Updated
Overview
Peru has 5.8 times the population of Denmark: 34.58 million people against 6.01 million (2025).
Denmark's economy is about 40% larger than Peru's, at $462.53B versus $334.85B.
Per person, Denmark is the wealthier of the two: $76,970 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Peru | Denmark | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $334.85B | Higher: $462.53B | 2025 | $289.22B / $429.46B |
| GDP per capita | $9,684 | Higher: $76,970 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.4% | 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 1.9% | 2025 | 2.0% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 5.1% | 5.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 51 | 92 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $563 | Higher: $6,992 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $273 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.99 | $7.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 34.58 million | 6.01 million | 2025 | 32.77 million / 6.05 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 30.2 yrs | 41.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | Higher: 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 82% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,285,216 km² | 43,094 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.9/km² | 139.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 70 Mt | Lower: 28 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.1 t | 4.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.57B | $9.96B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 2.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 158,000 | 15,000 | 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 2.9%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Peru and 1.9% in Denmark.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Peru: a price level of 51 versus 92 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Denmark: $6,992 against $563 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Peru is the far younger society: median age 30.2 versus 41.3 years.
Life expectancy is 4.3 years longer in Denmark (82.3 vs 77.9).
Internet adoption is higher in Denmark (100% vs 82% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Peru is 30 times the size of Denmark: 1,285,216 km² versus 43,094 km².
Denmark is far more densely settled: 139 people per km² against 27.
Military
Denmark spends 3.9 times as much on defence as Peru: $9.96B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Denmark carries the heavier military burden: 2.4% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Peru fields the larger armed forces: 158,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Peru bigger than Denmark?
- Peru is larger by land area. Peru covers 1,285,216 km² while Denmark covers 43,094 km², so Peru is 30 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Peru or Denmark?
- Peru has the larger population: 34.58 million versus 6.01 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Peru richer than Denmark?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Denmark is richer: $76,970 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $334.85B for Peru versus $462.53B for Denmark.
- Who spends more on their military, Peru or Denmark?
- Denmark spends more: $9.96B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).