insurgency in the 1980s and 1990s, hundreds of thousands of people fled rural highland communities for the relative safety and opportunity of coastal cities, permanently reshaping where Peruvians live.
Where Peruvians Live: The Largest Cities
Peru is a highly urbanised country, with close to 80% of its people living in towns and cities. Its three largest urban centres are Lima, Arequipa, and Trujillo.
- Lima — The capital and by far the largest city, with about 10 million residents in its metropolitan area. That means nearly one in three Peruvians lives in Lima. Remarkably, it sits in a coastal desert that receives almost no rainfall, making it the second-driest capital in the world after Cairo.
- Arequipa — Peru's second city, with roughly 1.1 million residents. Nicknamed the "White City" for the pale volcanic sillar stone used in its colonial buildings, it lies in the southern highlands beneath snow-capped volcanoes.
- Trujillo — The largest city in northern Peru, home to around 900,000 people. It was once the heart of the pre-Inca Chimú Empire and remains a hub of agriculture and commerce on the coastal plain.
Ethnic and Cultural Diversity
Peru's population is a rich blend of Indigenous, European, African, and Asian roots. Roughly 60% of Peruvians identify as mestizo (mixed Indigenous and European descent), about 26% as Indigenous — primarily Quechua and Aymara peoples — around 6% as White, and a further share as Afro-Peruvian, Asian, or other. Peru is notable for having one of the larger populations of East Asian descent in Latin America, a legacy of Chinese and Japanese immigration that has left a deep mark on the national cuisine.
Spanish is the primary official language, but Quechua and Aymara hold co-official status, and Quechua alone is still spoken by some 4 million people, especially in the highlands. About 76% of the population identifies as Roman Catholic, though Andean spiritual traditions remain woven into daily religious life. Peru is governed as a presidential republic, and its population is relatively young, with a median age of around 31 years.
Key Population Facts at a Glance
- Population (2025 est.): ~34 million
- World rank: 43rd most populous
- South America rank: 4th most populous
- Annual growth rate: 0.81%
- Fertility rate: ~2.2 children per woman
- Population density: ~26 people per km²
- Capital and largest city: Lima (~10 million)
- Median age: ~31 years
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Peru in 2025?
Peru's population in 2025 is estimated at about 34 million people. This makes it the 43rd most populous country in the world and the fourth most populous in South America, after Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina.
What is the largest city in Peru?
Lima is the largest city and the national capital, with roughly 10 million residents in its metropolitan area — nearly a third of all Peruvians. Arequipa and Trujillo follow as the second- and third-largest cities.
Is Peru's population growing or shrinking?
Peru's population is still growing, but slowly, at about 0.81% per year. Growth has fallen steadily since the 1970s as fertility declined, and demographers expect the population to peak near 40 million around 2055 before gradually decreasing.
What languages do Peruvians speak?
Spanish is the main official language, spoken by the great majority. Quechua and Aymara are also official languages; Quechua, the tongue of the former Inca Empire, is still spoken by roughly 4 million people, mostly in the Andean highlands.
