This is a list of notable Peruvians.

Scientists

  • Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo (1887–1967)
  • Javier Arias Stella
  • Anthony Atala
  • Oswaldo Baca
  • Alberto Barton
  • G. E. Berrios
  • Carlos Bustamante
  • Ramiro Castro de la Mata
  • Rubén Castillo Anchapuri
  • A. Roberto Frisancho
  • Juan de Dios Guevara
  • Enrique Guzmán y Valle
  • Rafael Larco Hoyle
  • Federico Kauffmann Doig
  • Javier Mariátegui
  • Juan Mezzich
  • Modesto Montoya
  • Carlos M. Ochoa
  • Piermaria Oddone
  • Orlando Olcese
  • Carlos Carrillo Parodi
  • Pedro Paulet
  • Gustavo R. Paz-Pujalt
  • Mariano Felipe Paz Soldán
  • Aracely Quispe Neira
  • Susana Pinilla
  • Gastón Pons Muzzo
  • Abundio Sagástegui Alva
  • Ruth Shady
  • Fernando Silva Santisteban
  • Julio C. Tello
  • José Tola Pasquel
  • Alfredo Torero
  • Jose L. Torero
  • Mariano Eduardo de Rivero y Ustariz
  • Fabiola Leon Velarde
  • Federico Villarreal
  • Barton Zwiebach

Social scientists

  • Jorge Aliaga Cacho
  • Jorge Basadre
  • José Antonio del Busto Duthurburu
  • Hildebrando Castro Pozo
  • Antonio Cornejo Polar
  • Honorio Delgado
  • Hernando de Soto
  • Alejandro Deustua
  • Alberto Flores Galindo
  • Maria Elena Foronda Farro
  • Gustavo Gutiérrez, theologian
  • Mariano Iberico Rodríguez
  • Víctor Li-Carrillo Chía
  • Guillermo Lohmann Villena
  • Manuel de Mendiburu
  • Francisco Miró Quesada Cantuarias
  • Antenor Orrego
  • Walter Peñaloza
  • Anibal Quijano
  • Liliana Rojas-Suarez
  • María Rostworowski
  • Rubén Vargas Ugarte
  • César Vásquez Bazán
  • Carlos Wiesse Portocarrero
  • Pedro Zulen

Physicians

  • Daniel Alcides Carrión
  • Carlos Manuel Chávez
  • Maria Freire
  • Max González Olaechea
  • Humberto Guerra Allison
  • Cayetano Heredia
  • Augusto Huaman Velasco
  • Arturo Jiménez Borja
  • Carlos Monge Medrano
  • Augusto Pérez Araníbar
  • Hugo Pesce
  • Ernesto Pinto-Bazurco
  • Laura Esther Rodriguez Dulanto
  • Carlos Alberto Seguín
  • Hipólito Unanue
  • Hermilio Valdizán
  • Carlos Vallejos Sologuren

Writers

  • Martín Adán (1908–1985), poet
  • Katya Adaui (born 1977), novelist
  • Ciro Alegría (1909–1967), indigenous novelist
  • Marie Arana (born 1949), Peruvian-American novelist, biographer, journalist
  • José María Arguedas (1911–1969), indigenous novelist and poet
  • Federico Barreto (1862–1929), poet
  • Jaime Bayly (born 1965), contemporary novelist
  • Michael Bentine (1922–1996), Anglo-Peruvian comedian
  • Alfredo Bryce Echenique (born 1939), novelist
  • Guillermo Carnero Hoke (1917–1985), writer and journalist
  • Carlos Castaneda (1925–1998), literary anthropologist
  • Gamaliel Churata (1897–1957), socialist essayist and journalist
  • José María Eguren (1874–1942), poet
  • Jorge Eduardo Eielson (1924–2006), poet
  • Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (c. 1539–1616), chronicler
  • Manuel González Prada (1844–1918), modernista poet
  • Eduardo González Viaña (born 1941), short story writer and novelist
  • Javier Heraud (1942–1963), poet and would-be guerrilla
  • Rodolfo Hinostroza (born 1941), influential poet, writer, novelist and essayist
  • Luis Jochamowitz (born 1953), journalist and biographer
  • José Carlos Mariátegui (1894–1930), socialist essayist and journalist
  • Jose Luis Mejía (born 1969), poet, novelist
  • Gloria Macher Peruvian Canadian writer
  • Clorinda Matto de Turner (1853–1909), novelist
  • Angélica Palma (1878–1935), writer, journalist and biographer
  • Clemente Palma (1872–1946). writer of fantastic and horror fiction
  • Ricardo Palma (1833–1919), folklorist
  • Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, indigenous chronicler
  • Santiago Roncagliolo (born 1975), writer, scriptwriter, translator and journalist.
  • Julio Ramón Ribeyro (1929–1994), short story writer
  • Isabel Sabogal (born 1958), novelist, poet and translator
  • Sebastián Salazar Bondy (1924–1964), essayist and poet
  • José Santos Chocano (1875–1934), poet
  • Manuel Scorza (1928–1983), novelist and poet
  • Hernando de Soto (economist) (born 1941), economist and essayist
  • Carlos Thorne Boas (born 1923), novelist, writer and lawyer
  • Álvaro Torres-Calderón (1975-), poet
  • Abraham Valdelomar (1888–1919)
  • Blanca Varela (1926–2009), poet
  • Mario Vargas Llosa (born 1936), novelist of the Latin American Boom
  • Virginia Vargas (born 1945), sociologist
  • Cesar Vallejo (1892–1938), influential poet, writer, journalist
  • Chalena Vásquez (1950–2016), ethnomusicologist and folklorist
  • José Watanabe (1946–2007), poet

