Peru

Republic of Peru República del Perú (Spanish) Co-official names[a] Quechua: Piruw Ripuwlika Aymara: Piruwxa Ripuwlika
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Firme y feliz por la unión" (Spanish) "Firm and Happy for the Union"
Anthem: "Himno Nacional del Perú" (Spanish) "National Anthem of Peru" March:  "Marcha de Banderas" (Spanish) "March of Flags"
National seal Gran Sello del Estado (Spanish) Great Seal of the State
Location of Peru (dark green)
Capital and largest city	Lima 12°2.6′S 77°1.7′W / 12.0433°S 77.0283°W / -12.0433; -77.0283
Official languages	Spanish
Co-official languages[b]	Quechua Aymara Other Indigenous languages
Ethnic groups (2017)[c]	60.20% Mixed 25.75% Native 5.89% White 3.57% Black 0.16% East Asian 1.10% Other 3.32% No answer
Religion (2017[d])[1]	94.5% Christianity 76.0% Catholicism 18.5% other Christian 5.1% Prime Minister	Gustavo Adrianzén
• President of Congress	Alejandro Soto Reyes
Legislature	Spain
• Declared	28 July 1821
• Consolidated	9 December 1824
• Recognized	14 August 1879
Area
• Total	1,285,216[4][5] km2 (496,225 sq mi) (19th)
• Water (%)	0.41
Population
• 2023 estimate	34,352,720[6] (43rd)
• Density	23/km2 (59.6/sq mi) (197th)
GDP (PPP)	2024 estimate
• Total	$566.582 billion[7] (45th)
• Per capita	$16,631[7] (97th)
GDP (nominal)	2024 estimate
• Total	$282.458 billion[7] (49th)
• Per capita	$8,291[7] (86th)
Gini (2021)	40.2[8] medium inequality
HDI (2022)	0.762[9] high (87th)
Currency	Peruvian sol (PEN)
Time zone	UTC−5 (PET)
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (CE)
Drives on	right
Calling code	+51
ISO 3166 code	PE
Internet TLD	.pe

Peru,^[e] officially the Republic of Peru,^[f] is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pacific Ocean. Peru is a megadiverse country with habitats ranging from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region in the west to the peaks of the Andes mountains extending from the north to the southeast of the country to the tropical Amazon basin rainforest in the east with the Amazon River.^[11] Peru has a population of over 32 million, and its capital and largest city is Lima. At 1,285,216 km² (496,225 sq mi), Peru is the 19th largest country in the world, and the third largest in South America.

Peruvian territory was home to several cultures during the ancient and medieval periods, and has one of the longest histories of civilization of any country, tracing its heritage back to the 10th millennium BCE. Notable pre-colonial cultures and civilizations include the Caral–Supe civilization (the earliest civilization in the Americas and considered one of the cradles of civilization), the Nazca culture, the Wari and Tiwanaku empires, the Kingdom of Cusco, and the Inca Empire, the largest known state in the pre-Columbian Americas. The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century and Charles V established a viceroyalty with the official name of the Kingdom of Peru that encompassed most of its South American territories, with its capital in Lima.^[12] Higher education started in the Americas with the official establishment of the National University of San Marcos in Lima in 1551.

Peru formally proclaimed independence from Spain in 1821, and following the military campaigns of

Peru's population includes Mestizos, Amerindians, Europeans, Africans and Asians. The main spoken language is Spanish, although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechuan languages, Aymara, or other Indigenous languages. This mixture of cultural traditions has resulted in a wide diversity of expressions in fields such as art, cuisine, literature, and music.

The name of the country may be derived from Birú, the name of a local ruler who lived near the Bay of San Miguel, Panama City, in the early 16th century.^[21] Spanish conquistadors, who arrived in 1522, believed this was the southernmost part of the New World.^[22] When Francisco Pizarro invaded the regions farther south, they came to be designated Birú or Perú.^[23]

An alternative history is provided by the contemporary writer Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, son of an Inca princess and a conquistador. He said the name Birú was that of a common Amerindian who was happened upon by the crew of a ship on an exploratory mission for governor Pedro Arias Dávila and went on to relate more instances of misunderstandings due to the lack of a common language.^[24]

The

The earliest evidences of human presence in Peruvian territory have been dated to approximately 12,500

The

The Moche, who reached their apogee in the first millennium CE, were renowned for their irrigation system which fertilized their arid terrain, their sophisticated ceramic pottery, their lofty buildings, and clever metalwork.[32] The Chimu were the great city builders of pre-Inca civilization; as a loose confederation of walled cities scattered along the coast of northern Peru, the Chimu flourished from about 1140 to 1450.^[33] Their capital was at Chan Chan outside of modern-day Trujillo.^[33] In the highlands, both the Tiahuanaco culture, near Lake Titicaca in both Peru and Bolivia,^[34] and the Wari culture, near the present-day city of Ayacucho, developed large urban settlements and wide-ranging state systems between 500 and 1000 CE.^[35]

In the 15th century, the Incas emerged as a powerful state which, in the span of a century, formed the largest empire in the pre-Columbian Americas with their capital in Cusco.^[36] The Incas of Cusco originally represented one of the small and relatively minor ethnic groups, the Quechuas. Gradually, as early as the thirteenth century, they began to expand and incorporate their neighbors. Inca expansion was slow until about the middle of the fifteenth century, when the pace of conquest began to accelerate, particularly under the rule of the emperor Pachacuti.^[37] Under his rule and that of his son, Topa Inca Yupanqui, the Incas came to control most of the Andean region, with a population of 9 to 16 million inhabitants under their rule. Pachacuti also promulgated a comprehensive code of laws to govern his far-flung empire, while consolidating his absolute temporal and spiritual authority as the God of the Sun who ruled from a magnificently rebuilt Cusco.^[38] From 1438 to 1533, the Incas used a variety of methods, from conquest to peaceful assimilation, to incorporate a large portion of western South America, centered on the Andean mountain ranges, from southern Colombia to northern Chile, between the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Amazon rainforest in the east. The official language of the empire was Quechua,^[39] although hundreds of local languages and dialects were spoken. The Inca referred to their empire as Tawantinsuyu which can be translated as "The Four Regions" or "The Four United Provinces." Many local forms of worship persisted in the empire, most of them concerning local sacred Huacas, but the Inca leadership encouraged the worship of Inti, the sun god and imposed its sovereignty above other cults such as that of Pachamama.^[40] The Incas considered their King, the Sapa Inca, to be the "child of the sun."^[41]

Atahualpa (also Atahuallpa), the last

The Indigenous population dramatically collapsed overwhelmingly due to epidemic diseases introduced by the Spanish as well as exploitation and socio-economic change.

