According to projections, the Peruvian population reaches 34,039,000 inhabitants in 2024, of whom 16,876,000 are men (49.6%) and 17,163,000 are women (50.4%).
Greater ethnic and linguistic diversity
Peru stands out as one of the countries with the greatest ethnic and linguistic diversity, hosting 55 officially-recognized indigenous peoples. Of these, 51 belong to the Amazonian region and four (4) to the Andean one.
Cultural diversity refers to the multiple cultural expressions or manifestations arising from individual or collective creativity, and from the interaction by many cultures.
Dance, music, gastronomy, folk art, traditional festivals, textiles, medicine, languages, and traditional attire are our main cultural manifestations.
27.0% of the country's population identifies as indigenous
27.0% of the Peruvian population aged 14 and older self-identifies as indigenous (including Quechua, Aymara, and native Amazonian) belonging to or part of another indigenous or native group; 6.6% as Afro-Peruvian; 4.6% as white; and 4.6% as of another origin.
Meanwhile, 51.3% of citizens consider themselves mestizo.
16.6% of the population has a native language as mother tongue
According to the language learned in childhood, 16.6% of citizens indicate that a native language (such as Quechua, Aymara, among others) is their mother tongue, while 83.0% speak Spanish.
The Peruvian population's average age is 33.8 years
The average age of the Peruvian population has remained between 23 and 24 years for decades.
However, starting in 1993, it began to increase, reaching 25.5 years of age.
In 2024, it reaches 33.8 years of age, which proves the aging process the South American country is undergoing.
The population aged 15-59 years represents 62.1% of the total
The age group between 15 and 59 years old has gained relevance, increasing from 51.5% in 1940 to 62.1% in 2024 (21,153,000 people).
Similarly, the older adult population (aged 60 and over) has increased from 6.4% in 1940 to 13.9% in 2024, proving the aging population trend.
Meanwhile, the population under 15 years old has decreased from 42.1% in 1940 to 23.9% in the current year.
13.9% of the population is aged 60 and over
In absolute terms, a total of 4,748,000 people, representing 13.9% of the country's population, are older adults. This is a group that is growing rapidly, with an average annual growth rate of 2.7%, a pace faster than that of the younger population.
Lima Metropolitan Area accounts for 30.2% of Peruvian population
Another important aspect is the degree of population concentration.
According to estimates and projections, 10,292,408 people reside in Lima Metropolitan Area (30.2%) —a group that is five times that of Piura, the second most populous region with 2,149,978 inhabitants, and equivalent to the combined population of the regions hosting the highest groups of people: Piura, La Libertad, Arequipa, Cajamarca, Cusco, and Junin.
83.1% of the population resides in urban areas
According to the 1940 census, 64.6% of the Peruvian population lived in rural areas and 35.4% in urban areas.
After 32 years, the population reversed its rural nature and became predominantly urban, as recorded in the 1972 census (59.5% of Peruvians lived in urban areas).
According to current estimates and projections, 83.1% of the population would be residing in urban areas (28,286,000 people) in 2024.
59.7% of the population lives in the coastal region
Changes in the distribution of the population by natural region are relatively recent.
Until the 1961 census, 52.3% were concentrated in the highlands and 39.0% on the coast.
The 2017 census found that 58.0% of the population was in the coastal region and 28.1% in the sierra (highlands).
In 2024, 59.7% of the population resides in the coastal region of our country (20,322,000 inhabitants).