Updated
Overview
Peru has about 90% more people than Ecuador: 34.58 million against 18.29 million (2025).
Peru's economy is 2.6 times the size of Ecuador's, at $334.85B versus $130.32B.
Per person, Peru is the wealthier of the two: $9,684 against $7,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Peru | Ecuador | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $334.85B | $130.32B | 2025 | $289.22B / $124.68B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $9,684 | $7,125 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.4% | Higher: 3.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 1.5% | Lower: 0.7% | 2025 | 2.0% / 1.5% |
| Unemployment | 5.1% | Lower: 3.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 51 | 43 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $563 | $538 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $273 | $39 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.99 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 34.58 million | 18.29 million | 2025 | 32.77 million / 18.48 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 0.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 30.2 yrs | 29.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.79 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 77.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 63% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 82% | 77% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,285,216 km² | 276,841 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.9/km² | 66.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 70 Mt | Lower: 46 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.1 t | 2.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.57B | $2.70B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 2.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 158,000 | 42,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (3.4% for Peru, 3.7% for Ecuador).
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Peru and 0.7% in Ecuador.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Ecuador: a price level of 43 versus 51 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Peru: $563 against $538 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 30.2 (Peru) and 29.3 (Ecuador).
Peru is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 63%.
Geography
By land area, Peru is 4.6 times the size of Ecuador: 1,285,216 km² versus 276,841 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Ecuador is far more densely settled: 66 people per km² against 27.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $2.57B (Peru) and $2.70B (Ecuador).
Relative to its economy, Ecuador carries the heavier military burden: 2.2% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Peru fields the larger armed forces: 158,000 personnel against 42,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Peru bigger than Ecuador?
- Peru is larger by land area. Peru covers 1,285,216 km² while Ecuador covers 276,841 km², so Peru is 4.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Peru or Ecuador?
- Peru has the larger population: 34.58 million versus 18.29 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Peru richer than Ecuador?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Peru is richer: $9,684 against $7,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $334.85B for Peru versus $130.32B for Ecuador.
- Who spends more on their military, Peru or Ecuador?
- Ecuador spends more: $2.70B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).