Puno: population and official figures
In depth
- Poverty and living standards in Puno: INEI's 2018 poverty map puts the monetary poverty rate of Puno province, which contains Puno, in a range of 24.0% to 30.3% (95% confidence interval; the midpoint is 27.2%), 2nd highest of 25 Peruvian cities on this site on that midpoint.
- Government budget and revenue in Puno: In 2025 the provincial municipality of Puno, which governs Puno and the surrounding province, had a modified budget (PIM) of S/ 121.24 million, up from an opening budget (PIA) of S/ 87.37 million; this ranks 6th smallest of 25 Peruvian cities on this site and, nationally, 38th largest of 196 provincial municipal budgets, according to the MEF.
What is the population of Puno?
Puno province, whose capital is Puno, in Puno department, had a projected 211,768 residents on 30 June 2026 according to INEI, the national statistics office, 5th smallest of 25 Peruvian cities on this site; the projection, based on the 2017 census, put it at 229,668 in 2018. INEI's figures cover the whole province, not only the built-up city.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI) · saved copyHow fast is Puno growing?
Between 2018 and 2026 the projected population of Puno province, which contains Puno, changed by -7.8%, an addition of -17,900 people, ranking the lowest of 25 Peruvian cities on this site for growth; Peru as a whole changed by +9.8% over the same period.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI) · saved copyHow many districts are in Puno province?
Puno province is divided into 15 districts. The most populous, Puno, had a projected 140,289 residents in 2026, 66.2% of the province.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI) · saved copyHow many people live in the central district of Puno?
The capital district, Puno, had a projected 140,289 residents in 2026, 66.2% of Puno province, ranking 5th highest of 25 Peruvian cities on this site for share; in 2018 it had 141,077.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI) · saved copyIs the population of Puno growing?
In the year to mid-2026 the projected population of Puno province changed by -1.45%, from 214,887 to 211,768; Peru changed by +0.90%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI) · saved copyWho runs Puno?
In Peru, cities and towns are run by provincial municipalities: Mayor and councillors (regidores) directly elected for four years. Co-ordinate districts, land-use planning, transport; Lima has regional-style powers.
Cities of a similar size in Peru
- Ica 507,840
- Pucallpa 501,037
- Chimbote 497,471
- Cajamarca 397,960
- Tacna 381,995
- Juliaca 362,824
- Sullana 358,559
- Ayacucho 331,426
- Huánuco 324,500
- Chincha Alta 294,656
- Huacho 271,597
- Tarapoto 240,557
- Huaraz 199,473
- Tumbes 182,773
- Puerto Maldonado 174,711
- Talara 162,208
Up a level: all cities in Peru · Peru · government and power
Sources
- Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas (MEF): Consulta Amigable, consulta de ejecución del gasto, 2024, activities and projects: local governments by budget unit (export of 28 October 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81563427fdfd…)
- Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas (MEF): Consulta Amigable, consulta de ejecución del gasto, 2025, activities and projects: local governments by budget unit (export of 28 October 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d2996a391f8…)
- Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas (MEF): Consulta Amigable, consulta de ejecución del gasto, 2025: national government, regional governments and local governments (totals by level of government), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b44103ba441a…)
- Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas (MEF): Consulta Amigable, consulta de ejecución del gasto, 2025, investment projects only: local governments by budget unit (export of 28 October 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7e52d79db9c3…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI): Perú: población total proyectada al 30 de junio de cada año, según departamento, provincia y distrito, 2018-2026 (Cuadro 01), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9436df29b883…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI): Mapa de Pobreza Provincial y Distrital 2013, anexo estadístico (Anexo 2: population and total poverty 95% confidence interval by province and district), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fb127c78a0f5…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI): Mapa de Pobreza Provincial y Distrital 2018, anexo estadístico (Anexo 2: population, total monetary poverty 95% confidence interval and rank by district; Anexo 4: the same by province), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fcc465d75abe…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.