Peru - PE - PER - PER - South America

Last updated: April 24, 2025
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  • Lake Titicaca on the Peru-Bolivia border is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,805 m (12,483 ft). The lake has floating islands made from totora reed layers.

    Lake Titicaca on the Peru-Bolivia border is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,805 m (12,483 ft). The lake has floating islands made from totora reed layers.

  • Built on the site of an Incan shrine, the baroque-style Basilica Metropolitan Cathedral of Lima in Peru was finished in the late 1700s. The cathedral houses a museum of church history, and Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro's remains are on display in a coffin in a glass sarcophagus.

    Built on the site of an Incan shrine, the baroque-style Basilica Metropolitan Cathedral of Lima in Peru was finished in the late 1700s. The cathedral houses a museum of church history, and Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro's remains are on display in a coffin in a glass sarcophagus.

  • Located in the heart of Lima, Peru, the archeological site at Huaca Pucllana has one of several pre-Columbian structures built in Lima's earliest days by members of the pre-Incan Lima culture. Composed entirely of clay and adobe, it served as a ceremonial and administrative center between A.D. 200 and 700.

    Located in the heart of Lima, Peru, the archeological site at Huaca Pucllana has one of several pre-Columbian structures built in Lima's earliest days by members of the pre-Incan Lima culture. Composed entirely of clay and adobe, it served as a ceremonial and administrative center between A.D. 200 and 700.

  • Statue of Inca Emperor Pachacuti, who reigned from 1438 to 1472, in a square in Aguas Calientes, Peru.

    Statue of Inca Emperor Pachacuti, who reigned from 1438 to 1472, in a square in Aguas Calientes, Peru.

  • Machu Picchu (meaning “Old Mountain” in Quechua) in the foreground and Huayna Picchu (meaning “Young Mountain”) on the right are mountains in Peru that rise above the Incan city of Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu is 2,693 m (8,835 ft), which is about 260 m (850 ft) taller than Machu Picchu.

    Machu Picchu (meaning “Old Mountain” in Quechua) in the foreground and Huayna Picchu (meaning “Young Mountain”) on the right are mountains in Peru that rise above the Incan city of Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu is 2,693 m (8,835 ft), which is about 260 m (850 ft) taller than Machu Picchu.

  • Located high in the Peruvian Andes and rediscovered in the early 20th century, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. The site is situated roughly 2,430 m (7,970 ft) above sea level.

    Located high in the Peruvian Andes and rediscovered in the early 20th century, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. The site is situated roughly 2,430 m (7,970 ft) above sea level.

  • Ruins of houses in the Incan city of Machu Picchu in Peru.

    Ruins of houses in the Incan city of Machu Picchu in Peru.

  • Houses near the Sacred Plaza of Machu Picchu in Peru, approximately 2,430 m (7,970 ft) above sea level.

    Houses near the Sacred Plaza of Machu Picchu in Peru, approximately 2,430 m (7,970 ft) above sea level.

  • The Intiwatana, or "Hitching Post of the Sun," at Machu Picchu has been described as an astronomic clock, a type of sundial, or a calendar of the Inca. The Inca believed the stone held the sun in its place along its annual path in the sky.

    The Intiwatana, or "Hitching Post of the Sun," at Machu Picchu has been described as an astronomic clock, a type of sundial, or a calendar of the Inca. The Inca believed the stone held the sun in its place along its annual path in the sky.

  • The Temple of the Sun, or Torreon, at Machu Picchu in Peru.

    The Temple of the Sun, or Torreon, at Machu Picchu in Peru.

  • The quipu is a system of knotted cords that the Incas and their predecessors in the Andean region used for accounting and other functions. The Inca Empire was centered in what is today southern Peru, and approximately 1,000 quipus survive in museums and private collections around the world.

    The quipu is a system of knotted cords that the Incas and their predecessors in the Andean region used for accounting and other functions. The Inca Empire was centered in what is today southern Peru, and approximately 1,000 quipus survive in museums and private collections around the world.

  • Salineras de Maras in the Sacred Valley in Peru is the site of ancient salt pans. Today, there are more than 5,000 salt pans near Maras, almost all less than 4 sq m (43 sq ft) in size and no more than about 30 cm (1 ft) deep.

    Salineras de Maras in the Sacred Valley in Peru is the site of ancient salt pans. Today, there are more than 5,000 salt pans near Maras, almost all less than 4 sq m (43 sq ft) in size and no more than about 30 cm (1 ft) deep.

