> > Home >> South America > > Peru
Peru Population (2026 Overview)
Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country located in western South America and is the third-largest country on the continent by land area. Administratively, Peru is divided into 26 units, including 24 departments, the Constitutional Province of Callao, and the Province of Lima, which is independent of any region and also serves as the national capital.
According to the 2017 National Census, Peru’s population stood at 31,237,385 (31.3 million). Based on estimates from the United Nations World Population Prospects, Peru’s population is projected to reach 35,351,784 (approximately 35 million) in 2026, reflecting steady demographic growth over the past decade.
Source: UN World Population Prospects & Peru Census 2017
Peru Demographics – Quick Facts
Official Name: Republic of Peru
Continent: South America
Capital City: Lima
Total Population (2026 est.): ~34.7 million
Population Rank (South America): 4th
Land Area: 311,888 sq. km (120,421 sq. mi)
Area Rank (South America): 3rd
Population Density: ~26 people per sq. km
Urban Population: ~79.1%
Administrative Divisions: 24 departments + Callao + Lima Province
Religion in Peru
Christianity is the dominant religion in Peru, followed by around 90% of the population. Among Christians, Roman Catholicism has historically been the largest faith, though Evangelical and Protestant groups have grown steadily in recent decades.
According to the 2017 National Census, about 76% of Peruvians aged 12 and above identified as Catholic, while 14.1% identified as Evangelical. Updated figures from the 2020 Latino Barómetro show a continued decline in Catholic affiliation, with 69.4% identifying as Catholic and 17% as Evangelical Protestants. A growing share of the population now identifies with no religion.
Smaller religious communities in Peru include Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, as well as Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam, largely due to immigration.
Religious Composition of Peru (2020)
| Religion / Affiliation | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Christianity (Total) | 90.1% |
| └ Catholic | 69.4% |
| └ Evangelical (no specific) | 17.0% |
| └ Adventist | 1.4% |
| └ Jehovah’s Witnesses | 1.3% |
| └ Mormon | 0.5% |
| Other Religions | 0.5% |
| No Religion | 7.8% |
| Don’t Know / No Answer | 1.2% |
Trend note (2017 → 2020): Catholic affiliation is gradually declining, while Evangelical Christianity and non-religious identification are increasing.
Source: Latino Barómetro (2020)
Race and Ethnicity in Peru
Peru is a multi-ethnic nation, shaped by centuries of Indigenous heritage, European colonization, African influence, and later immigration from Asia and the Middle East. The largest ethnic group in the country is Mestizo, reflecting a mix of Amerindian (primarily Quechua) and European (mainly Spanish) ancestry.
Indigenous peoples make up a significant share of the population, led by the Quechua and Aymara communities, particularly in the Andean highlands. White Peruvians are mainly of Spanish, Italian, German, French, and English descent. Afro-Peruvians, along with mixed-heritage groups such as mulattos and zambos, represent an important cultural legacy of the colonial era.
Peru also has notable Asian communities, especially Chinese and Japanese, who arrived as laborers in the mid-19th century and today play a major role in Peruvian society. Smaller immigrant populations include Arabs (Levantine origin), South Asians, and migrants from neighboring countries.
Racial Composition of Peru (2017 Census)
| Race / Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Mestizo | 60.2% |
| Quechua (Indigenous) | 22.3% |
| White | 5.9% |
| Afro-Peruvian | 3.6% |
| Aymara (Indigenous) | 2.4% |
| Other (incl. Asian) | 2.3% |
| Not Stated | 3.3% |
Source: Peru Census 2017
Top Cities in Peru by Population
Peru’s population is highly urbanized, with a significant concentration in the Lima metropolitan area, which alone is home to over 9.8 million people. Beyond the capital, major regional cities such as Arequipa, Trujillo, Chiclayo, and Piura serve as important economic, cultural, and administrative hubs across the country.
Cities like Cusco and Iquitos highlight Peru’s historical and geographic diversity, while growing urban centers in the Andes and Amazon regions reflect continued internal migration and urban expansion.
Largest Cities in Peru
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lima | Lima | 9,735,587 |
| 2 | Arequipa | Arequipa | 1,008,029 |
| 3 | Trujillo | La Libertad | 935,147 |
| 4 | Chiclayo | Lambayeque | 801,580 |
| 5 | Huancayo | Junín | 501,384 |
| 6 | Iquitos | Loreto | 432,476 |
| 7 | Piura | Piura | 430,319 |
| 8 | Cusco | Cusco | 420,137 |
| 9 | Chimbote | Ancash | 367,850 |
| 10 | Tacna | Tacna | 288,698 |
| 11 | Juliaca | Puno | 267,174 |
| 12 | Ica | Ica | 241,903 |
| 13 | Cajamarca | Cajamarca | 218,775 |
| 14 | Pucallpa | Ucayali | 211,631 |
| 15 | Sullana | Piura | 199,606 |
| 16 | Ayacucho | Ayacucho | 177,420 |
| 17 | Chincha Alta | Ica | 174,575 |
| 18 | Huánuco | Huánuco | 172,924 |
| 19 | Tarapoto | San Martín | 141,053 |
| 20 | Puno | Puno | 138,723 |
English
Español
Português
Deutsch