By the 18th century, declining silver production and economic diversification greatly diminished royal income.^[52] In response, the Crown enacted the Bourbon Reforms, a series of edicts that increased taxes and partitioned the Viceroyalty.^[53] The new laws provoked Túpac Amaru II's rebellion and other revolts, all of which were suppressed.^[54] As a result of these and other changes, the Spaniards and their creole successors came to monopolize control over the land, seizing many of the best lands abandoned by the massive native depopulation. However, the Spanish did not resist the Portuguese expansion of Brazil across the meridian. The Treaty of Tordesillas was rendered meaningless between 1580 and 1640 while Spain controlled Portugal. The need to ease communication and trade with Spain led to the split of the viceroyalty and the creation of new viceroyalties of New Granada and Rio de la Plata at the expense of the territories that formed the Viceroyalty of Peru; this reduced the power, prominence and importance of Lima as the viceroyal capital and shifted the lucrative Andean trade to Buenos Aires and Bogotá, while the fall of the mining and textile production accelerated the progressive decay of the Viceroyalty of Peru.

Eventually, the viceroyalty would dissolve, as with much of the Spanish empire, when challenged by national independence movements at the beginning of the nineteenth century. These movements led to the formation of the majority of modern-day countries of South America in the territories that at one point or another had constituted the Viceroyalty of Peru.^[55] The conquest and colony brought a mix of cultures and ethnicities that did not exist before the Spanish conquered the Peruvian territory. Even though many of the Inca traditions were lost or diluted, new customs, traditions and knowledge were added, creating a rich mixed Peruvian culture.^[51] Two of the most important Indigenous rebellions against the Spanish were that of Juan Santos Atahualpa in 1742, and Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II in 1780 around the highlands near Cuzco.^[56]

In the early 19th century, while most South American nations were swept by

The economic crises, the loss of power of Spain in Europe, the war of independence in North America, and Native uprisings all contributed to a favorable climate to the development of emancipation ideas among the Criollo population in South America. However, the Criollo oligarchy in Peru enjoyed privileges and remained loyal to the Spanish Crown. The liberation movement started in Argentina where autonomous juntas were created as a result of the loss of authority of the Spanish government over its colonies.

After fighting for the independence of the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata, José de San Martín created the Army of the Andes and crossed the Andes in 21 days. Once in Chile, he joined forces with Chilean army General Bernardo O'Higgins and liberated the country in the battles of Chacabuco and Maipú in 1818.^[57] On 7 September 1820, a fleet of eight warships arrived in the port of Paracas under the command of General José de San Martín and Thomas Cochrane, who was serving in the Chilean Navy. Immediately on 26 October, they took control of the town of Pisco. San Martín settled in Huacho on 12 November, where he established his headquarters while Cochrane sailed north and blockaded the port of Callao in Lima. At the same time in the north, Guayaquil was occupied by rebel forces under the command of Gregorio Escobedo. Because Peru was the stronghold of the Spanish government in South America, San Martín's strategy to liberate Peru was to use diplomacy. He sent representatives to Lima urging the Viceroy that Peru be granted independence, however, all negotiations proved unsuccessful.

The Viceroy of Peru, Joaquín de la Pazuela named José de la Serna commander-in-chief of the loyalist army to protect Lima from the threatened invasion by San Martín. On 29 January, de la Serna organized a coup against de la Pazuela, which was recognized by Spain and he was named Viceroy of Peru. This internal power struggle contributed to the success of the liberating army. To avoid a military confrontation, San Martín met the newly appointed viceroy, José de la Serna, and proposed to create a constitutional monarchy, a proposal that was turned down. De la Serna abandoned the city, and on 12 July 1821, San Martín occupied Lima and declared Peruvian independence on 28 July 1821. He created the first Peruvian flag. Upper Peru (present-day Bolivia) remained as a Spanish stronghold until the army of Simón Bolívar liberated it three years later. José de San Martín was declared Protector of Peru. Peruvian national identity was forged during this period, as Bolivarian projects for a Latin American Confederation floundered and a union with Bolivia proved ephemeral.^[58]

Simón Bolívar launched his campaign from the north, liberating the Viceroyalty of New Granada in the Battles of Carabobo in 1821 and Pichincha a year later. In July 1822, Bolívar and San Martín gathered in the Guayaquil Conference. Bolívar was left in charge of fully liberating Peru while San Martín retired from politics after the first parliament was assembled. The newly founded Peruvian Congress named Bolívar dictator of Peru, giving him the power to organize the military.

