Updated
Overview
Peru has 2.9 times the population of Belgium: 34.58 million people against 11.94 million (2025).
Belgium's economy is 2.2 times the size of Peru's, at $725.47B versus $334.85B.
Per person, Belgium is the wealthier of the two: $60,750 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Peru | Belgium | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $334.85B | Higher: $725.47B | 2025 | $289.22B / $664.56B |
| GDP per capita | $9,684 | Higher: $60,750 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.4% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 2.5% | 2025 | 2.0% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 5.1% | 5.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 51 | 81 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $563 | Higher: $7,044 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $273 | Higher: $2,387 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.99 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 34.58 million | 11.94 million | 2025 | 32.77 million / 11.96 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 30.2 yrs | 41.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.39 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 82% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,285,216 km² | 30,528 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.9/km² | 391.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 70 Mt | 85 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.1 t | 7.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.57B | $8.56B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 158,000 | 24,000 | 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 1.0%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Peru and 2.5% in Belgium.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Peru: a price level of 51 versus 81 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Belgium: $7,044 against $563 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Peru is the far younger society: median age 30.2 versus 41.9 years.
Life expectancy is 4.4 years longer in Belgium (82.3 vs 77.9).
Internet adoption is higher in Belgium (96% vs 82% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Peru is 42 times the size of Belgium: 1,285,216 km² versus 30,528 km².
Belgium is far more densely settled: 391 people per km² against 27.
Military
Belgium spends 3.3 times as much on defence as Peru: $8.56B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Peru fields the larger armed forces: 158,000 personnel against 24,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Peru bigger than Belgium?
- Peru is larger by land area. Peru covers 1,285,216 km² while Belgium covers 30,528 km², so Peru is 42 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Peru or Belgium?
- Peru has the larger population: 34.58 million versus 11.94 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Peru richer than Belgium?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Belgium is richer: $60,750 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $334.85B for Peru versus $725.47B for Belgium.
- Who spends more on their military, Peru or Belgium?
- Belgium spends more: $8.56B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).