Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Peru
Peru: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 73.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban 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 urban and rural areas in Peru is 73.0%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Peru peaked at 73.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 40.7%, in 1950.
That places Peru 125th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Peru, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 40.7% | — |
| 1955 | 44.1% | +8.3% |
| 1960 | 47.6% | +8.0% |
| 1965 | 51.3% | +7.7% |
| 1970 | 54.8% | +6.9% |
| 1975 | 58.0% | +5.7% |
| 1980 | 59.8% | +3.2% |
| 1985 | 61.0% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 62.5% | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 64.8% | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 66.5% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 68.6% | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 70.6% | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 72.3% | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 73.0% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 42.4% | 40.7% | 44.1% | 2 |
| 1960s | 49.4% | 47.6% | 51.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 56.4% | 54.8% | 58.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 60.4% | 59.8% | 61.0% | 2 |
| 1990s | 63.7% | 62.5% | 64.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 67.6% | 66.5% | 68.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 71.5% | 70.6% | 72.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 73.0% | 73.0% | 73.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Peru
- 122 United States Virgin Islands 73.6% compare
- 123 Andorra 73.4% compare
- 124 Germany 73.0% compare
- 126 Guatemala 72.9% compare
- 127 Democratic Republic of Congo 72.9% compare
- 128 Saint Lucia 72.7% compare
More reference data data for Peru
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.15 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 4.39 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3808 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 7.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.84 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 18.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 35.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Peru?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Peru was 73.0% 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 urban and rural areas recorded in Peru?
- The highest recorded value was 73.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Peru?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.7% in 1950.
- How does Peru rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Peru ranks 125th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Peru?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. 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 urban 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 urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.