With the help of Antonio José de Sucre, they defeated the larger Spanish army in the Battle of Junín on 6 August 1824 and the decisive Battle of Ayacucho on 9 December of the same year, consolidating the independence of Peru and Upper Peru. Upper Peru was later established as Bolivia. During the early years of the Republic, endemic struggles for power between military leaders caused political instability.^[59]

From the 1840s to the 1860s Peru enjoyed

In 1879 Peru entered the War of the Pacific, which lasted until 1884. Bolivia invoked its alliance with Peru against Chile. The Peruvian Government tried to mediate the dispute by sending a diplomatic team to negotiate with the Chilean government, but the committee concluded that war was inevitable. Chile declared war on 5 April 1879. Almost five years of war ended with the loss of the department of Tarapacá and the provinces of Tacna and Arica, in the Atacama region. Two outstanding military leaders throughout the war were Francisco Bolognesi and Miguel Grau. Originally Chile committed to a referendum for the cities of Arica and Tacna to be held years later, to self determine their national affiliation. However, Chile refused to apply the Treaty, and neither of the countries could determine the statutory framework. After the War of the Pacific, an extraordinary effort of rebuilding began. The government started to initiate a number of social and economic reforms to recover from the damage of the war. Political stability was achieved only in the early 1900s.

Internal struggles after the war were followed by a period of stability under the

On 3 October 1968 another

In early 1995, once again Peru and Ecuador clashed in the Cenepa War, but in 1998 the governments of both nations signed a peace treaty that clearly demarcated the international boundary between them. In November 2000, Fujimori resigned from office and went into a self-imposed exile, initially avoiding prosecution for human rights violations and corruption charges by the new Peruvian authorities.^[83]

21st century

Main articles:

2022–2023 Peruvian protests

Into the new century, Peru tried to fight corruption while sustaining economic growth,

sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in killings and kidnappings by the Grupo Colina death squad during his government's battle against leftist guerrillas in the 1990s.^[88]

During the presidencies of

Vizcara's removal from the presidency by Congress.^[98] Widely seen as a coup by Congress, its head, the newly seated President Manuel Merino, faced protests across the country, and after five days, Merino resigned from the presidency.^[99] Merino was replaced by President Francisco Sagasti, who led a provisional, centrist government, and enforced many of Vizcarra's former policies.^[100] Elections were held on 11 April 2021, and Pedro Castillo of the Free Peru party won the first round, followed closely by Keiko Fujimori, with right-wing parties allied with Fujimori maintaining positions in Congress.^[101]

dissolve the opposition-controlled legislature and create an "exceptional emergency government." In response, Congress quickly held an emergency session on the same day, during which it voted 101–6 (with 10 abstentions) to remove Castillo from office and replace him with Vice President Dina Boluarte. She became the country's first female president.^[104][105] Castillo was arrested after trying to flee to the Mexican embassy and was charged with the crime of rebellion.^[106]

The Boluarte government proved unpopular as she allied herself with the right-wing Congress and the military, betraying her constituents.

authoritarian or civilian-military government.^{[17][107][108]}

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Peru and Politics of Peru

Peru is a

semi-presidential republic with a multi-party system.^[2][3] The country has maintained a liberal democratic system under its 1993 Constitution, which replaced a constitution that leaned the government to a federation to authorize more power to the president.^[109][110] It is also a unitary republic, in which the central government holds the most power and can create administrative divisions. The Peruvian system of government combines elements derived from the political systems of the United States (a written constitution, an autonomous Supreme court, and a presidential system) and the People's Republic of China (a unicameral congress, a premier and ministry system).^[111]

The Peruvian government is separated into three branches:

• Legislature: the unicameral Congress of Peru, consisting of 130 members of Congress (on a basis of population), the president of Congress, and the Permanent Commission;^[112]
• Executive: the president, the
  prime minister
  and 18 ministers of the state;
• Judiciary: the Supreme Court of Peru, also known as the Royal Audencia of Lima, composed of 18 justices including a supreme justice, along with 28 superior courts, 195 trial courts, and 1,838 district courts.

Palacio de Gobierno, in Lima

Under its constitution, the president of Peru is both

2019 by Martín Vizcarra.^[116]

In the Congress of Peru there are 130 members, from 25

removed from office in 2020 and Pedro Castillo was removed in 2022.^[123] Following a ruling in February 2023 by the Constitutional Court of Peru, whose members are elected by Congress, judicial oversight of the legislative body was also removed by the court, essentially giving Congress absolute control of Peru's government.^[124][125]

, in Lima

Peru's

directly elected by constituents in respective districts through proportional voting. The president is elected in a general election, along with the vice president, through a majority in a two-round system.^[127] Elections are observed and organized by the National Jury of Elections, National Office of Electoral Processes, and the National Registry of Identification and Civil Status.^[128]

Peru uses a multi-party system for congressional and general elections. Major groups that have formed governments, both on a federal and legislative level, are parties that have historically adopted economic liberalism, progressivism, right-wing populism (specifically Fujimorism), nationalism, and reformism.^[129]

The most recent general election was held on 11 April 2021 and resulted in Free Peru winning the most seats in Congress, although it fell well short of a majority.^[130] A presidential runoff between Pedro Castillo and Keiko Fujimori took place on 5 June 2021 and resulted in the victory of Castillo.^[131]

Allegations of corruption in politics

Main article: Corruption in Peru

Many presidents of Peru have been ousted from office or imprisoned on allegations of corruption from the 1990s into the 21st century. Alberto Fujimori is serving a 25-year prison sentence for commanding

Odebrecht bribery scheme. Former president Alejandro Toledo is accused of allegedly receiving bribes from Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht during his government (2001–2006). Former president Ollanta Humala (2011–2016) is also under investigation for allegedly receiving bribes from Odebrecht during his presidential election campaign. Humala's successor Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (2016–2018) remains under house arrest while prosecutors investigate him for favoring contracts with Odebrecht. Former president Martín Vizcarra (2018–2020) was controversially ousted by Congress after media reports alleged he had received bribes while he was a regional governor years earlier.^[132][133]

Corruption is also widespread throughout Congress as legislators use their office for parliamentary immunity and other benefits,^[134] with the large majority of Peruvians disapproving of Congress and its behavior.^[135]

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Peru

Peru is divided into 26 units:

Constitutional Province of Callao and the Province of Lima (LIM) – which is independent of any region and serves as the country's capital.^[136] Under the constitution, the 24 departments plus Callao Province have an elected "regional"^[g] government composed of the regional governor and the regional council.^[137][138]

