Updated
Overview
Iran has 2.7 times the population of Peru: 92.42 million people against 34.58 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $362.68B for Iran and $334.85B for Peru.
Per person, Peru is the wealthier of the two: $9,684 against $3,924 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Iran | Peru | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $362.68B | $334.85B | 2025 | $436.91B / $289.22B |
| GDP per capita | $3,924 | Higher: $9,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | -2.8% | Higher: 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 42.2% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | 32.5% / 2.0% |
| Unemployment | 8.3% | Lower: 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 51 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $563 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,264 | $273 | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $4.99 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 92.42 million | 34.58 million | 2025 | 89.18 million / 32.77 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.0 yrs | 30.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.67 | 1.94 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 77% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 85% | 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,648,195 km² | 1,285,216 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 56.1/km² | 26.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 793 Mt | Lower: 70 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 2.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $7.89B | $2.57B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.0% | 0.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 650,000 | 158,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Peru grew while the other economy contracted: 3.4% against -2.8%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Iran at 42.2%, while the other economy sits at 1.5%.
People and society
Peru is the younger society: median age 30.2 versus 34.0 years.
Geography
By land area, Iran is 28% larger than Peru: 1,648,195 km² versus 1,285,216 km².
Iran is far more densely settled: 56 people per km² against 27.
Military
Iran spends 3.1 times as much on defence as Peru: $7.89B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Iran carries the heavier military burden: 2.0% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Iran fields the larger armed forces: 650,000 personnel against 158,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Iran bigger than Peru?
- Iran is larger by land area. Iran covers 1,648,195 km² while Peru covers 1,285,216 km², so Iran is 28% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Iran or Peru?
- Iran has the larger population: 92.42 million versus 34.58 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Iran richer than Peru?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Peru is richer: $9,684 against $3,924. Total GDP tells a different story: $362.68B for Iran versus $334.85B for Peru.
- Who spends more on their military, Iran or Peru?
- Iran spends more: $7.89B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).