Updated
Overview
Mexico has 3.8 times the population of Peru: 131.95 million people against 34.58 million (2025).
Mexico's economy is 5.5 times the size of Peru's, at $1.83T versus $334.85B.
Per person, Mexico is the wealthier of the two: $13,889 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Mexico | Peru | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.83T | $334.85B | 2025 | $1.85T / $289.22B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $13,889 | $9,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.6% | Higher: 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.8% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | 4.7% / 2.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.7% | 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 54 | 51 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $551 | Higher: $563 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $353 | $273 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.27 | $4.99 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 131.95 million | 34.58 million | 2025 | 130.74 million / 32.77 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 30.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.87 | 1.94 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 75.3 yrs | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 83% | 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,964,375 km² | 1,285,216 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 67.2/km² | 26.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 461 Mt | Lower: 70 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 3.5 t | Lower: 2.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $16.73B | $2.57B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 0.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 341,000 | 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 0.6%.
Mexico runs the hotter price environment: 3.8% inflation versus 1.5%.
Average monthly earnings favour Peru: $563 against $551 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 29.6 (Mexico) and 30.2 (Peru).
Life expectancy is 2.7 years longer in Peru (77.9 vs 75.3).
Geography
By land area, Mexico is 53% larger than Peru: 1,964,375 km² versus 1,285,216 km².
Mexico is far more densely settled: 67 people per km² against 27.
Military
Mexico spends 6.5 times as much on defence as Peru: $16.73B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Mexico fields the larger armed forces: 341,000 personnel against 158,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Mexico bigger than Peru?
- Mexico is larger by land area. Mexico covers 1,964,375 km² while Peru covers 1,285,216 km², so Mexico is 53% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Mexico or Peru?
- Mexico has the larger population: 131.95 million versus 34.58 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Mexico richer than Peru?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Mexico is richer: $13,889 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.83T for Mexico versus $334.85B for Peru.
- Who spends more on their military, Mexico or Peru?
- Mexico spends more: $16.73B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).