The governor constitutes the executive body, proposes budgets, and creates decrees, resolutions, and regional programs.^[139] The Regional Council, the region's legislative body, debates and votes on budgets, supervises regional officials, and can vote to remove the governor, deputy governor, or any member of the council from office. The regional governor and the Regional Council serve a term of four years, without immediate reelection. These governments plan regional development, execute public investment projects, promote economic activities, and manage public property.^[140][141]

Provinces such as Lima are administered by a municipal council, headed by a mayor.^[142] The goal of devolving power to regional and municipal governments was among others to improve popular participation. NGOs played an important role in the decentralization process and still influence local politics.^[143][144]

Some areas of Peru are defined as metropolitan areas which overlap district areas. The largest of them, the Lima metropolitan area, is the seventh-largest metropolis in the Americas.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Peru

Over recent decades, Peru's foreign relations has historically been dominated by close ties with the United States and Asia,^[145] particularly through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the World Trade Organization, the Pacific Alliance, Mercosur, and the Organization of American States (OAS).^[146][147] Peru is an active member of several

Andean Community of Nations. It is also a member of international organizations such as the OAS and the United Nations.^[148] Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, a celebrated Peruvian diplomat, served as United Nations Secretary General

from 1981 to 1991.

Peru planned to be fully integrated into the

European Union Free Trade Agreement, free trade agreements with Japan, and many others.^[151][152]

Peru maintains an integrated relationship with other South American nations, and is a member of various South American intergovernmental agreements, more recently the

Peru v Chile international court resolution and the Chilean-Peruvian maritime dispute, but the two countries have agreed to work in improving relations.^[153]

Peru has participated in taking a leading role in addressing the crisis in Venezuela through the establishment of the Lima Group.^[154]

Peru is the 99th most peaceful country in the world, according to the 2024 Global Peace Index.^[155]

Military and law enforcement

Main article: Peruvian Armed Forces

Peru has the fourth largest military in Latin America. Peru's armed forces – the Armed Forces of Peru – comprise the Peruvian Navy (MGP), the Peruvian Army (EP), and the Peruvian Air Force (FAP), in total numbering 392,660 personnel (including 120,660 regulars and 272,000 reservists) as of 2020.^[156] Their primary mission is to safeguard the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.^[157]

Their functions are separated by branch:

• The Peruvian Army is made up of the Chief of Staff, two Control Bodies, two Support Bodies, five Military Regions and six Command Rooms.
• The
  air defense. It also participates in social support campaigns for hard-to-reach populations, organizes air bridges during disasters, and participates in international peace missions. Its four major air bases are located in the cities of Piura, Callao, Arequipa and Iquitos
  .
• The Peruvian Navy is in charge of the country's maritime, river, and lake defense. It is made up of 26,000 sailors. Personnel are divided into three levels: superior personnel, junior personnel and seafarers.

The military is governed by both the

anti-terrorist force have produced markedly military characteristics, giving it the appearance of a virtual fourth military service with significant land, sea and air capabilities and approximately 140,000 personnel. The Peruvian armed forces report through the Ministry of Defense, while the National Police of Peru reports through the Ministry of Interior.^[160][157]

Since the end of the

crisis in Peru in 2000, the federal government has significantly reduced annual spending in defense.^[161] In the 2016–2017 budget, defense spending has constituted 1.1% of GDP ($2.3 billion), the second lowest spending relative to GDP in South America following Argentina.^[162] More recently, the Armed Forces of Peru have been used in civil defense. In 2020, Peru used its military personnel and even reservists to enforce the strict quarantine measures placed during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[163]

Geography

Main article: Geography of Peru

Amazon, Alpamayo mountain peak, Paracas National Reserve, Chachani

volcanic complex.

Peru is located on the central western coast of South America facing the Pacific Ocean. It lies wholly in the Southern Hemisphere, its northernmost extreme reaching to 1.8 minutes of latitude or about 3.3 kilometres (2.1 mi) south of the equator, covers 1,285,216 km² (496,225 sq mi) of western South America. It borders Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Andes mountains run parallel to the Pacific Ocean; they define the three regions traditionally used to describe the country geographically.^[164]

The costa (coast), to the west, is a narrow, largely arid plain except for valleys created by seasonal rivers. The sierra (highlands) is the region of the Andes; it includes the Altiplano plateau as well as the highest peak of the country, the 6,768 m (22,205 ft) Huascarán.^[165] The third region is the selva (jungle), a wide expanse of flat terrain covered by the Amazon rainforest that extends east. Almost 60 percent of the country's area is located within this region.^[166] The country has fifty-four hydrographic basins, fifty-two of which are small coastal basins that discharge their waters into the Pacific Ocean. The final two are the endorheic basin of Lake Titicaca, and the Amazon basin, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Both are delimited by the Andes mountain range. The Amazon basin is particularly noteworthy as it is the source of the Amazon River, which at 6872 km, is the longest river in the world, and covers 75% of Peruvian territory. Peru contains 4% of the planet's freshwater.

Most Peruvian rivers originate in the peaks of the Andes and drain into one of three

Yavarí, the Huallaga, the Urubamba, the Mantaro, and the Amazon.^[168]

The largest lake in Peru, Lake Titicaca between Peru and Bolivia high in the Andes, is also the largest of South America.^[169] The largest reservoirs, all in the coastal region of Peru, are the Poechos, Tinajones, San Lorenzo, and El Fraile reservoirs.^[170]

Climate

Main article: Climate of Peru

Although Peru is located entirely in the

El Niño

) gives Peru a large diversity of climates. Elevations above sea level in the country range from −37 to 6,778 m (−121 to 22,238 ft) and precipitation ranges from less than 20 mm (0.79 in) annually in desert areas to more than 8,000 mm (310 in) in tropical rainforest areas.

