Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Peru
Peru: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 56.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Peru, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Peru is 56.0%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Peru peaked at 56.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 19.8%, in 1950.
That places Peru 39th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Peru, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 19.8% | — |
| 1955 | 22.2% | +12.2% |
| 1960 | 24.9% | +11.9% |
| 1965 | 27.9% | +12.5% |
| 1970 | 32.0% | +14.5% |
| 1975 | 36.3% | +13.4% |
| 1980 | 40.4% | +11.5% |
| 1985 | 42.0% | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 43.8% | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 45.8% | +4.6% |
| 2000 | 48.1% | +5.0% |
| 2005 | 51.3% | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 53.7% | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 55.4% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 56.0% | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 21.0% | 19.8% | 22.2% | 2 |
| 1960s | 26.4% | 24.9% | 27.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 34.1% | 32.0% | 36.3% | 2 |
| 1980s | 41.2% | 40.4% | 42.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 44.8% | 43.8% | 45.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 49.7% | 48.1% | 51.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 54.5% | 53.7% | 55.4% | 2 |
| 2020s | 56.0% | 56.0% | 56.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Peru
- 36 Curaçao 59.6% compare
- 37 Korea, Democratic People's Republic of 58.9% compare
- 38 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 57.4% compare
- 40 Malaysia 55.0% compare
- 41 Belarus 55.0% compare
- 42 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 54.5% compare
More population data for Peru
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.3151 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.4349 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.0396 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.4349 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.4% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.66 million people (2100)
- Population density 29.82 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.4% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.6906 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.9219 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Peru?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Peru was 56.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Peru?
- The highest recorded value was 56.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Peru?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.8% in 1950.
- How does Peru rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Peru ranks 39th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Peru?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Peru data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.