Updated
Overview
Italy has about 70% more people than Peru: 58.92 million against 34.58 million (2025).
Italy's economy is 7.6 times the size of Peru's, at $2.55T versus $334.85B.
Per person, Italy is the wealthier of the two: $43,309 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Italy | Peru | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.55T | $334.85B | 2025 | $2.37T / $289.22B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $43,309 | $9,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.5% | Higher: 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.5% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | 1.0% / 2.0% |
| Unemployment | 6.4% | Lower: 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 69 | 51 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,994 | $563 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $273 | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $4.99 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 58.92 million | 34.58 million | 2025 | 60.92 million / 32.77 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 48.2 yrs | 30.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.21 | 1.94 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 70% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 89% | 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 301,336 km² | 1,285,216 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 195.5/km² | 26.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 302 Mt | Lower: 70 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 5.1 t | Lower: 2.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $37.96B | $2.57B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 0.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 338,000 | 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 is growing faster: 3.4% annual GDP growth versus 0.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Italy and 1.5% in Peru.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Peru: a price level of 51 versus 69 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Italy: $3,994 against $563 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Peru is the far younger society: median age 30.2 versus 48.2 years.
Life expectancy is 6.0 years longer in Italy (84.0 vs 77.9).
Peru is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Geography
By land area, Italy is 77% smaller than Peru: 301,336 km² versus 1,285,216 km².
Italy is far more densely settled: 196 people per km² against 27.
Military
Italy spends 15 times as much on defence as Peru: $37.96B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Italy fields the larger armed forces: 338,000 personnel against 158,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Italy bigger than Peru?
- Peru is larger by land area. Italy covers 301,336 km² while Peru covers 1,285,216 km², so Peru is 4.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Italy or Peru?
- Italy has the larger population: 58.92 million versus 34.58 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Italy richer than Peru?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Italy is richer: $43,309 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.55T for Italy versus $334.85B for Peru.
- Who spends more on their military, Italy or Peru?
- Italy spends more: $37.96B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).