Due to its geography, Peru can be divide into three main climates. The unbroken and relatively slim coastal region has moderate temperatures, low precipitation, and high humidity, except for its warmer, wetter northern reaches.

Peruvian Amazon, covering more than half of the total area of Peru, is characterized by heavy rainfall and high temperatures, except for its southernmost part, which has cold winters and seasonal rainfall.^[173]

Wildlife

Main article: Wildlife of Peru

Because of its varied geography and climate, Peru has a high biodiversity with 21,462 species of plants and animals reported as of 2003, 5,855 of them

megadiverse

countries.

Peru has over 1,800

anchovies, tuna, crustaceans, and shellfish, and is home to many sharks, sperm whales, and whales.^[177] The invertebrate fauna is far less inventoried; at least beetles (Coleoptera) have been surveyed in the "Beetles of Peru" project, led by Caroline S. Chaboo, University of Nebraska, USA and this revealved more 12,000 documented and many new species for Peru.^[178]

Peru also has an equally diverse

cacti, apart from hilly fog oases and river valleys that contain unique plant life.^[179]

The Highlands above the tree-line known as

bromeliad – the spectacular Puya raimondii

.

The cloud-forest slopes of the Andes sustain moss, orchids, and bromeliads, and the Amazon rainforest is known for its variety of trees and canopy plants.^[177] Peru had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 8.86/10, ranking it 14th globally out of 172 countries.^[180]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Peru

The economy of Peru is the 48th largest in the world (ranked by

distribution of income have proven elusive.^[186] According to 2015 data, 19.3% of its total population is poor, including 9% that lives in extreme poverty.^[187] Inflation in 2012 was the lowest in Latin America at only 1.8%, but increased in 2013 as oil and commodity prices rose; as of 2014^[update] it stands at 2.5%.^[188] and 8,6 in 2023.^[189] The unemployment rate has fallen steadily in recent years,^[clarify] and as of 2012^[update]

stands at 3.6%.

Peruvian economic policy has varied widely over the past decades.^[

income redistribution and the end of economic dependence on developed nations.^[190]

Despite these results, most reforms were not reversed until the 1990s, when the liberalizing government of Alberto Fujimori ended price controls, protectionism, restrictions on foreign direct investment, and most state ownership of companies.^[191]

As of 2010^[update]

free trade agreement with the United States signed on 12 April 2006.^[194] Peru's main exports were copper, gold, zinc, textiles, and fish meal; its major trade partners were the United States, China, Brazil, and Chile.^[195] Peru was ranked 76th in the Global Innovation Index in 2023.^[196]

Informal workers represent, in 2019, 70% of the labour market according to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI). In 2016, almost three million children and adolescents worked in the informal sector.[197]

Mining

The country is heavily dependent on mining for the export of raw materials, which represented 61.3% of exports in 2023.^[198] In 2019, the country was the second world producer of copper,^[199] silver^[200] and zinc,^[201] eighth world producer of gold,^[202] third world producer of lead,^[203] the world's fourth largest producer of tin,^[204] the fifth world's largest producer of boron^[205] and the world's fourth largest producer of molybdenum.^[206] – not to mention gas and of oil. The country has an expectant competitive position in global mining, maintaining mining leadership in Latin America and a solid mining history and trajectory little industrialized, Peru suffers from the international variation of commodity prices.^[207]

The Yanacocha mine in Cajamarca is the main source of gold extraction in Peru. It is considered the largest gold mine in South America and the second largest in the world. In 2005, 3,333,088 ounces of gold were produced. An indicator of mining growth can be seen in mining exports, having grown from US$1,447 million in 1990^[208] to US$39,639 million in 2023.^[198]

Agriculture

Peru is the world's largest producer of

chicken meat in the world.^[209]

According to a report by the UN

food insecure (16.6 million people), and more than 20% (6.8 million people), are severely food insecure: they go without food for a whole day, or even several days.^[210][211]

The director of FAO Peru stresses that "this is the great paradox of a country that has enough food for its population. Peru is a net producer of food and one of the major agro-exporting powers in the region. Food insecurity is due to high

drug trafficking on their land and mining activity that exhausts the soil."^[210][211]

Industry

The World Bank lists the top producing countries each year, based on the total value of production. By the 2019 list, Peru has the 50th most valuable industry in the world ($28.7 billion).^[212]

In 2011 and 2016 Peru was the world's largest supplier of

fishmeal.^[213]

It is also the world's leading producer of alpaca wool, and the most important exporter of cotton textile garments in Latin America, and due to its natural wealth, it is an excellent place for the development of the polymer industry worldwide. The country is in a stage of economic growth and it is expected, in light of the agreements and treaties signed in free trade areas, to become one of the most attractive South American nations for developing business.

Infrastructure

Transport

Peru's road network in 2021 consisted of 175,589 km (109,106 mi) of highways, with 29,579 km (18,380 mi) paved.

Pan American Highway and Interoceanic Highway. In 2016, the country had 827 km (514 mi) of duplicated highways, and was investing in more duplications: the plan was to have 2,634 km (1,637 mi) in 2026.^[215] The country's rail network is small: in 2018, the country only had 1,939 km (1,205 mi) of railways.^[216]

Peru has important international airports such as Lima, Cuzco and Arequipa. The 10 busiest airports in South America in 2017 were: São Paulo-Guarulhos (Brazil), Bogotá (Colombia), São Paulo-Congonhas (Brazil), Santiago (Chile), Lima (Peru), Brasília (Brazil), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Buenos Aires-Aeroparque (Argentina), Buenos Aires-Ezeiza (Argentina) and Minas Gerais (Brazil).^[217] Multiple airport expansions are currently under construction across Peru, the two main ones being the Jorge Chávez International Airport and Chinchero International Airport. Jorge Chávez International Airport, the largest in Peru, is undergoing an expansion which includes the construction of a new runway, control tower and a new terminal, along with new hotels, logistical buildings and cargo sector. Altogether, they make up the Ciudad Aeropuerto, Airport City. It will allow transit of 40 million passengers every year and will be completed in December 2024. Another ambitious airport project is the Chinchero International Airport in Cusco. The new airport is set to replace the old, Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport and help passengers bypass a stop in Lima by introducing international routes.

