Updated
Overview
Poland and Peru are nearly matched in population: 36.44 million versus 34.58 million people (2025).
Poland's economy is 3.1 times the size of Peru's, at $1.04T versus $334.85B.
Per person, Poland is the wealthier of the two: $28,420 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Poland | Peru | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $1.04T | $334.85B | 2025 | $914.70B / $289.22B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $28,420 | $9,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.6% | 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.8% | Lower: 1.5% | 2025 | 3.8% / 2.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 52 | 51 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $2,302 | $563 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,241 | $273 | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $4.99 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 36.44 million | 34.58 million | 2025 | 38.75 million / 32.77 million |
| Population growth | -0.3% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 42.5 yrs | 30.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.31 | 1.94 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.4 yrs | 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 60% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 89% | 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 312,679 km² | 1,285,216 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 116.5/km² | 26.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 273 Mt | Lower: 70 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.1 t | Lower: 2.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $38.00B | $2.57B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 4.2% | 0.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 189,000 | 158,000 | 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 (3.6% for Poland, 3.4% for Peru).
Poland runs the hotter price environment: 3.8% inflation versus 1.5%.
Average monthly earnings favour Poland: $2,302 against $563 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Peru is the far younger society: median age 30.2 versus 42.5 years.
Peru is considerably more urbanized: 86% of people live in cities, against 60%.
Geography
By land area, Poland is 76% smaller than Peru: 312,679 km² versus 1,285,216 km².
Poland is far more densely settled: 117 people per km² against 27.
Military
Poland spends 15 times as much on defence as Peru: $38.00B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 0.9%.
Poland fields the larger armed forces: 189,000 personnel against 158,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Poland bigger than Peru?
- Peru is larger by land area. Poland covers 312,679 km² while Peru covers 1,285,216 km², so Peru is 4.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Poland or Peru?
- Poland has the larger population: 36.44 million versus 34.58 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Poland richer than Peru?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Poland is richer: $28,420 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.04T for Poland versus $334.85B for Peru.
- Who spends more on their military, Poland or Peru?
- Poland spends more: $38.00B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).