Welcome to Peru 🇵🇪 — a remarkable destination in South America. Its official name is Republic of Peru, and today around 34.2 million people call this American nation home, spread across roughly 1,285,216 km² of territory.
Below is your complete country profile for Peru: key statistics, an introduction to Lima, an interactive map, cultural notes and answers to the questions people most often ask about this corner of Americas.
Geography of Peru
Peru lies in South America, in the Americas region of the world. Measuring roughly 1,285,216 square kilometres, it ranks 21st in the world by total area.
Peru has a coastline as well as land borders with Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador — a crossroads position that has influenced its culture and economy for centuries.
Lima serves as the capital — the centre of government and, for most travellers, the gateway to everything else Peru has to offer.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
People, language and culture
Peru is home to approximately 34.2 million residents — the 48th largest population on the planet. Its people are known as Peruvians.
Peru is multilingual: the languages spoken include Aymara, Quechua and Spanish. This linguistic variety reflects the country's layered history and the many communities that shaped it.
Like every country featured on Spin a Country, Peru rewards curiosity — its festivals, food and everyday customs tell a story that statistics alone never can.
Currency, travel and practical facts
The official currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, symbol S/.). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for Peru is +51. Websites from the country typically use the .pe internet domain.
If Peru came up on your random spin, take five minutes to memorise its flag, capital (Lima) and population — these are the three facts most often asked in geography quizzes.
Neighbouring countries
Peru shares borders with 5 countries:
Fun facts about Peru
- Peru's flag emoji is 🇵🇪 — its two-letter country code is PE and its three-letter code is PER.
- Peru covers 1,285,216 km², ranking 21st in the world by area.
- With about 34.2 million people, Peru holds the 48th spot in the world population ranking.
- Peru is a member state of the United Nations.
- Peru shares borders with 5 countries.
Peru — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Peru?
- The capital of Peru is Lima.
- What is the population of Peru?
- Peru has a population of approximately 34,217,848 people, ranking 48th in the world.
- Where is Peru located?
- Peru is located in South America, part of the Americas region.
- What language is spoken in Peru?
- The languages spoken in Peru include Aymara, Quechua and Spanish.
- What currency is used in Peru?
- Peru uses the Peruvian sol (PEN).
