Updated
Overview
Peru has about 65% more people than Kazakhstan: 34.58 million against 20.84 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $334.85B for Peru and $306.24B for Kazakhstan.
Per person, Kazakhstan is the wealthier of the two: $14,692 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Peru | Kazakhstan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $334.85B | $306.24B | 2025 | $289.22B / $288.41B |
| GDP per capita | $9,684 | Higher: $14,692 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 3.4% | Higher: 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 11.4% | 2025 | 2.0% / 8.8% |
| Unemployment | 5.1% | Lower: 4.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 51 | 33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $563 | Higher: $673 | 2025 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $273 | $181 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.99 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 34.58 million | 20.84 million | 2025 | 32.77 million / 20.43 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 30.2 yrs | 29.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 2.95 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 74.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 62% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 82% | Higher: 93% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,285,216 km² | 2,724,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.9/km² | 7.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 70 Mt | 287 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.1 t | 13.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.57B | $1.21B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 0.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 158,000 | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 3.4%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 1.5%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 51 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Kazakhstan: $673 against $563 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 30.2 (Peru) and 29.7 (Kazakhstan).
Life expectancy is 3.4 years longer in Peru (77.9 vs 74.5).
Peru is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 62%.
Internet adoption is higher in Kazakhstan (93% vs 82% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Peru is 53% smaller than Kazakhstan: 1,285,216 km² versus 2,724,900 km².
Peru is far more densely settled: 27 people per km² against 8.
Military
Peru spends 2.1 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $2.57B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Peru fields the larger armed forces: 158,000 personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Peru bigger than Kazakhstan?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Peru covers 1,285,216 km² while Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km², so Kazakhstan is 2.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Peru or Kazakhstan?
- Peru has the larger population: 34.58 million versus 20.84 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Peru richer than Kazakhstan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Kazakhstan is richer: $14,692 against $9,684. Total GDP tells a different story: $334.85B for Peru versus $306.24B for Kazakhstan.
- Who spends more on their military, Peru or Kazakhstan?
- Peru spends more: $2.57B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).