Discover Fascinating Peru Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Peru.
Peru
Background
Peru has a rich history filled with amazing civilizations! π Ancient Peru was home to the famous Incas, the rulers of a mighty empire that met its end when Spanish conquistadors came in 1533. Fast forward to 1821, Peru became independent from Spain! π The last of the Spanish forces were defeated in 1824.
But the story doesn't stop there! After experiencing a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democracy in 1980. What a journey! π΅πͺ
Year of Inca Empire Capture
1533
Year of Peruvian Independence
1821
Year Span of Military Rule Before Democracy
12 years
Year of Return to Democratic Leadership
1980
Exports - commodities
Peru is a treasure trove when it comes to natural resources! π In 2022, the country exported a variety of important commodities. Let's take a look at some of the key exports: copper ore, gold, natural gas, refined copper, and refined petroleum. Each of these plays a significant role in Peru's economy and global trade. π
Key Export Commodities of Peru in 2022
copper ore, gold, natural gas, refined copper, refined petroleum
Exports - partners
π Let's explore who Peru trades with the most! In 2022, Peru exported a lot of its goods to different countries, and here's how it breaks down:
- China: 30% π¨π³
- United States: 15% πΊπΈ
- Japan: 5% π―π΅
- Canada: 5% π¨π¦
- South Korea: 4% π°π·
Isn't it fascinating how a country connects with others? This data shows that China is by far the biggest trading partner for Peru. π
Total Percentage of Exports
59%
Exports - Partners of Peru (2022)
Capital
π The capital of Peru is Lima! It's a vibrant city filled with rich history, delicious food, and beautiful architecture. If you ever visit, you'll find a blend of modern life and historic charm. ποΈβ¨
Imports - commodities
Peru imports various commodities that are vital for its economy! π’ Here are some of the key imports for the year 2022:
- Refined Petroleum: This is a crucial import for Peru, helping power vehicles and industries!
- Crude Petroleum: Raw oil that is refined to produce gasoline and other fuels.
- Cars: The vehicles that help people move around and support transportation.
- Broadcasting Equipment: This includes radios, televisions, and all the tech that keeps us entertained!
- Trucks: Large vehicles essential for transporting goods across the country.
Each of these commodities plays an important role in Peru's import economy! ππ
Climate
Peru is a country with amazing climate diversity! π In the east, you'll find tropical areas that are warm and filled with lush green trees. π΄ But as you move to the west, it gets dryer, with some places being desert-like. π΅ Plus, in the Andes mountains, it can get really cold, ranging from temperate to frigid! βοΈ It's like having multiple worlds within one country! π€
Executive branch
In Peru, the chief of state and the head of government is President Dina Ercilia BOLUARTE Zegarra! π She has been in charge since 7 December 2022. This means that both the chief of state and the head of government roles are held by the same person. Let's follow her journey as she leads the country! π
Current President
Dina Ercilia BOLUARTE Zegarra
Date in office since
7 December 2022
Legislative branch
Legislative Branch of Peru π΅πͺ
Peru has a unicameral Congress, meaning there is only one legislative chamber! ποΈ This Congress consists of 130 seats where decisions about the country are made. With every seat important, members work together to create and pass laws that help shape Peru's future. π
It's interesting to see how many members are needed to represent the voices of the people in this vibrant country!
Total Seats in Congress
130
Natural resources
Peru is rich in natural resources! π Here are some of the valuable treasures the country has to offer:
- Copper: A vital metal used in electronics and wiring.
- Silver: Famous for its shiny appearance, used in jewelry and photography.
- Gold: A precious metal that has been valued for centuries.
- Petroleum: An important energy source derived from the earth.
- Timber: The wood from trees, used for building and furniture.
- Fish: Abundant in the waters, contributing to the country's economy.
- Iron Ore: A key material for manufacturing steel.
- Coal: A significant source of energy.
- Phosphate: Used in fertilizers to help plants grow.
- Potash: Another important fertilizer ingredient.
- Hydropower: Energy generated from flowing water, harnessing nature for electricity.
- Natural Gas: A clean-burning fuel for energy.
With such a variety of resources, Peru plays a significant role in the global market! π°
Economic overview
π Peru's Economy at a Glance π
Peru is an upper-middle-income country in South America with a resilient economy! After facing challenges from COVID-19, the country is on a strong recovery path. However, some bumps in the road include political uncertainty and risks posed by climate change. π¦οΈ
π The economy primarily thrives on exports from mineral extraction and agriculture. Yet, itβs important to note that there is a large informal sector, which means not everyone has the same access to public services. π
Despite these challenges, Peru maintains a stable fiscal position and a robust financial sector. This combination helps to create a solid foundation for future growth! βοΈ
Income Classification
Upper-middle-income
Post-COVID Economic Status
Strong rebound
Key Economic Drivers
Mineral extraction and agriculture
Sector Characteristics
Large informal sector
Public Services Access
Uneven
Fiscal Position
Stable
Financial Sector
Stable
Government type
In Peru, the government operates as a presidential republic. This means that the President of Peru is both the head of state and the head of government, playing a crucial role in making important decisions and leading the country. π΅πͺβ¨ The republican system allows citizens to vote for their leaders, ensuring that everyone has a say in how the country is run!
