Updated
Overview
The United States has 9.9 times the population of Peru: 341.78 million people against 34.58 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 92 times the size of Peru's, at $30.77T versus $334.85B.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $9,684 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Peru | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $334.85B | 2025 | $29.18T / $289.22B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $9,684 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 2.2% | Higher: 3.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 2.9% | Lower: 1.5% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 2.0% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 4.2% | 5.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 51 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $563 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,257 | $273 | 2026 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $4.99 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 34.58 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 32.77 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 30.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.94 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.9 yrs | 77.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 86% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 82% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 1,285,216 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 26.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 70 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 2.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $2.57B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 0.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 million | 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
Peru is growing faster: 3.4% annual GDP growth versus 2.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 1.5% in Peru.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Peru: a price level of 51 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $563 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Peru is the far younger society: median age 30.2 versus 38.5 years.
Internet adoption is higher in the United States (95% vs 82% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the United States is 7.7 times the size of Peru: 9,833,517 km² versus 1,285,216 km².
Military
The United States spends 389 times as much on defence as Peru: $997.31B versus $2.57B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 0.9%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 158,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Peru?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Peru covers 1,285,216 km², so the United States is 7.7 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Peru?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 34.58 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Peru?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $9,684. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $334.85B for Peru.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Peru?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $2.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).