Countries, Compared

Peru

Peru is a country on the western coast of South America, bordered by Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile.

Countries, Compared: country research and comparison

Peru is a country on the western coast of South America, bordered by Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile. Its capital is Lima, which is also the largest city and the political, economic, and cultural centre. The United Nations classifies Peru under the M49 standard with code 604. Its ISO alpha-2 code is PE, and its ISO alpha-3 code is PER. In the UN statistical geography, Peru sits within the Americas region and the Latin America and the Caribbean subregion, and it is a member state of the United Nations. The World Bank capital field lists Lima. These codes are stable administrative identifiers for data collection, not statements about sovereignty or territorial boundaries.

Stable classification identifiers

The United Nations Statistics Division maintains the M49 standard for country and area codes. For Peru, those identifiers are:

  • UN M49 code: 604
  • ISO alpha-2: PE
  • ISO alpha-3: PER
  • UN region: Americas
  • UN subregion: Latin America and the Caribbean
  • UN member state: Yes
  • World Bank capital field: Lima

M49 groupings are geographic and administrative conveniences used by the UN for data collection. They do not decide sovereignty or territorial status. For example, the same UN M49 overview that places Peru in “Latin America and the Caribbean” also groups overseas territories under their administering states. If you compare Peru with a neighbour, check that both figures come from the same source and reference year. The UN M49 overview is the reference for the coding scheme, and the World Bank country API returns the same identifier in its own dataset.

How to verify current figures

Population, currency, language, government and economic figures change every year. Instead of copying a single number, note the dataset, the reference year, and the issuing agency. Whenever you see a statistic, ask: Who measured it, when, and with what method? Use the primary sources below and record the reference year each time you cite a figure.

Population and census data

Population figures are estimates that change between censuses. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs publishes the World Population Prospects ( the standard source for national estimates. The World Bank also publishes population data from the same underlying sources. National censuses are conducted roughly every 10 years; Peru’s 2017 census recorded about 31.2 million residents. Census counts can undercount rural and remote communities, and projections between censuses carry uncertainty. For a live figure, query the World Bank country API ( or use the UN Population Division data portal. Always note whether the figure is a census count, a projection, or a mid-year estimate.

Economic indicators

The World Bank country API returns country metadata including the region and income level. For specific indicators, use the World Bank indicators API ( The sol (PEN) has been Peru’s currency since 2015-2016, when it replaced the old sol. The Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP) is the monetary authority and publishes current exchange rates. Exchange rates are volatile and not a static fact; verify the current rate from the BCRP or a reliable foreign-exchange source before making financial decisions.

Language and education

The official languages are Spanish and, in areas where they predominate, Quechua, Aymara, and other Indigenous languages. Peru’s 1993 Constitution and subsequent language legislation recognise Quechua and Aymara as official in the zones where they are prevalent. Spanish is the most widely used language in government, media, and commerce. The 2017 national census reported that roughly 16% of residents aged five and older learned an Indigenous language as their first language, with Quechua and Aymara the largest of those groups. Exact current figures change with each census and survey, so cite the INEI for the latest data. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics provides education and literacy data with methodology notes.

Health, travel and other sources

  • Health metrics: The WHO country profile ( offers life expectancy, mortality, and disease burden figures.
  • Official statistics: Peru’s national statistical office, the Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI, publishes census and survey data.
  • Travel advice: Check your own government’s foreign ministry travel advisory, and the IATA Travel Centre for visa and entry requirements.
  • Time zone and internet domain: Consult the IANA time zone database and the IANA root zone database for .pe.

Country basics

Peru’s official name in Spanish is República del Perú. The 1993 Constitution, with later amendments, establishes the structure of the state; the government is a unitary presidential republic. Lima is the seat of government and the political, economic, and cultural centre. The country is multilingual in practice, and the 2017 census provides the most recent detailed language-share estimates. These percentages come from census or survey data; they are not fixed and change with migration, urbanisation, and mother-tongue reporting.