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How Big Is Peru?

Peru, located in South America, is the 20th largest country in the world, covering approximately 1,285,216 square kilometers (496,224 square miles). That's roughly the same size as Alaska. It is home to approximately 32.3 million people.

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Peru on the Map

1,285,216 km²
496,224 sq mi
#20 of 236 countries
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Peru's Geography

Of its total area, 1,279,996 km² is land and 5,220 km² (0.4%) is water. Peru has approximately 2,414 km of coastline. Within South America, Peru is the 3rd largest of 14 countries, sitting between Argentina and Colombia. With 25 people per km², it is more densely populated than the South American average of 22 per km².

How Far Across Is Peru?

Peru stretches approximately 2,036 km (1,265 mi) from north to south — roughly the distance from New York to Miami, and 1,392 km (865 mi) from east to west — roughly the distance from London to Rome. At highway speeds, it would take roughly 15 hours to drive across.

How Many Times Does Peru Fit?

Similar in Size

How Big Is Peru Compared to Well-Known Places?

Place Area vs Peru
Japan 377,915 km² (145,914 sq mi) 3.4× smaller
California 403,882 km² (155,940 sq mi) 3.2× smaller
France 551,500 km² (212,935 sq mi) 2.3× smaller
Texas 678,052 km² (261,797 sq mi) 47% smaller
Peru 1,285,216 km² (496,224 sq mi)
Alaska 1,481,348 km² (571,951 sq mi) 15% larger
Argentina 2,780,400 km² (1,073,518 sq mi) 2.2× larger
India 3,287,263 km² (1,269,219 sq mi) 2.6× larger
Australia 7,741,220 km² (2,988,901 sq mi) 6× larger

More Countries in South America

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Peru at a Glance

Statistic Value
Total Area 1,285,216 km² (496,224 sq mi)
World Size Rank #20 of 236
Capital Lima
Population Density 25 per km²
Population 32.3 million people
Coastline 2,414 km
Life Expectancy 68.9 years
GDP per Capita $15,100 USD