  • This huge series of concentric terraces in Moray, Peru, may have served as an ancient agricultural research station. The distance from the highest to lowest ring is 150 m (490 ft), which allowed the Wari and later the Inca peoples to experiment with growing crops at different altitudes and exposure to the sun.

    This huge series of concentric terraces in Moray, Peru, may have served as an ancient agricultural research station. The distance from the highest to lowest ring is 150 m (490 ft), which allowed the Wari and later the Inca peoples to experiment with growing crops at different altitudes and exposure to the sun.

  • Central wall of the huge two-story Incan Temple of Viracocha at Raqchi in Peru. Before Spaniards destroyed it, the temple had what was probably the largest single gable roof in the Incan Empire, with its peak at the central wall and stretching out over the columns on each side.

    Central wall of the huge two-story Incan Temple of Viracocha at Raqchi in Peru. Before Spaniards destroyed it, the temple had what was probably the largest single gable roof in the Incan Empire, with its peak at the central wall and stretching out over the columns on each side.

  • The Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus (Church of the Society of Jesus) on the Plaza de Armas (Parade Square) in Cusco. The historic Jesuit church is built on the site of an Inca palace and is one of the best examples of Spanish Baroque architecture in Peru. Its construction began in 1576, but the structure was badly damaged in an earthquake in 1650. Rebuilding of the church was completed in 1668.

    The Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus (Church of the Society of Jesus) on the Plaza de Armas (Parade Square) in Cusco. The historic Jesuit church is built on the site of an Inca palace and is one of the best examples of Spanish Baroque architecture in Peru. Its construction began in 1576, but the structure was badly damaged in an earthquake in 1650. Rebuilding of the church was completed in 1668.

  • Close-up of a typical Incan wall in Cusco (the Incan capital city), Peru, constructed without mortar and with no spaces between the enormous blocks of stone.

    Close-up of a typical Incan wall in Cusco (the Incan capital city), Peru, constructed without mortar and with no spaces between the enormous blocks of stone.

  • The Gothic-Renaissance-style Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin was built in the 1500s in the main square of Cusco, Peru, on the site of an Incan temple.

    The Gothic-Renaissance-style Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin was built in the 1500s in the main square of Cusco, Peru, on the site of an Incan temple.

  • The Jardin Sagrado (Sacred Garden) in Cusco, Peru, repurposed Incan stones to construct a convent and garden. The garden features native plants and Incan sculptures and terraces.

    The Jardin Sagrado (Sacred Garden) in Cusco, Peru, repurposed Incan stones to construct a convent and garden. The garden features native plants and Incan sculptures and terraces.

  • Lake Titicaca on the Peru-Bolivia border is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,805 m (12,483 ft). The lake has floating islands made from totora reed layers.

    Lake Titicaca on the Peru-Bolivia border is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,805 m (12,483 ft). The lake has floating islands made from totora reed layers.

