Updated
Overview
Peru has 25% more people than Australia: 34.58 million against 27.61 million (2025).
Australia's economy is 5.4 times the size of Peru's, at $1.80T versus $334.85B.
Per person, Australia is the wealthier of the two: $65,130 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Peru | Australia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $334.85B | Higher: $1.80T | 2025 | $289.22B / $1.75T |
| GDP per capita | $9,684 | Higher: $65,130 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.4% | 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 2.9% | 2025 | 2.0% / 3.2% |
| Unemployment | 5.1% | Lower: 4.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 51 | 90 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $563 | Higher: $4,436 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $273 | Higher: $2,655 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.99 | $5.95 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 34.58 million | 27.61 million | 2025 | 32.77 million / 27.49 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 30.2 yrs | 38.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.64 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | Higher: 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 82% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,285,216 km² | 7,692,024 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.9/km² | 3.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 70 Mt | 387 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.1 t | 14.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.57B | $33.82B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 158,000 | 60,000 | 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 1.4%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Peru and 2.9% in Australia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Peru: a price level of 51 versus 90 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Australia: $4,436 against $563 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Peru is the far younger society: median age 30.2 versus 38.3 years.
Life expectancy is 5.1 years longer in Australia (83.1 vs 77.9).
Internet adoption is higher in Australia (96% vs 82% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Peru is 83% smaller than Australia: 1,285,216 km² versus 7,692,024 km².
Peru is far more densely settled: 27 people per km² against 4.
Military
Australia spends 13 times as much on defence as Peru: $33.82B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Australia carries the heavier military burden: 1.9% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Peru fields the larger armed forces: 158,000 personnel against 60,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Peru bigger than Australia?
- Australia is larger by land area. Peru covers 1,285,216 km² while Australia covers 7,692,024 km², so Australia is 6.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Peru or Australia?
- Peru has the larger population: 34.58 million versus 27.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Peru richer than Australia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Australia is richer: $65,130 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $334.85B for Peru versus $1.80T for Australia.
- Who spends more on their military, Peru or Australia?
- Australia spends more: $33.82B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).