Peru
Top Sights & Landmarks
Background
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peru declared its independence in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces were defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980 but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, an economic slump and the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his resignation in 2000. A caretaker government oversaw a new election in 2001 that installed Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique as the new head of government - Peru's first democratically elected president of indigenous ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA Perez who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, presided over a robust economic rebound. Former army officer Ollanta HUMALA Tasso was elected president in 2011 and carried on the market-oriented economic policies of the three preceding administrations. Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard won a very narrow runoff in the 2016 presidential election. Facing impeachment after evidence surfaced of his involvement in a vote-buying scandal, KUCZYNSKI offered his resignation in 2018, and First Vice President Martin Alberto VIZCARRA Cornejo was sworn in as president. In 2019, VIZCARRA invoked his constitutional authority to dissolve Peru's Congress after months of battling with the body over anticorruption reforms. New congressional elections in 2020 resulted in an opposition-led legislature. The Congress impeached VIZCARRA for a second time and removed him from office after accusations of corruption and mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of vacancies in the vice-presidential positions, the President of the Peruvian Congress, Manuel MERINO, became the next president. His ascension to office was not well received, and large protests forced his resignation later in 2020. Francisco SAGASTI assumed the position of President of Peru after being appointed President of the Congress the previous day. Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones won presidential election in 2021 but was impeached and ousted the following year; his vice president, Dina BOLUARTE, assumed the presidency by constitutional succession in 2022.
Location
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Area
Elevation
Detailed Geography Information
Coastline
2,414 km
Geography - note
note 1: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316-m (17,441-ft) peak, is the ultimate source of the Amazon River note 2: Peru is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes note 3: on 19 February 1600, Mount Huaynaputina in the southern Peruvian Andes erupted in the largest volcanic explosion in South America in historical times; intermittent eruptions lasted until 5 March 1600 and pumped an estimated 16 to 32 million metric tons of particulates into the atmosphere, reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the earth's surface and affecting weather worldwide; over the next two-and-a-half years, millions died around the globe in famines from bitterly cold winters, cool summers, and the loss of crops and animals
Irrigated land
25,800 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries
Major aquifers
Amazon Basin
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lago Titicaca (shared with Bolivia) - 8,030 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km)
Amazon river source (shared with Brazil [m]) - 6,400 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
Natural hazards
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity volcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Ubinas (5,672 m) is the country's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes include El Misti, Huaynaputina, Sabancaya, and Yucamane; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Natural resources
Terrain
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Population & Growth
Age Distribution
Demographic Longevity
Vital Dynamics
Detailed People & Society Information
Alcohol consumption per capita
5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
2.7% (2023 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
52.7% (2022 est.)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 50.4 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 38.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 12 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 8.3 (2025 est.)
Education expenditure
4.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 19.2% national budget (2024 est.)
Ethnic groups
Gross reproduction rate
1.04 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure
6.2% of GDP (2021) 16.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
Hospital bed density
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
Literacy
total population: 93.7% (2024 est.) male: 97% (2024 est.) female: 90.7% (2024 est.)
Major urban areas - population
11.204 million LIMA (capital), 959,000 Arequipa, 904,000 Trujillo (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio
51 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
21.9 years (2013 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Nationality
noun: Peruvian(s) adjective: Peruvian
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
19.7% (2016)
Physician density
1.69 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Population distribution
approximately one third of the population resides along the desert coastal belt in the west, with a strong focus on the capital city of Lima; the Andean highlands, or sierra, contain roughly half of the population; the eastern slopes of the Andes and adjoining rainforest are sparsely populated
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Religions
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years (2017 est.) male: 15 years (2017 est.) female: 15 years (2017 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Tobacco use
total: 5.7% (2025 est.) male: 9.5% (2025 est.) female: 2.1% (2025 est.)
Climate & Issues
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
Land Cover
Air & Carbon Emissions
Water Resources & Use
Detailed Environmental Information
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 1 global geoparks and regional networks: Colca y Volcanes de Andagua (2023)
International environmental agreements
Urbanization
urban population: 78.9% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 8.357 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.2% (2022 est.)