Artists

  • Pablo Amaringo (1938–2009)
  • Mario Urteaga Alvarado (1875–1957)
  • Grimanesa Amorós (b. 1962)
  • Ana Teresa Barboza (b. 1981), textile artist
  • Hugo Orellana Bonilla (1932–2007)
  • Teófilo Castillo (1857–1922)
  • Diana Quijano (b. 1968), veteran actress
  • Martín Chambi (1891–1973), photographer
  • Andrea Hamilton (b. 1968), fine-art photographer
  • Daniel Hernández (1856–1932)
  • Elena Izcue (1889–1970), illustrator, graphic artist
  • Daniela Lalita (b. 1992), musician, model, artist
  • Carlos Enrique Polanco
  • Irma Poma Canchumani (b. 1969)
  • Martina Portocarrero (1949–2022)
  • Jorge Vinatea Reinoso (1900–1931)
  • José Sabogal (1888–1956)
  • Josué Sánchez (b. 1945)
  • Basilio Santa Cruz Pumacallao (1635–1710)
  • Fernando de Szyszlo (1925–2017)
  • Ricardo Silva (b. 1982), musician and artist
  • Antonio Sinchi Roca Inka (17th century)
  • Diego Quispe Tito (1611–1681)
  • Boris Vallejo (b. 1941)
  • Alberto Vargas (1896–1982)
  • César Yauri Huanay (b. 1962)
  • Marcos Zapata (c. 1710–1773)
  • Gerardo Chávez (1937–2025)
  • Víctor Delfín (b. 1927)
  • Elena Tejada-Herrera
  • Mario Testino (b. 1954), photographer
  • Tom Segura (b. 1979), Comedian

Public service

Military

  • Óscar R. Benavides, early military leader
  • Francisco Morales Bermudez, dictator, 1975–80
  • Juan Velasco Alvarado, dictator, 1969–1975
  • Miguel Grau
  • José Olaya
  • Jorge Chávez
  • Alfonso Ugarte y Moscoso
  • Andrés Avelino Cáceres
  • Leonor Ordóñez
  • Leoncio Prado
  • Emilio Cavenecia
  • Julio Vargas Garayar, last person executed in Peru

Politics

  • Javier Alva Orlandini
  • Antonio Arenas
  • Víctor Andrés Belaúnde
  • Napoleón Becerra
  • Luis Bedoya Reyes
  • José Bustamante y Rivero
  • Ramón Castilla
  • Liz Chicaje (born 1982), indigenous environmentalist
  • Héctor Cornejo Chávez
  • Nicolás de Piérola
  • Graciela Fernández-Baca (1933–2020), economist and politician
  • Alberto Fujimori, president, 1990–2000
  • Aída García Naranjo (born 1951), educator, singer, and politician
  • Alan García Pérez, president, 1985–90, 2001–06
  • Juan Manuel Guillén
  • Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre
  • Ollanta Humala Tasso, president, 2011–16
  • Humberto Lay
  • Augusto B. Leguía
  • José Carlos Mariátegui
  • Sandro Mariategui Chiappe
  • Marcela Mitaynes
  • Vladimiro Montesinos
  • Luis José de Orbegoso
  • Jose Pardo y Barreda
  • Manuel Pardo y Lavalle
  • Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, 5th United Nations Secretary General, 1982–91
  • Mariano Ignacio Prado
  • Manuel Prado Ugarteche
  • Albina Ruiz
  • Fernando Belaunde Terry, president, 1963–68, 1980–85
  • Patricia Salas O'Brien, Minister of Education, 2011–13
  • Luis Alberto Sánchez
  • Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro
  • María del Socorro Heysen (born 1960), economist and banker
  • Alejandro Toledo, president, 2001–2006
  • Mercedes Aráoz, Vice President of Peru, 2016–2020
  • Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, prime minister and President, 2016–18
  • Martín Vizcarra, governor, vice president and President of Peru, 2018–2020
  • Bruno Pacheco, former secretary of the President
  • José Manuel Valdés

