Peru Population

Peru was the last country to become independent in South America. The country is rich in mineral resources and is the world’s next largest producer of copper and silver.

Key figures and facts

• Capital: Lima
• Ethnic groups: Amerindians 45%, mastes (both American and European origin) 37%, Europeans 15%, other 3% (2007)
• Language: Spanish (official) 84%, quechua (official) 13%, aymara (official) 2%, other 1% (2007)
• Religion: Catholics 81%, Evangelical Christians 13%, Other/Unspecified/None 6% (2007)
• Population: 32 165 000 (2017)
• Control Form: Republican Democracy
• Area: 1 285 220 km²
• Currency: Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN)
• GNP per capita: 13 019 PPP $
• National Day: July 28th

Population of Peru

The population of Peru is estimated at 30 376 000 (World Bank 2013), annual population growth to 1.3%. Life expectancy at birth is 77.3 years for women and 71.9 years for men.

Peru is one of the few countries in South America where Indians make up over half the population. The largest group is quechua, which alone accounts for almost half of Peru’s population. Just over 5% is aymara. The Indians are located in the highlands and in the tropical Montaña area, the “Mountain area”, on the eastern slope of the Andean highlands. In addition to Spanish speakers (mastis; about 30-35%) and Native American speakers, there are today minorities of Japanese, Chinese and Italians. About 1% are African Americans; many of these are descendants of Africans who were brought here as slaves in the 16th and 16th centuries.

Large sections of the Native American population have extremely difficult living conditions, including widespread malnutrition. Deep and widespread poverty in the countryside has created a profound impact on cities, which in turn leads to slumber, higher unemployment, crime and a number of major social problems.

The average population density is 23.7 units per km². The bulk of the population lives in valleys and streams in the mountains, and increasingly in coastal cities, where the capital of Lima (with the port city of Callao, 773,700 residents in 2000) has an explosive growth (7,748,000 residents in 2002). Other major cities are Arequipa, Trujillo and Chiclayo. About 78% of the population lives in urban areas (2013).

Population of Peru by Year (Historical)

Year	Population	Annual Growth Rate	Population Density	Global Rank
2020	32,971,743	1.420%	25.7593	43
2019	32,510,342	1.630%	25.3988	43
2018	31,989,149	1.730%	24.9916	43
2017	31,444,187	1.680%	24.5659	43
2016	30,925,921	1.490%	24.1610	43
2015	30,470,623	0.970%	23.8053	43
2010	29,027,563	0.820%	22.6779	41
2005	27,866,034	1.040%	21.7704	38
2000	26,459,833	1.720%	20.6718	38
1995	24,299,049	1.940%	18.9837	37
1990	22,071,322	2.220%	17.2433	38
1985	19,772,761	2.420%	15.4476	38
1980	17,547,499	2.610%	13.7091	38
1975	15,424,633	2.760%	12.0506	39
1970	13,459,683	2.820%	10.5155	39
1965	11,711,281	2.890%	9.1495	40
1960	10,154,904	2.770%	7.9336	40
1955	8,858,278	2.640%	6.9206	44
1950	7,777,335	0.000%	6.0761	45