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  • The Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno) is located on the main square (Plaza Mayor) in Lima, Peru, and serves as the seat of the executive branch and the official residence of the president. It is also known as the House of Pizzaro, who founded Lima as his capital in 1535.
  • Built on the site of an Incan shrine, the baroque-style Basilica Metropolitan Cathedral of Lima in Peru was finished in the late 1700s. The cathedral houses a museum of church history, and Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro's remains are on display in a coffin in a glass sarcophagus.
  • Located in the heart of Lima, Peru, the archeological site at Huaca Pucllana has one of several pre-Columbian structures built in Lima's earliest days by members of the pre-Incan Lima culture. Composed entirely of clay and adobe, it served as a ceremonial and administrative center between A.D. 200 and 700.
  • Statue of Inca Emperor Pachacuti, who reigned from 1438 to 1472, in a square in Aguas Calientes, Peru.
  • Machu Picchu (meaning “Old Mountain” in Quechua) in the foreground and Huayna Picchu (meaning “Young Mountain”) on the right are mountains in Peru that rise above the Incan city of Machu Picchu. Huayna Picchu is 2,693 m (8,835 ft), which is about 260 m (850 ft) taller than Machu Picchu.
  • Located high in the Peruvian Andes and rediscovered in the early 20th century, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. The site is situated roughly 2,430 m (7,970 ft) above sea level.
  • Ruins of houses in the Incan city of Machu Picchu in Peru.
  • Houses near the Sacred Plaza of Machu Picchu in Peru, approximately 2,430 m (7,970 ft) above sea level.
  • The Intiwatana, or "Hitching Post of the Sun," at Machu Picchu has been described as an astronomic clock, a type of sundial, or a calendar of the Inca. The Inca believed the stone held the sun in its place along its annual path in the sky.
  • The Temple of the Sun, or Torreon, at Machu Picchu in Peru.
  • The quipu is a system of knotted cords that the Incas and their predecessors in the Andean region used for accounting and other functions. The Inca Empire was centered in what is today southern Peru, and approximately 1,000 quipus survive in museums and private collections around the world.
  • Salineras de Maras in the Sacred Valley in Peru is the site of ancient salt pans. Today, there are more than 5,000 salt pans near Maras, almost all less than 4 sq m (43 sq ft) in size and no more than about 30 cm (1 ft) deep.
  • This huge series of concentric terraces in Moray, Peru, may have served as an ancient agricultural research station. The distance from the highest to lowest ring is 150 m (490 ft), which allowed the Wari and later the Inca peoples to experiment with growing crops at different altitudes and exposure to the sun.
  • Central wall of the huge two-story Incan Temple of Viracocha at Raqchi in Peru. Before Spaniards destroyed it, the temple had what was probably the largest single gable roof in the Incan Empire, with its peak at the central wall and stretching out over the columns on each side.
  • The Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus (Church of the Society of Jesus) on the Plaza de Armas (Parade Square) in Cusco. The historic Jesuit church is built on the site of an Inca palace and is one of the best examples of Spanish Baroque architecture in Peru. Its construction began in 1576, but the structure was badly damaged in an earthquake in 1650. Rebuilding of the church was completed in 1668.
  • Close-up of a typical Incan wall in Cusco (the Incan capital city), Peru, constructed without mortar and with no spaces between the enormous blocks of stone.
  • The Gothic-Renaissance-style Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin was built in the 1500s in the main square of Cusco, Peru, on the site of an Incan temple.
  • The Jardin Sagrado (Sacred Garden) in Cusco, Peru, repurposed Incan stones to construct a convent and garden. The garden features native plants and Incan sculptures and terraces.
  • Lake Titicaca on the Peru-Bolivia border is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,805 m (12,483 ft). The lake has floating islands made from totora reed layers.

Peru Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephanie SYPTAK-RAMNATH (since 20 June 2024)

embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17 s/n, Surco, Lima 33

mailing address: 3230 Lima Place, Washington DC  20521-3230

telephone: [51] (1) 618-2000

FAX: [51] (1) 618-2724

email address and website:
lima_webmaster@state.gov

https://pe.usembassy.gov/

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.8% (male 4,293,229/female 4,119,269)

15-64 years: 66.2% (male 10,546,502/female 11,041,106)

65 years and over: 8% (2024 est.) (male 1,112,825/female 1,487,318)
2023 population pyramid
This is the population pyramid for Peru. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

10 00 S, 76 00 W

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.)

Natural hazards

earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity

volcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Ubinas (5,672 m), which last erupted in 2009, is the country's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes include El Misti, Huaynaputina, Sabancaya, and Yucamane; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

Area - comparative

almost twice the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska
Area comparison map

almost twice the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska

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.

Environment - current issues

deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes; overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Military expenditures

1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Population below poverty line

27.5% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% (2022 est.)

highest 10%: 30.7% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Exports - commodities

copper ore, gold, refined copper, refined petroleum, grapes (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

China 34%, USA 14%, Canada 5%, India 4%, Switzerland 4% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

Agricultural products

sugarcane, potatoes, rice, bananas, milk, maize, chicken, oil palm fruit, cassava, grapes (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

revenues: $48.008 billion (2021 est.)

expenditures: $51.709 billion (2021 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Capital

name: Lima

geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the word "Lima" derives from the Spanish pronunciation of "Limaq," the native name for the valley in which the city was founded in 1535; "limaq" means "talker" in coastal Quechua and referred to an oracle that was situated in the valley but which was eventually destroyed by the Spanish and replaced with a church

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars, trucks, broadcasting equipment (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes

Coastline

2,414 km

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

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.)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Dina Ercilia BOLUARTE Zegarra (since 7 December 2022)

head of government: President Dina Ercilia BOLUARTE Zegarra (since 7 December 2022)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms); election last held on 11 April 2021 with a runoff on 6 June 2021 (next to be held in April 2026)

election results:
2021: Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones (PL) 18.9%, Keiko Sofia FUJIMORI Higuchi (FP) 13.4%, Rafael LOPEZ ALIAGA Cazorla (RP) 11.8%, Hernando DE SOTO Polar (Social Integration Party) 11.6%, Yonhy LESCANO Ancieta (AP) 9.1%, Veronika MENDOZA Frisch (JP) 7.9%, Cesar ACUNA Peralta (APP) 6%, George FORSYTH Sommer (VN) 5.7%, Daniel Belizario URRESTI Elera (PP) 5.6%, other 10%; percent of vote second round - Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones 50.1%, Keiko Sofia FUJIMORI Higuchi 49.9%

2016: Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi (FP) 39.9%, Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard (PPK) 21.1%, Veronika MENDOZA (FA) 18.7%, Alfredo BARNECHEA (AP) 7%, Alan GARCIA (APRA) 5.8%, other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard 50.1%, Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi 49.9%

note 1: First Vice President Dina Ercilia BOLUARTE Zegarra assumed the office of the president on 7 December 2022 after President Jose Pedro CASTILLO Terrones was impeached and arrested; BOLUARTE is the first woman to become president of Peru

note 2: Prime Minister Gustavo ADRIANZÉN (since 6 March 2024) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the president; on 5 March 2024, Prime Minister Alberto OTÁROLA resigned amid allegations of corruption

note 3: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Flag description

three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a vicuna (representing fauna), a cinchona tree (the source of quinine, signifying flora), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out coins (denoting mineral wealth); red recalls blood shed for independence, white symbolizes peace

Roadways

total: 70,000 km (2021)

paved: 18,699 km (2022)

note: includes 27,109 km of national roads (21,434 km paved), 247,505 km of departmental roads (3,623 km paved), and 113,857 km of local roads (1,858 km paved)

Illicit drugs

world’s second-largest producer of cocaine and coca (after Colombia), with approximately 84,400 hectares (ha) under cultivation in 2021;  Peruvian cocaine is trafficked throughout South America for shipment to Europe, East Asia, Mexico, and the United States;  major importer of precursor chemicals for cocaine production; growing domestic drug consumption problem; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics

Independence

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Industries

mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas and natural gas liquefaction; fishing and fish processing, cement, glass, textiles, clothing, food processing, beer, soft drinks, rubber, machinery, electrical machinery, chemicals, furniture

Waterways

8,808 km (2011) (8,600 km of navigable tributaries on the Amazon River system and 208 km on Lago Titicaca)

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

Land boundaries

total: 7,062 km

border countries (5): Bolivia 1,212 km; Brazil 2,659 km; Chile 168 km; Colombia 1,494 km; Ecuador 1,529 km

Land use

agricultural land: 19.1% (2022 est.)

arable land: 3.1% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 1.8% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 14.2% (2022 est.)

forest: 56.2% (2022 est.)

other: 24.7% (2022 est.)

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

legislature name: Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la República)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 130 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 4/11/2021

parties elected and seats per party: Free Peru (PL) (37); Popular Force (FP) (24); Popular Action (AP) (16); Alliance for Progress (APP) (15); Go on Country - Social Integration Party (AvP) (10); Popular Renewal (RP) (9); We Are Peru" (SP) - Purple Party (PM) (9); Other (10)

percentage of women in chamber: 41.5%

expected date of next election: April 2026

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.5%

male: 97%

female: 92% (2020)

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

International organization participation

AIIB, APEC, BIS, CAN, CD, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

National holiday

Independence Day, 28-29 July (1821)

Nationality

noun: Peruvian(s)

adjective: Peruvian

Natural resources

copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas

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 peak, is the ultimate source of the Amazon River

note 2: Peru is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire

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

note 4: the southern regions of Peru and the extreme northwestern part of Bolivia are considered to be the place of origin for the common potato

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

Pipelines

786 km extra heavy crude, 1,526 km gas, 679 km liquid petroleum gas, 1,106 km oil, 15 km refined products (2022)

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

Railways

total: 1,854.4 km (2017)

standard gauge: 1,730.4 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (34 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 124 km (2014) 0.914-m gauge