Peru has important ports in Callao, Ilo and Matarani. The 15 most active ports in South America in 2018 were: Port of Santos (Brazil), Port of Bahia de Cartagena (Colombia), Callao (Peru), Guayaquil (Ecuador), Buenos Aires (Argentina), San Antonio (Chile), Buenaventura (Colombia), Itajaí (Brazil), Valparaíso (Chile), Montevideo (Uruguay), Paranaguá (Brazil), Rio Grande (Brazil), São Francisco do Sul (Brazil), Manaus (Brazil) and Coronel (Chile).^[218] The Port of Callao is currently the largest port in Peru, but will soon be overtaken by the Chancay Port Terminal, a joint project between China and Peru in Chancay, north of Lima. When completed, the port will become the largest in Latin America.^[219] The first stage of construction is expected to be complete in late 2024.^[220]

Energy

The electricity sector has experienced notable improvements in recent years. The number of homes with electric lighting grew from 82% in 2007 to 94.2% in 2016. while the quality and effectiveness of service provision improved. Current electricity generation capacity is evenly divided between thermal energy and hydroelectric energy sources. The National Interconnected Electrical System supplies 85% of the connected population, with several isolated systems that cover the rest of the country. Peruvian electricity production totalled 5.1 TWh in the month of October 2022. Of these, 52% came from hydroelectric plants, 38.3% from thermoelectric plants (which use oil, gas and coal) and 9.7% of renewable energy plants like: wind, solar, and others.^[221]

In 2021, Peru had, in terms of installed renewable electricity, 5,490 MW in hydropower (34th largest in the world), 409 MW in wind power (49th largest in the world), 336 MW in solar power (62nd largest in the world), and 185 MW in biomass.^[222]

Healthcare

This section is an excerpt from Health in Peru § Healthcare system.[edit]

Peru has a decentralized healthcare system that consists of a combination of governmental and non-governmental coverage. Health care is covered by the Ministry of Health, EsSalud, the Armed Forces (FFAA), and National Police (PNP), as well as private insurance companies. The Ministry of Health insures 60% of the population and EsSalud covers another 30%. The remaining population in Peru is insured by a combination of the FFAA, PNP, and private insurance companies.^[223]

According to the Pan American Health Organization, life expectancy for men is 72.6 years, while for women it is 77.9 years. Infant mortality is eighteen per thousand births, having been reduced 76% from 1990 to 2011.^[224] The main causes of death of Peruvians are neoplasm, influenza and pneumonia, bacterial diseases, ischemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular diseases. According to the 2017 Population and Housing Censuses, 75.5% of the population has some type of health insurance, that is, 22,173,663 people, despite this, 24.5% of the population does not have any type of insurance.^[225]

Demographics

Main articles:

Peruvian people

With about 31.2 million inhabitants in 2017, Peru is the fourth most populous country in South America.^[226] The demographic growth rate of Peru declined from 2.6% to 1.6% between 1950 and 2000; with the population being expected to reach approximately 42 million in 2050.^[227] According to the 1940 Peruvian census, Peru had a population of seven million residents.^[228]

As of 2017^[update], 79.3% lived in urban areas and 20.7% in rural areas.

2007 census.^[230] There are 15 uncontacted Amerindian tribes in Peru.^[231] Peru has a life expectancy of 75.0 years (72.4 for males and 77.7 for females) according to the latest data for the year 2016 from the World Bank.^[232]

Largest cities or towns in Peru National Institute of Statistics and Informatics - INEI (Estimated 2024) [233]
	Rank	Name	Region	Pop.	Rank	Name	Region	Pop.
Lima Arequipa	1	Lima	Lima	10,213,900 (Metro pop.)	11	Ica	Ica	362,400	Trujillo Chiclayo
	2	Arequipa	Arequipa	1,177,200 (Metro pop.)	12	Juliaca	Puno	341,700
	3	Trujillo	La Libertad	1,048,800 (Metro pop.)	13	Tacna	Tacna	327,800
	4	Chiclayo	Lambayeque	615,700 (Metro pop.)	14	Ayacucho	Ayacucho	261,200
	5	Piura	Piura	586,300	15	Cajamarca	Cajamarca	254,300
	6	Huancayo	Junín	563,400	16	Huánuco	Huánuco	242,400
	7	Cusco	Cusco	490,900	17	Chincha Alta	Ica	222,500
	8	Iquitos	Loreto	458,300	18	Sullana	Piura	209,200
	9	Pucallpa	Ucayali	428,700	19	Huacho	Lima	192,100
	10	Chimbote	Ancash	410,300	20	Tarapoto	San Martín	178,800

Ethnic groups

Ethnicity in Peru (2017)[234]

  Mixed (60.20%)

  Native (25.75%)

  White (5.89%)

  Black (3.57%)

  East Asian (0.16%)

  Other (4.42%)

Peru is a

infectious diseases.^[235]

The 2017 census for the first time included a question on ethnic self-identification. According to the results, 60.2% of the people identified themselves as

black, 2.4% identified themselves as Aymara, 2.3% identified themselves as other ethnic groups, and 3.3% did not declare their ethnicity.^[236]

Spaniards and Africans arrived in large numbers under colonial rule, mixing widely with each other and with Indigenous peoples. After independence, there was gradual immigration from England, France, Germany, and Italy.[237] Peru freed its black slaves in 1854.^[238] Chinese and Japanese arrived in the 1850s as laborers following the end of slavery, and have since become a major influence in Peruvian society.^[239]

