Updated
Overview
Peru has about 80% more people than Romania: 34.58 million against 19.02 million (2025).
Romania's economy is 28% larger than Peru's, at $428.68B versus $334.85B.
Per person, Romania is the wealthier of the two: $22,538 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Peru | Romania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $334.85B | Higher: $428.68B | 2025 | $289.22B / $382.77B |
| GDP per capita | $9,684 | Higher: $22,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.4% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 7.2% | 2025 | 2.0% / 5.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 5.1% | 6.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 51 | 44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $563 | Higher: $1,722 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $273 | Higher: $906 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.99 | $4.01 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 34.58 million | 19.02 million | 2025 | 32.77 million / 18.15 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | -0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 30.2 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 77.9 yrs | 76.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 86% | 52% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 82% | Higher: 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,285,216 km² | 238,391 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 26.9/km² | 79.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 70 Mt | Lower: 69 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.1 t | 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.57B | $8.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 158,000 | 128,000 | 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 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 1.5%.
Average monthly earnings favour Romania: $1,722 against $563 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Peru is the far younger society: median age 30.2 versus 43.2 years.
Life expectancy is 1.5 years longer in Peru (77.9 vs 76.5).
Peru is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Peru is 5.4 times the size of Romania: 1,285,216 km² versus 238,391 km².
Romania is far more densely settled: 80 people per km² against 27.
Military
Romania spends 3.4 times as much on defence as Peru: $8.72B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Romania carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Peru fields the larger armed forces: 158,000 personnel against 128,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Peru bigger than Romania?
- Peru is larger by land area. Peru covers 1,285,216 km² while Romania covers 238,391 km², so Peru is 5.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Peru or Romania?
- Peru has the larger population: 34.58 million versus 19.02 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Peru richer than Romania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Romania is richer: $22,538 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $334.85B for Peru versus $428.68B for Romania.
- Who spends more on their military, Peru or Romania?
- Romania spends more: $8.72B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).