Capital & State Profile
Executive Branch
Legislative Branch
National Identity & Symbols
three equal vertical bands of red (left side), white, and red, with the coat of arms centered on the white band; the coat of arms has a shield with a vicuna, a cinchona tree, and a yellow cornucopia spilling out coins
Detailed Government Information
Administrative divisions
24 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento), 1 province* (provincia), and 1 constitutional province** (provincia constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao**, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huánuco, Ica, Junín, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years
Constitution
history: several previous; latest promulgated 29 December 1993, enacted 31 December 1993 amendment process: proposed by Congress, by the president of the republic with the approval of the Council of Ministers or by petition of at least 0.3% of voters; passage requires absolute majority approval by the Congress membership, followed by approval in a referendum; a referendum is not required if Congress approves the amendment by greater than two-thirds majority vote in each of two successive sessions
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Peru conventional short form: Peru local long form: República del Perú local short form: Perú etymology: the name may derive from the Guarani word biru, meaning "river"
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 16 judges and divided into civil, criminal, and constitutional-social sectors) judge selection and term of office: justices proposed by the National Board of Justice (a 7-member independent body), nominated by the president, and confirmed by the Congress; justices can serve until mandatory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Constitutional Guarantees; Superior Courts or Cortes Superiores; specialized civil, criminal, and mixed courts; 2 types of peace courts in which professional judges and selected members of the local communities preside
Legal system
civil law system
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 13 (9 cultural, 2 natural, 2 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cuzco (c); Machu Picchu (m); Chavin (c); Historic Lima (c); Huascarán National Park (n); Chan Chan (c); Manú National Park (n); Lines and Geoglyphs of Nazca (c); Rio Abiseo National Park (m); Historic Arequipa (c); Sacred City of Caral-Supe (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c)
Political parties
Advance the Nation (Avanza País) or AvP Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso) or APP Broad Front (Frente Amplio) or FA Free Peru (Perú Libre) or PL Front for Hope (Frente Esperanza) Magisterial Block of National Concentration (Bloque Magisterial de Concertación Nacional) or BMCN National Victory (Victoria Nacional) or VN Peru Bicentennial (Perú Bicentenario) or PB Popular Action (Acción Popular) or AP Popular Force (Fuerza Popular) or FP Popular Renewal (Renovación Popular) or RP Purple Party (Partido Morado) Social Integration Party (Avanza País - Partido de Integración Social) Together For Perú (Juntos por el Peru) or JP We Are Peru (Somos Perú) of SP We Can Peru (Podemos Perú) or PP
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70
Economic Overview
upper-middle-income South American economy; strong post-COVID rebound tempered by political uncertainty and climate risks; exports driven by mineral extraction and agriculture; large informal sector and uneven access to public services; stable fiscal position and financial sector
Size & Performance
GDP Sector Breakdown
Trade Balance
Budget Balance
Export Profile
Top Export Partners
Major Export Commodities
Labor & Employment
Income Inequality
Family Income / Consumption Share
Detailed Economic Data
Agricultural products
Current account balance
$6.39 billion (2024 est.) $881.934 million (2023 est.) -$9.972 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external
$38.102 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Exchange rates
nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 3.744 (2023 est.) 3.835 (2022 est.) 3.881 (2021 est.) 3.495 (2020 est.) 3.337 (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
Industrial production growth rate
3.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2% (2024 est.) 6.5% (2023 est.) 8.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Public debt
35.2% of GDP (2021 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Remittances
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$79.246 billion (2024 est.) $71.394 billion (2023 est.) $72.328 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues
15.9% (of GDP) (2021 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Grid Infrastructure
Generation Mix
Fossil Fuels Production
Intensity & Nuclear
Digital Access
Active internet users as a percentage of the total population.
Fixed Broadband
Mobile Cellular
Broadcast Media
Aviation
Railways
Ports & Harbors
Merchant Marine
Military Expenditures
Active Duty Strengths
information varies; approximately 85,000 active-duty Armed Forces (50,000 Army; 25,000 Navy; 10,000 Air Force); approximately 75,000 National Police (2025)
Service & Defense Details
Armed Forces of Peru (Fuerzas Armadas del Perú or FAP): Peruvian Army (Ejercito del Peru), Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru, MGP, includes naval infantry and General Directorate of Captaincies and Coast Guards, DICAPI), Air Force of Peru (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP) Ministry of the Interior: Peruvian National Police (Policía Nacional del Perú, PNP) (2025)
225 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
the military's inventory consists of mostly older or secondhand armaments originating from a range of countries, including Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Korea, Spain, and the US; Peru has a small defense industry, including a shipyard that builds and upgrades naval vessels; it also has defense industrial cooperation agreements with several countries, including Russia, South Korea, Spain, and the US (2025)
the Peruvian Armed Forces (FAP) are responsible for external defense in addition to some domestic security responsibilities in designated emergency areas and in exceptional circumstances; key areas of focus include counterinsurgency, counternarcotics, cyber defense, disaster relief, and maritime security operations; the FAP supported the police during anti-government protests in early 2023; it has contributed to UN missions since 1958 and has ties to regional militaries, particularly Colombia, as well as those of numerous other countries such as China, Russia, Spain, and the US; the FAP’s last external conflict was a brief border war with Ecuador in 1995 the Special Command of the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro rivers (CE-VRAEM) is responsible for combating the remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group (aka Sendero Luminoso) and includes several thousand air, ground, naval, police, and special forces personnel; the FAP also provides aircraft, vehicles, and logistical support to the command (2025)
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service (12-24 months) (2025) note: as of 2024, women made up about 11% of the active-duty military
Space Agency
National Aerospace Research and Development Commission (Comisión Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Aeroespacia, CONIDA; established 1974) (2025)