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: after suffering a sharp retraction in the number of subscriptions and revenue during 2020 due to the pandemic, Peru’s telecom sector managed to stage a small recovery in the first half of 2021; it will likely be two to three years before penetration rates return to the peak levels last seen in 2018; this is especially true given the overwhelming influence of mobile on Peru’s telecommunications market, which now commands almost 95% of all connections; Peru’s fixed-line teledensity continued its slow dropping below 7% at the end of 2021; investment in network infrastructure is mainly focused on rolling out fiber cable for fixed broadband services in (mainly) urban areas; fixed broadband services inched higher to reach 8.4% at the end of 2020, a positive result that reflected the shift to working from home during enforced lock downs at the start of the year; yet Peru has a relatively low level of computer use, and prices for fixed broadband services are among the highest in Latin America; the overwhelmingly preferred internet access platform will remain the smartphone, with a further 8.6% growth in the number of mobile broadband subscriptions expected in 2021 (2021)

domestic: fixed-line teledensity is 7 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is 128 telephones per 100 persons (2021)

international: country code - 51; landing points for the SAM-1, IGW, American Movil-Telxius, SAC and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that provide links to parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Terrain

western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

Government type

presidential republic

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"

Location

Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

Map references

South America

Irrigated land

25,800 sq km (2012)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Santiago Carlos FERRERO DIEZ CANSECO (since 27 February 2024)

chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860

FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124

email address and website:
Webadmin@embassyofperu.us

Embassy of Peru in the United States - E-United States - Platform of the Peruvian State (www.gob.pe)

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (NJ), San Francisco

Internet users

percent of population: 75% (2022 est.)

Internet country code

.pe

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 1,542,004 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2023)

IDPs: 73,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions; as of 2011, no new information on the situation of these IDPs) (2022)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$267.603 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: BBB+ (2013)

Moody's rating: A3 (2014)

Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2013)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

1.88 trillion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years

male: 15 years

female: 15 years (2017)

Urbanization

urban population: 78.9% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.33% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Broadcast media

10 major TV networks of which only one, Television Nacional de Peru, is state owned; multi-channel cable TV services are available; in excess of 5,000 radio stations including a substantial number of indigenous language stations (2021)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 97.2% of population

rural: 82.4% of population

total: 94% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.8% of population

rural: 17.6% of population

total: 6% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "Himno Nacional del Peru" (National Anthem of Peru)

lyrics/music: Jose DE LA TORRE Ugarte/Jose Bernardo ALZEDO

note: adopted 1822; the song won a national anthem contest
This is an audio of the National Anthem for Peru. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

11.204 million LIMA (capital), 959,000 Arequipa, 904,000 Trujillo (2023)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physician density

1.69 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)

National symbol(s)

vicuna (a camelid related to the llama); national colors: red, white

Mother's mean age at first birth

21.9 years (2013 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Contraceptive prevalence rate

77.4% (2020)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 64.3% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 13.7% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 21.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -2.4% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 27.1% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -23.8% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 53

youth dependency ratio: 37.1

elderly dependency ratio: 13.1

potential support ratio: 7.9 (2021 est.)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years

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, which is strongly identified with the country's Amerindian population, contains roughly half of the overall population; the eastern slopes of the Andes, and adjoining rainforest, are sparsely populated

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 96.2% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas: 99%

electrification - rural areas: 85.1%

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 62

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 17,758,527 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 313.26 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OB

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 93.6% of population

rural: 65.3% of population

total: 87.4% of population

unimproved:

urban: 6.4% of population

rural: 34.7% of population

total: 12.6% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 60.2%, Indigenous 25.8%, White 5.9%, African descent 3.6%, other (includes Chinese and Japanese descent) 1.2%, unspecified 3.3% (2017 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 66.4%, Protestant 22.4% (Evangelical 19.6%, other Protestant 1.3%), other 1.9%, agnostic/atheist none 6.8%, unspecified 1.2% (2023 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official) 82.9%, Quechua (official) 13.6%, Aymara (official) 1.6%, Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages (includes many minor Amazonian languages) 0.8%, other 0.2%, none 0.1%, unspecified 0.7% (2017 est.)

major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Spanish audio sample

Imports - partners

China 26%, USA 21%, Brazil 7%, Argentina 5%, Mexico 3% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Elevation

highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,746 m

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 1,555 m

Current health expenditure

6.2% of GDP (2021)

Military - note

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, disaster relief, and maritime security operations; the FAP 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 FAP supported the police during anti-government protests in early 2023 and was accused of human rights violations 

the Joint Command of the Armed Forces of Peru (Comando Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas del Perú or CCFFAA) has responsibility for the planning, preparation, coordination, and direction of the military’s operations; the CCFFAA has oversight over commands for air, air defense, cyber, maritime, and special operations, as well as five regional commands (Amazonas, central, north, south, and Ucayali) and a Special Command of the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro rivers (CE-VRAEM); 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 (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 95,000 active-duty personnel (60,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 4,000 naval infantry and 1,000 Coast Guard; 10,000 Air Force) (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military has a broad mix of mostly older but some more modern equipment from a range of suppliers, including Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the former Soviet Union, South Korea, and the US; some deliveries have been secondhand weapons systems; 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 (2024)

Military deployments

225 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 2.24 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 3.51 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 32.8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 8,356,711 tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 334,268 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4% (2012 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 26.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 2.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 29.07 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 57.41 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 30.17 megatons (2020 est.)

Major aquifers

Amazon Basin

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)

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

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)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 2%

women married by age 18: 14.1% (2020 est.)

Coal

production: 1.382 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 973,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 1.261 million metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 446,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 1.567 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 44.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 49.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 14.647 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 9.675 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 4.883 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 300.159 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 118,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 255,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 858.89 million barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.05 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.2% (2023 est.)

Remittances

1.66% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.59% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Space program overview

has a small space program focused on acquiring satellites, applying space applications such as data satellite imagery, and building small rockets; has built a small science/technology satellite; operates satellites and processes satellite imagery data; builds and launches sounding rockets with goal of developing a satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV); researching, developing, and acquiring technologies for manufacturing satellites and satellite payloads with a focus on remote sensing (RS) capabilities; member of Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE); cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, China, the European Space Agency and individual member states (particularly France and Germany), India, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, and the US, as well as signatories of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) (2024)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Space launch site(s)

Punta Lobos Rocket Range (Chilca, Huancayo; used by foreign partners for scientific sounding rocket launches (1970s-1990s; the US used the site for scientific launches in 1975 and 1983) (2023)

Space agency/agencies

National Aerospace Research and Development Commission (Comisión Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Aeroespacia, CONIDA; established 1974); National Satellite Imagery Operations Center (Centro Nacional de Operaciones de Imágenes Satelitales, CONIS; established 2006) (2024)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 1

global geoparks and regional networks: Colca y Volcanes de Andagua (2023)

Ports

total ports: 20 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 1

small: 3

very small: 16

ports with oil terminals: 16

key ports: Bahia de Matarani, Iquitos, Puerto del Callao, Talara

Labor force

18.581 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 8.8% (2023 est.)

male: 7.8% (2023 est.)

female: 10% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Net migration rate

-1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 30.2 years (2024 est.)

male: 29.1 years

female: 31.3 years

Debt - external

$40.901 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Maternal mortality ratio

69 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$71.394 billion (2023 est.)
$72.328 billion (2022 est.)
$78.59 billion (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Public debt

35.25% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

2.15 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.82% (2023 est.)
3.85% (2022 est.)
5.1% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 32,600,249 (2024 est.)

male: 15,952,556

female: 16,647,693

Carbon dioxide emissions

58.903 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.177 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 34.863 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 21.863 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Area

total : 1,285,216 sq km

land: 1,279,996 sq km

water: 5,220 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

15.92% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$517.644 billion (2023 est.)
$520.507 billion (2022 est.)
$506.697 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Airports

174 (2025)

Infant mortality rate

total: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 41.3 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

40.3 (2022 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.46% (2023 est.)
8.33% (2022 est.)
4.27% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

$2.219 billion (2023 est.)
-$9.743 billion (2022 est.)
-$4.674 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$15,300 (2023 est.)
$15,500 (2022 est.)
$15,300 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 3.53 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 8.1% (2020 est.)

male: 13.2% (2020 est.)

female: 3% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.7% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

30.923 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Death rate

10.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

16.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 16.164 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 53.3 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 47.696 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 6.638 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 111 (2023)

by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 9, other 101

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

2.1% (2021)

Imports

$62.99 billion (2023 est.)
$69.44 billion (2022 est.)
$58.509 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$73.326 billion (2023 est.)
$71.129 billion (2022 est.)
$66.061 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Heliports

7 (2025)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 1.504 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2023 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 5.74 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 3.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.46 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 2.26 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 65.4 years

female: 72.7 years

Real GDP growth rate

-0.55% (2023 est.)
2.73% (2022 est.)
13.36% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

-1.28% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 7.2% (2023 est.)

industry: 33.9% (2023 est.)

services: 51.3% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Revenue from forest resources

0.12% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Population growth rate

0.48% (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service (12 months) (2024)

note: as of 2019, women made up about 10% of the active duty military

Military and security forces

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)
Sources: