Population of Peru

As of August 2026, the population of Peru is 34.9 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 339 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 1.00%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 27.3 years in 2016 to 30.5 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 78.3 years and population density is 27.3 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Population Growth

The population growth rate of Peru peaked in 1961, reaching around 2.92% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.97% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 682.19 thousand in 2018 to nearly 339.25 thousand in 2026.

Life Expectancy

In Peru, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 72.3 years in 2006 to 78.3 years in 2026, representing an increase de 6 years over the past 2 decades.

Most populous cities in Peru

Peru has several cities considered medium-sized by their number of inhabitants, but there are also some large ones. The most populous city is Lima, Lima Province, con una diferencia significativa sobre las demás, alcanzando approximately 7.7 million inhabitants. It is followed by Callao with 1.2 million and Arequipa with 1.2 million.

These are the 20 most populous cities in Peru: