Capital of Peru: Lima
The capital of Peru is Lima. Peru sits in South America, has a population of 34,049,588, and uses the PEN. Official languages include Spanish.
Quick facts
- Capital: Lima
- Continent: South America
- Population: ~34,049,588
- Area: 1,285,216 km²
- Population density: 26.5 people per km²
- Official language: Spanish
- Currency: PEN
- ISO code: PE
How big is Peru?
By population, Peru ranks 44th in the world, holding roughly 0.43% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 19th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Peru has 26.5 people per square kilometre, which is about 2.2 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within South America, Peru is the 4th most populous country of 12.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Peru in population are Malaysia (33,938,221) and Yemen (33,696,614).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Chad (1,284,000 km²) and Niger (1,267,000 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Spanish is spoken officially in 20 countries in this dataset, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica, and 14 others.
Peru uses the PEN, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
Peru in South America
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — South America is the block Peru belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Peru and a page on the flag of Peru.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Peru?
The capital of Peru is Lima.
What is the population of Peru?
About 34,049,588, making it the 44th most populous country in the world.
How big is Peru?
1,285,216 square kilometres, ranking 19th by land area, at a density of 26.5 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Peru use?
The PEN, which no other country uses.