Capital of Peru: Lima — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Peru is Lima. Peru sits in South America, has a population of 34,049,588, and uses the PEN. Official languages include Spanish.
Quick facts
- Capital: Lima
- Continent: South America
- Population: ~34,049,588
- Area: 1,285,216 km²
- Population density: 26.5 people per km²
- Official language: Spanish
- Currency: PEN
- ISO code: PE
How big is Peru?
By population, Peru ranks 44th in the world, holding roughly 0.43% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 19th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Peru has 26.5 people per square kilometre, which is about 2.2 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within South America, Peru is the 4th most populous country of 12.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Peru in population are Malaysia (33,938,221) and Yemen (33,696,614).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Chad (1,284,000 km²) and Niger (1,267,000 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Spanish is spoken officially in 20 countries in this dataset, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica, and 14 others.
Peru uses the PEN, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Peru
Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 as the 'City of Kings', in the desert on the Pacific coast. Think 'Lima by the sea'. For the flag, red-white-red standing upright, like Canada's colours without the leaf.
The flag of Peru: red and white
🇵🇪 The flag is three vertical stripes of red, white and red; the state version adds the coat of arms in the centre. Red stands for the blood shed for independence and white for peace. On the coat of arms, a vicuña stands for the animals, a cinchona tree (the source of quinine) for the plants, and a cornucopia of coins for mineral wealth.
Region and neighbours
Peru is a country in western South America, on the Pacific coast, stretching from the coastal desert over the Andes mountains to the Amazon rainforest in the east. It shares land borders with 5 countries: Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile.
- Ecuador 🇪🇨 — capital Quito
- Colombia 🇨🇴 — capital Bogotá
- Brazil 🇧🇷 — capital BrasÃlia
- Bolivia 🇧🇴 — capital Sucre
- Chile 🇨🇱 — capital Santiago
Three facts about Peru
- The Inca Empire, centred in Peru, was the largest known state in the Americas before Columbus, and Machu Picchu is its best-known site.
- Huascarán, 6,768 m high in the Andes, is the highest peak in Peru.
- Lake Titicaca, high in the Andes, lies in both Peru and Bolivia.
Sources: Wikipedia: Peru, Wikipedia: Flag of Peru, Wikipedia: Lima, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Peru
- South American capitals quiz — match Peru to Lima
- South American flags quiz — spot the Peru flag among its neighbours
Peru capital quiz
What is the capital of Peru 🇵🇪?
- Quito
- Lima
- Caracas
- Asunción
Show answer
Lima
What is the capital of Venezuela 🇻🇪?
- Caracas
- Sucre
- Paramaribo
- Georgetown
Show answer
Caracas
What is the capital of Argentina 🇦🇷?
- Asunción
- Buenos Aires
- Bogotá
- Sucre
Show answer
Buenos Aires
What is the capital of Colombia 🇨🇴?
- Lima
- Bogotá
- Santiago
- Asunción
Show answer
Bogotá
What is the capital of Chile 🇨🇱?
- Buenos Aires
- Bogotá
- Asunción
- Santiago
Show answer
Santiago
Peru in South America
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — South America is the block Peru belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Peru.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Peru?
The capital of Peru is Lima.
What is the population of Peru?
About 34,049,588, making it the 44th most populous country in the world.
How big is Peru?
1,285,216 square kilometres, ranking 19th by land area, at a density of 26.5 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Peru use?
The PEN, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Peru flag?
The flag of Peru is three vertical stripes of red, white and red; the state version adds the coat of arms in the centre. Red stands for the blood shed for independence and white for peace. On the coat of arms, a vicuña stands for the animals, a cinchona tree (the source of quinine) for the plants, and a cornucopia of coins for mineral wealth.
Which countries border Peru?
Peru shares land borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile.
How can I remember the capital of Peru?
Lima was founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 as the 'City of Kings', in the desert on the Pacific coast. Think 'Lima by the sea'. For the flag, red-white-red standing upright, like Canada's colours without the leaf.
More capitals to learn
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