Americas · capital city
What Is the Capital of Peru?
Lima
The capital of Peru is Lima. About 11.2 million people live in the Lima urban area — 32.4% of the country's population.
11.2 million
Urban area population
UTC-5
Time zone
12.05°S
Latitude · 77.05°W
Yes
Largest city
Lima at a glance
Name origin
The name is an early Spanish mispronunciation of the Quechua name Rimak, referring to a god and deriving from the word rima (to speak); Quechua priests used to speak to worshippers from inside statues of their gods.
Time zone
UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
12 03 S, 77 03 W · IANA time zone America/Lima
Location of Peru
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Largest cities in Peru
1
Lima Capital
11.2 million2
Arequipa
959,0003
Trujillo
904,000Urban-area population · CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Brasília, Brazil — 3,169 kmCapitals closest to Lima
La Paz, Bolivia — 1,079 km
Quito, Ecuador — 1,325 km
Bogotá, Colombia — 1,880 km
Panama City, Panama — 2,353 km
Santiago, Chile — 2,466 km
Asunción, Paraguay — 2,510 km
San José, Costa Rica — 2,565 km
Caracas, Venezuela — 2,747 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Lima
What is the capital of Peru?
The capital of Peru is Lima. About 11.2 million people live in the Lima urban area — 32.4% of the country's population.
Is Lima the largest city in Peru?
Yes — Lima is also the largest urban area of Peru (11.2 million).
What time zone is Lima in?
Lima is on UTC-5 — UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Lima come from?
The name is an early Spanish mispronunciation of the Quechua name Rimak, referring to a god and deriving from the word rima (to speak); Quechua priests used to speak to worshippers from inside statues of their gods.
Which capital is closest to Lima?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, La Paz (Bolivia) is the closest, 1,079 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).