Language

Main article: Languages of Peru

According to the Peruvian Constitution of 1993, Peru's official languages are Spanish and, in areas where they predominate, Quechua and other Indigenous languages. Spanish is spoken natively by 82.6% of the population, Quechua by 13.9%, and Aymara by 1.7%, while other languages are spoken by the remaining 1.8%.^[240]

Spanish language is used by the government and is the mainstream language of the country, which is used by the media and in educational systems and commerce. Amerindians who live in the Andean highlands speak Quechua and Aymara and are ethnically distinct from the diverse Indigenous groups who live on the eastern side of the Andes and in the tropical lowlands adjacent to the Amazon basin.^[241]

Peru's distinct geographical regions are mirrored in a language divide between the coast where Spanish is more predominant over the Amerindian languages, and the more diverse traditional Andean cultures of the mountains and highlands. The Indigenous populations east of the Andes speak various languages and dialects. Some of these groups still adhere to traditional Indigenous languages, while others have been almost completely assimilated into the Spanish language. There has been an increasing and organized effort to teach Quechua in public schools in the areas where Quechua is spoken. In the Peruvian Amazon, numerous Indigenous languages are spoken, including Asháninka, Bora, and Aguaruna.^[241]

Religion

Main article: Religion in Peru

Roman Catholicism has been the predominant faith in Peru for centuries, albeit religious practices have a high degree of

Latter-day Saints, and Jehovah's Witnesses, and 5.1% as nonreligious.^[243]

Amerindian religious traditions continue to play a major role in the beliefs of Peruvians. Catholic festivities like

Corpus Christi, Holy Week and Christmas sometimes blend with Amerindian traditions. Amerindian festivities from pre-Columbian remain widespread; Inti Raymi

, an ancient Inca festival, is still celebrated, especially in rural communities.

The majority of towns, cities, and villages have their own official church or cathedral and

Basilica of Santo Domingo

.

Education

Main article: Education in Peru

Peru's literacy rate is estimated at 92.9% as of 2007; this rate is lower in rural areas (80.3%) than in urban areas (96.3%).^[244] Primary and secondary education are compulsory and free in public schools.^[181][245]

Peru is home to one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the New World. The National University of San Marcos, founded on 12 May 1551, during the Viceroyalty of Peru, is the first officially established and the oldest continuously functioning university in the Americas.^{[citation needed]}

Toponyms

Many of the Peruvian

toponyms in the normalized alphabets of the Indigenous languages must progressively be proposed with the aim of standardizing the naming used by the National Geographic Institute (Instituto Geográfico Nacional, IGN). The National Geographic Institute realizes the necessary changes in the official maps of Peru.^[246]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Peru

Peruvian culture is primarily rooted in Iberian and Andean traditions,

Pre-Inca cultures. The Incas maintained these crafts and made architectural achievements including the construction of Machu Picchu. Baroque dominated colonial art, though modified by Native traditions.^[249]

During this period, most art focused on religious subjects; the numerous churches of the era and the paintings of the

Cusco School are representative.^[250] Arts stagnated after independence until the emergence of Indigenismo in the early 20th century.^[251] Since the 1950s, Peruvian art has been eclectic

and shaped by both foreign and local art currents.

Visual arts

Main article: Peruvian art

Peruvian art has its origin in the

Andean civilizations. These civilizations arose in the territory of modern Peru before the arrival of the Spanish

. Peruvian art incorporated European elements after the Spanish conquest and continued to evolve throughout the centuries up to the modern day.

Pre-Columbian art

Peru's earliest artwork came from the

ceramics

to create a variety of sculptures and relief carvings. These civilizations were also known for their architecture and wood sculptures.

Between the 9th century BCE and the 2nd century CE, the Paracas Cavernas and Paracas Necropolis cultures developed on the south coast of Peru. Paracas Cavernas produced complex polychrome and monochrome ceramics with religious representations. Burials from the Paracas Necropolis also yielded complex textiles, many produced with sophisticated geometric patterns.

The 3rd century BCE saw the flowering of the urban culture,

cultivation in terraces and hydraulic engineering

and produced original ceramics, textiles, pictorial and sculptural works.

Another urban culture, the

Ayacucho. Their centralized town planning was extended to other areas, such as Pachacamac, Cajamarquilla and Wari Willka

.

Between the 9th and 13th centuries CE, the military urban Tiwanaku empire rose by the borders of Lake Titicaca. Centered around a city of the same name in modern-day Bolivia, the Tiwanaku introduced stone architecture and sculpture of a monumental type. These works of architecture and art were made possible by the Tiwanaku's developing bronze, which enabled them to make the necessary tools.

Urban architecture reached a new height between the 14th and 15th centuries in the

La Libertad. The Chimú were skilled goldsmiths and created remarkable works of hydraulic engineering

.

The

Cusco, architectural remains like Sacsayhuamán and Machu Picchu

and stone pavements that united Cusco with the rest of the Inca Empire.

Colonial art

Main articles:

Cusco School

Colonial Cusco Painting School

, 17th–18th century

Peruvian sculpture and painting began to define themselves from the

Quechua artists European painting styles. Diego Quispe Tito (1611–1681) was one of the first members of the Cuzco school and Marcos Zapata (1710–1773) was one of the last.^[252]

Painting of this time reflected a synthesis of European and Indigenous influences, as is evident in the portrait of prisoner Atahualpa, by D. de Mora or in the canvases of the Italians

Mateo Pérez de Alesio

and Angelino Medoro, the Spaniards Francisco Bejarano and J. de Illescas and the Creole J. Rodriguez.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Baroque Style also dominated the field of plastic arts.

Literature

Main article: Peruvian literature

The term Peruvian literature not only refers to literature produced in the independent Republic of Peru, but also to literature produced in the

pre-Columbian period, such as the Quechua, the Aymara and the Chanka

people.

