Updated
Overview
Peru has 6.2 times the population of Norway: 34.58 million people against 5.61 million (2025).
Norway's economy is about 60% larger than Peru's, at $530.76B versus $334.85B.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Peru | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $334.85B | Higher: $530.76B | 2025 | $289.22B / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $9,684 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.4% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 3.1% | 2025 | 2.0% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 5.1% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 51 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $563 | Higher: $6,440 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $273 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.99 | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 34.58 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 32.77 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 30.2 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 77.9 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 82% | Higher: 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,285,216 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.9/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 70 Mt | Lower: 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.1 t | 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.57B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 158,000 | 25,000 | 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 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Peru and 3.1% in Norway.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Peru: a price level of 51 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $563 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Peru is the far younger society: median age 30.2 versus 39.8 years.
Life expectancy is 5.2 years longer in Norway (83.2 vs 77.9).
Internet adoption is higher in Norway (99% vs 82% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Peru is 4.0 times the size of Norway: 1,285,216 km² versus 323,802 km².
Military
Norway spends 4.1 times as much on defence as Peru: $10.44B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Norway carries the heavier military burden: 2.1% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Peru fields the larger armed forces: 158,000 personnel against 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Peru bigger than Norway?
- Peru is larger by land area. Peru covers 1,285,216 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², so Peru is 4.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Peru or Norway?
- Peru has the larger population: 34.58 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Peru richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $334.85B for Peru versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Peru or Norway?
- Norway spends more: $10.44B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).