Revolutionaries

  • Túpac Amaru II, Incan revolutionary
  • Mariano Melgar
  • Mateo Pumacahua

Terrorists

  • Abimael Guzmán
  • Elena Yparraguirre

Ancient civilizations

Hurin dynasty

  • Manco Cápac
  • Sinchi Roca
  • Mayta Cápac
  • Cápac Yupanqui

Hanan dynasty

  • Inca Roca, Incan emperor
  • Yahuar Huaca, Incan ruler
  • Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui
  • Huayna Capac, Incan ruler
  • Huáscar, Inca ruler, 1527–32
  • Atahualpa, last Incan ruler

Vilcabamba (Colonial Era)

  • Manco Inca Yupanqui, de facto Incan leader
  • Titu Cusi Yupanqui, de facto Incan leader
  • Túpac Amaru, de facto Incan leader

Athletes

Boxers

  • Mauro Mina
  • Orlando Romero
  • Oscar Rivadeneira
  • Marcelo Quiñones
  • Kina Malpartida

Chess players

  • Esteban Canal
  • Jorge Cori
  • Deysi Cori
  • Julio Granda
  • Oscar Quiñones
  • Guillermo Ruiz

Association football players

  • Julio Baylón
  • José Luis Carranza
  • Roberto Challe
  • Héctor Chumpitaz
  • Luis Cruzado
  • Teófilo Cubillas
  • César Cueto
  • José del Solar
  • Jefferson Farfán
  • Raúl Fernández
  • Teodoro "Lolo" Fernández
  • Nicolás Fuentes
  • Alberto Gallardo
  • José Paolo Guerrero
  • Pedro León
  • Valeriano López
  • Roberto Martínez Vera-Tudela
  • Julio Meléndez
  • Ramón Mifflin
  • Xavi Moreno
  • Claudio Pizarro
  • Percy Rojas
  • Oswaldo Ramírez
  • Nolberto Solano
  • Hugo Sotil
  • Alberto Terry
  • Juan Manuel Vargas
  • Alejandro Villanueva
  • Santiago Acasiete
  • Jair Baylón
  • Leao Butron
  • Daniel Chávez
  • Rinaldo Cruzado
  • Juan Cominges
  • Johan Fano
  • Martín Hidalgo
  • Hernan Rengifo
  • Alberto Junior Rodríguez Valdelomar
  • Carlos Zambrano

Surfers

  • Sofía Mulánovich

Tennis players

  • Laura Gildemeister
  • Luis Horna
  • Alejandro Olmedo
  • Jaime Yzaga
  • Iván Miranda
  • Mauricio Echazú
  • Laura Arraya
  • Duilio Beretta
  • Ignacio Buse

Volleyball players

  • Denisse Fajardo
  • Rosa García
  • Gina Torrealva
  • Natalia Málaga
  • Gabriela Pérez del Solar
  • Cecilia Tait
  • Leyla Chihuán

Other

  • Edgar Prado, jockey
  • Jorge F. Chávez, jockey
  • Kenny Florian, mixed martial arts
  • Antonio Oré, Olympic basketball player
  • Jorge Andres, sportscaster

Beauty queens and models

  • Juana Burga Cervera
  • Helena Christensen, model
  • Madeleine Hartog Bell, Miss World – 1967
  • Claudia Hernández, Miss Perú Mundo – 2002/2003
  • María Julia Mantilla, Miss World – 2004
  • Tilsa Lozano, Miss Playboy TV Latinoamerica & Iberia
  • Danella Lucioni
  • Natalie Vértiz, Miss Peru – 2011
  • Gladys Zender, Miss Universe – 1957

Religion

  • Sarita Colonia, folk saint
  • Saint Rose of Lima
  • Saint Martin de Porres
  • Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Provost), current head of the Catholic Church

Other

  • Gaston Acurio, chef
  • Lady Bardales
  • Analí Cabrera (1959–2011), actress, vedette, and athlete
  • Jorge Chávez, airplane pilot
  • Raúl Chávez Sarmiento, math prodigy, second youngest bronze, silver, gold medalist at the International Mathematical Olympiad
  • Alicia Delgado, folk singer
  • Ángel Díaz Balbín, triple murderer and suspected serial killer
  • Virgilio Martínez Véliz, chef
  • Carlos I. Noriega, astronaut
  • Gonzalo Castro de la Mata, ecologist
  • Amanda Portales, singer, author, composer, and Peruvian folklore performer
  • Luis Miró Quesada Garland, architect
  • Richiardi Jr, stage magician
  • Pamela Rodríguez (born 1983), singer
  • Wenceslao Sarmiento, modernist architect
  • Pamela Silva Conde, Emmy award-winning journalist
  • Valentina Shevchenko, UFC Women's Flyweight champion
  • Luzmila Mahuanca, human rights activist advocating for the rights of Amazonian people

References