Peru is an independent state in South America, and a member of the United Nations. Treaties and official documents call it Republic of Peru. Its seat of government is Lima.
The population is about 34.2 million, placing it 48th of 250 by population — between Ghana above it and Madagascar below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 3rd of 14 in size and 4th in population.
The land area is 1,285,216 km², which ranks it 21st of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Mongolia and just ahead of Chad. That makes it almost exactly the same size as Chad.
The lie of the land
The coordinates the dataset gives are 10.0° S, 76.0° W, which puts it in the southern hemisphere, roughly 1,113 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
The Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste and Christmas Island sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
5 countries share a land border with it: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. The largest of them by area is Brazil, which is also the most populous. Together those neighbours hold about 315.2 million people.
With both a coast and land borders, it has the trade options a landlocked country does not.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
How crowded Peru is, and what is spoken there
Population divided by land area gives roughly 27 people per square kilometre, which makes it less crowded than the typical entry on this list. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
3 languages carry official status: Aymara, Quechua and Spanish. Aymara, the first listed, is shared with 1 other entry worldwide.
Someone from Peru is a Peruvian.
Against the Americas as a whole it is the 7th most populous of 56 entries, and it accounts for 7.9% of everyone living in South America.
Money, codes and practical details
Money there is the Peruvian sol (S/., PEN). That currency appears nowhere else on this list.
If a quiz asks for the capital of Peru, the answer is Lima.
Websites there use the .pe domain. Calls from overseas start with +51. Standard country codes: pe and PER.
Peru is one of the 193 UN member states in this dataset. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Peru shares borders with 5 countries:
Fun facts about Peru
- In land area it is almost exactly the same size as Chad.
- It shares land borders with 5 countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador.
- Within South America it is the 3rd largest of 14.
- The Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste sit at almost the same latitude, on the far side of the globe.
- It is 48th of 250 by population, with about 34.2 million residents.
- Population density works out at roughly 27 people per square kilometre.
- People from Peru are known as Peruvians.
Peru — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Peru?
- The capital of Peru is Lima.
- Which countries border Peru?
- Peru borders 5 countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. Brazil is the largest of them by area.
- Is Peru a country?
- Yes. Peru is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- How big is Peru?
- Peru covers 1,285,216 km², ranking 21st of 250 by land area. That makes it almost exactly the same size as Chad.
- What is the population of Peru?
- Peru has a population of about 34.2 million, which makes it the 48th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Ghana sits just above it and Madagascar just below.
- What language is spoken in Peru?
- Peru lists 3 official languages: Aymara, Quechua and Spanish.
- Where is Peru located?
- Peru is in South America, part of the Americas. Its reference coordinates are 10.0° south and 76.0° west, roughly 1,113 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
- What currency does Peru use?
- Peru uses the Peruvian sol, written S/. (currency code PEN). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