Peruvian literature is rooted in the oral traditions of

Costumbrism and Romanticism became the most common literary genres, as exemplified in the works of Ricardo Palma.^[253] The early 20th century's Indigenismo movement was led by such writers as Ciro Alegría^[254] and José María Arguedas.^[255] César Vallejo wrote modernist and often politically engaged verse. Modern Peruvian literature is recognized thanks to authors such as Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, a leading member of the Latin American Boom.^[256]

Cuisine

Main article: Peruvian cuisine

Because of the Spanish expedition and discovery of America, explorers started the Columbian exchange which included unknown food in the Old World, including potatoes, tomatoes, and maize. Modern Indigenous Peruvian food often includes corn, potatoes, and chilies. There are now more than 3,000 kinds of potatoes grown on Peruvian terrain, according to Peru's Instituto Peruano de la Papa.^[257] Modern

anticuchos, ceviche, and pachamanca. Peru's varied climate allows the growth of diverse plants and animals good for cooking.^[259] Peru is known to have one of the best cuisines in the world. The capital, Lima, is home to Central Restaurante, which is one of the World's Best Restaurants

and serves various Peruvian dishes from each geographical part of the country, the Costa (coast, Sierra (mountains) and Selva (rainforest).

Peruvian cuisine reflects local practices and ingredients – including influences from the Indigenous population including the

kiwicha, chili peppers, and several roots and tubers have increased in popularity in recent decades, reflecting a revival of interest in Native Peruvian foods and culinary techniques. It is also common to see traditional cuisines being served with a modern flair in towns like Cusco, where tourists come to visit. Chef Gastón Acurio

has become well known for raising awareness of local ingredients.

Music

Main article:

Peruvian music

Peruvian music has

Peruvian folk dances include marinera, tondero, zamacueca, diablada and huayno.^[263]

Peruvian music is dominated by the national

Titicaca regions, the charango is used in courtship rituals, symbolically invoking mermaids with the instrument to lure the woman to the male performers. Until the 1960s, the charango was denigrated as an instrument of the rural poor. After the revolution in 1959, which built the Indigenismo movement (1910–1940), the charango was popularized among other performers. Variants include the walaycho, chillador, chinlili, and the larger and lower-tuned charangon

.

While the Spanish guitar is widely played, so too is the Spanish-in-origin

harps, also of European origin, are also played. A very famous instrument from Peru is the Pan flute

, dating back to Incan times. It is made of hollow bamboo tubes and is widely played in the Peruvian Andes.

Cinema

While the Peruvian film industry has not been nearly as prolific as that of some other Latin American countries, some Peruvian movies produced enjoyed regional success. Historically, the cinema of Peru

rubber boom

and the intense arrival of foreigners with technology to the city, and thus continued an extensive, unique filmography, with a different style than the films made in the capital, Lima.

Peru also produced the first animated 3-D film in Latin America,

Piratas en el Callao. This film is set in the historical port city of Callao, which during colonial times had to defend itself against attacks by Dutch and British privateers seeking to undercut Spain's trade with its colonies. The film was produced by the Peruvian

company Alpamayo Entertainment, which made a second 3-D film one year later: Dragones: Destino de Fuego.

In February 2006, the film Madeinusa, produced as a joint venture between Peru and Spain and directed by Claudia Llosa, was set in an imaginary Andean village and describes the stagnating life of Madeinusa performed by Magaly Solier and the traumas of post-civil war Peru.

Llosa, who shared elements of

Rotterdam Film Festival. Llosa's second feature, The Milk of Sorrow ("La Teta Asustada"), was nominated for the 82nd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Picture, the first Peruvian film in the academy's history to be nominated. The Milk of Sorrow

("La Teta Asustada"), won the Golden Bear award at the 2009 Berlinale.

Estadio Nacional del Perú

in 2011

Sport

Main article: Sport in Peru

The practice of sport in Peru dates back to Colonial times. With the arrival of the Spanish to this territory, the practice of sport changed radically. Later, this was influenced by the American ideology of physical education linked to commercialization. Sports in the country are divided into several sports federations (one for each sports practice) that are under the tutelage of the highest state entity to regulate their practice, the Peruvian Sports Institute (IPD). Most of the sports federations are based in the

Estadio Nacional. Peru has hosted various sporting events, such as the 2004 Copa América, 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, 2013 and 2024 Bolivarian Games, and the largest sporting event held by the country, the 2019 Pan American Games

.

Universitario stands out with the runner-up in the Copa Libertadores in 1972 and Sporting Cristal also with the runner-up in 1997. The only Peruvian clubs with international titles are Cienciano, which won the 2004 Recopa Sudamericana and the 2004 Recopa Sudamericana, and Universitario champion of the 2011 U-20 Copa Libertadores

.

Other popular sports in Peru is volleyball, surfing and karate. Peru has won multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Pan American Games. The Peru women's national volleyball team was one of the dominant teams in the 1980s and 90s and won the silver medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics, losing to the Soviet Union 3–2 after having led by a wide margin. Peru has usually been very good at surfing and volleyball.

See also

• Outline of Peru

Notes and references

Notes

1. ^ In Peru, other languages have been officially recognized as legitimate autochthonous languages, which are co-official alongside Spanish in those areas where they predominate.
   • Quechua: Piruw Ripuwlika
   • Aymara: Piruwxa Ripuwlika
2. ^ In those areas where they predominate.
3. ethnic self-identification
   that was addressed to people aged 12 and over considering elements such as their ancestry, their customs and their family origin to visualize and better understand the cultural reality of the country.
4. 2017 National Census
   was addressed to people aged 12 and over.
5. ^ /pəˈruː/ ^ⓘ pə-ROO; Spanish: Perú [peˈɾu]; Quechua: Piruw [pɪɾʊw];^[10] Aymara: Piruw [pɪɾʊw]
6. ^ Spanish: República del Perú^ⓘ
7. ^ The government in each department is referred to as "regional" governments despite being departments.

Citations