Major Cities in Peru by Population

Rank	City	Population
1	Lima	7,736,891
2	Arequipa	841,019
3	Callao	813,153
4	Trujillo	747,339
5	Chiclayo	577,264
6	Iquitos	437,509
7	Huancayo	376,546
8	Piura	325,355
9	Chimbote	316,855
10	Cusco	312,029
11	Pucallpa	310,639
12	Tacna	279,987
13	Santiago de Surco	251,537
14	Ica	246,733
15	Juliaca	245,564
16	Sullana	160,678
17	Chincha Alta	152,965
18	Huanuco	147,848
19	Ayacucho	139,922
20	Cajamarca	134,889
21	Puno	116,441
22	Tumbes	109,112
23	Talara	98,963
24	Chosica	88,495
25	Huaraz	86,823
26	Cerro de Pasco	78,799
27	Chulucanas	68,724
28	San Isidro	68,198
29	Huaral	62,063
30	Pisco	61,758
31	Catacaos	57,193
32	Paita	56,040
33	Abancay	55,000
34	Huacho	54,434
35	Moquegua	54,406
36	Ilo	53,365
37	Tingo Maria	53,066
38	Jaen	52,382
39	Tarma	51,239
40	Barranca	46,179
41	Moyobamba	44,165
42	Lambayeque	43,599
43	Picsi	43,499
44	Chepen	41,881
45	Yurimaguas	41,716
46	Huancavelica	41,465
47	Sana	39,089
48	Tambopata	38,855
49	Juanjui	37,604
50	Puerto Maldonado	37,432
51	La Union	34,723
52	Ferrenafe	34,246
53	Sicuani	33,464
54	La Oroya	33,234
55	Chocope	32,259
56	Imperial	32,233
57	Nuevo Imperial	32,233
58	Tambo Grande	29,922
59	La Rinconada	29,567
60	Pacasmayo	29,054
61	Tocache	28,918
62	Mollendo	28,842
63	Chaupimarca	28,555
64	Paramonga	27,520
65	La Peca	26,934
66	Chancay	26,847
67	Hualmay	26,547
68	Monsefu	25,596
69	Marcavelica	25,534
70	San Vicente de Canete	25,406
71	Querecotillo	25,285
72	Guadalupe	25,265
73	Santa Ana	25,034
74	Rioja	24,946
75	Laredo	24,580
76	Nazca	23,445
77	Yanacancha	23,064
78	Sechura	22,909
79	Moche	22,470
80	Santiago de Cao	21,871
81	Huamachuco	21,657
82	Paijan	21,017
83	Jauja	20,946
84	Viru	20,663
85	Huaura	20,612
86	Bagua Grande	20,271
87	Chachapoyas	20,168
88	Ayaviri	19,199
89	Huanta	18,516
90	Uchiza	17,631
91	La Breita	17,582
92	Andahuaylas	17,333
93	Mala	17,149
94	Zarumilla	16,796
95	Camana	16,323
96	San Pedro de Lloc	16,139
97	Huarmey	16,061
98	Yunguyo	16,029
99	Chongoyape	15,950
100	Ilave	15,922
101	San Clemente	15,704
102	Pimentel	15,441
103	Satipo	15,421
104	Minas de Marcona	15,367
105	Junin	15,209
106	Bellavista	15,120
107	Coishco	14,972
108	Chicama	14,804
109	Saposoa	14,783
110	Santa Maria	14,742
111	Tabalosos	14,633
112	San Ramon	14,597
113	Celendin	14,549
114	Chota	14,129
115	Salinera Colan	14,099
116	Puerto Santa	13,955
117	Ascope	13,904
118	Contamana	13,774
119	Supe	13,608
120	Eten	13,582
121	Lamas	13,582
122	Motupe	13,570
123	Pativilca	13,472
124	Cajabamba	13,375
125	Bambamarca	13,240
126	Azangaro	13,179
127	Vice	12,804
128	Chilca	12,773
129	Atuncolla	12,543
130	Pueblo Nuevo	12,360
131	Morropon	12,196
132	Zorritos	12,150
133	Oxapampa	11,889
134	Puerto Supe	11,339
135	Concepcion	11,219
136	Villa Tupac Amaru	11,048
137	Caras	10,815
138	Soritor	10,747
139	Santa Rosa	10,514
140	Puquio	10,380
141	Santiago	10,338
142	Otuzco	10,023
143	Salaverry	9,955
144	Chupaca	9,766
145	Reque	9,697
146	Olmos	9,689
147	Ilabaya	9,381
148	Sisa	9,366
149	Las Lomas	9,339
150	El Alto	9,192
151	Quiruvilca	9,115
152	Lagunas	9,086
153	Calca	9,068
154	Carhuamayo	9,011
155	Aguas Verdes	8,995
156	Mancora	8,990
157	Subtanjalla	8,985
158	Yauya	8,981
159	Campoverde	8,834
160	San Luis	8,751
161	Cocachacra	8,688
162	San Jeronimo	8,661
163	Pacanga	8,639
164	Huancabamba	8,442
165	La Huaca	8,357
166	San Miguel	8,289
167	Pilcomay	8,058
168	Putina	8,007
169	Chazuta	7,918
170	Buenos Aires	7,821
171	San Ignacio	7,801
172	Morococha	7,779
173	Los Aquijes	7,737
174	Hacienda Huancane	7,720
175	Pacocha	7,477
176	Urubamba	7,429
177	Mochumi	7,349
178	Villa Rica	7,337
179	San Jose	7,323
180	Coracora	7,309
181	Talavera	7,270
182	Juli	7,198
183	Cajaruro	7,170
184	Jepelacio	7,039
185	Torata	6,943
186	Tucume	6,932
187	San Juan Bautista	6,760
188	Ambo	6,754
189	Perene	6,733
190	Sicaya	6,731
191	Mazamari	6,715
192	Acolla	6,694
193	Santiago de Chuco	6,648
194	Huicungo	6,646
195	Picota	6,586
196	Morrope	6,551
197	Pangoa	6,527
198	Quilmana	6,331
199	Punta de Bombon	6,225
200	Oyotun	6,219
201	Bellavista	6,209
202	Oyon	6,165
203	Vegueta	6,108
204	Sayan	6,085
205	Jayanca	6,015
206	Macusani	5,933
207	Lluta	5,887
208	San Agustin	5,887
209	Yanahuanca	5,881
210	Bernal	5,805
211	Palpa	5,772
212	Anta	5,748
213	Huayucachi	5,716
214	Asentamiento Humano Nicolas de Pierola	5,689
215	Barranca	5,668
216	Pueblo Nuevo	5,655
217	San Pedro de Cajas	5,647
218	San Bartolo	5,622
219	Yura	5,575
220	Orcopampa	5,532
221	San Jeronimo	5,498
222	Pampas	5,410
223	Caleta de Carquin	5,403
224	Ramon Castilla	5,384
225	Papayal	5,373
226	Urcos	5,368
227	Salitral	5,274
228	Desaguadero	5,218
229	San Miguel de Cauri	5,215
230	Ayabaca	5,159
231	Yungay	5,158
232	Huasahuasi	5,035
233	Tinyahuarco	4,955
234	Carhuaz	4,933
235	Tambo	4,921

Religion

Almost the entire population professes Christianity. About 89% belong to the Catholic Church; About 7% are Protestants.

Language

Spanish and Quechua [ketʃwa] are official languages. In the highlands, Native American languages, primarily quechua, but also aymara dominate.