Ethnic groups
In Peru, the vibrant tapestry of people is made up of various ethnic groups! π Here's how the population breaks down by ethnicity according to estimates from 2017:
- 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%
These percentages paint a colorful picture of Peru's rich cultural diversity! πβ¨
Percentage of Mestizo population
60.2%
Percentage of Indigenous population
25.8%
Percentage of White population
5.9%
Percentage of African descent population
3.6%
Percentage of Other ethnic groups
1.2%
Percentage of Unspecified ethnic groups
3.3%
Ethnic Composition of Peru (2017)
Religions
In Peru, the religious landscape is diverse and colorful! π¨ Let's break it down:
- Roman Catholic - 66.4% of the population identifies with this faith, making it the largest religious group! βͺ
- Protestant - This group comprises 22.4%, which includes Evangelicals (19.6% π) and other Protestants (1.3%).
- Other religions make up 1.9%, showing a hint of variety! π
- Interestingly, agnostics/atheists account for 6.8%, which means they don't follow any religion.
- Lastly, there's 1.2% that falls under unspecified.
Overall, it's fascinating to see how faith shapes the lives of Peruvians!
Percentage of Roman Catholics
66.4%
Percentage of Protestants
22.4%
Percentage of Other Religions
1.9%
Percentage of Agnostics/Atheists
6.8%
Percentage of Unspecified Religions
1.2%
Religious Distribution in Peru
Languages
π In Peru, the official language is Spanish, spoken by 82.9% of the people! That's a big number, making it the most common language in the country. Alongside Spanish, there are other languages that many Peruvians speak as well:
- Quechua: This ancient language has 13.6% speakers. It's a vital part of Peruvian culture! π
- Aymara: A smaller group, at 1.6%, speaks Aymara. πΎ
- And there are some other languages like Ashaninka (0.3%) and various native languages (0.8%), which include minor languages from the Amazon! π΄
Interestingly, there are also people who donβt specify their language or say they donβt speak one!
Hereβs how the languages break down in Peru:
Percentage of Spanish speakers
82.9%
Percentage of Quechua speakers
13.6%
Percentage of Aymara speakers
1.6%
Percentage of Ashaninka speakers
0.3%
Percentage of speakers of other native languages
0.8%
Percentage of speakers of other languages
0.2%
Percentage of people who indicated none
0.1%
Percentage of unspecified language speakers
0.7%
Language Distribution in Peru
Imports - partners
In 2022, Peru had some interesting import partners! π Check out the breakdown of where Peru gets its imports from:
- China: 27% π
- United States: 24% πΊπΈ
- Brazil: 6% π§π·
- Argentina: 4% π¦π·
- Chile: 3% π¨π±
Isn't it cool to see how countries work together? Imports are super important for getting goods that people in Peru need and want! πβ¨
Percentage of imports from China
27%
Percentage of imports from the US
24%
Percentage of imports from Brazil
6%
Percentage of imports from Argentina
4%
Percentage of imports from Chile
3%
Import Partners of Peru (2022)
Population
Peru is home to a vibrant and diverse population of approximately 32,600,249 people! π΅πͺ This number represents a melting pot of cultures, languages, and traditions. With such a colorful demographic, every corner of Peru tells a different story! πβ¨
Total Population of Peru
32,600,249
Area
Did you know that Peru is quite large? π Let's explore its area! The total area of Peru is 1,285,216 sq km. Out of this, a whopping 1,279,996 sq km is land, while 5,220 sq km is covered by water. That's a ton of space for all that beautiful nature, culture, and of course, llamas! π¦β¨
Total Area
1,285,216 sq km
Land Area
1,279,996 sq km
Water Area
5,220 sq km
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
π Let's take a peek into Peru's Real GDP over the past few years! This number shows how much money the country would have if we measured its economy using purchasing power parity. π° Hereβs how it looks for the last three years:
- 2021: $506.697 billion
- 2022: $520.507 billion
- 2023: $517.644 billion
You can see the ups and downs! ππ Itβs like a roller coaster ride through the economy! π’
2023 Estimated Real GDP
517.644 billion USD
2022 Estimated Real GDP
520.507 billion USD
2021 Estimated Real GDP
506.697 billion USD
Real GDP (PPP) of Peru Over Time
Real GDP per capita
π Real GDP per Capita in Peru: This number tells us how much money, on average, each person in Peru earns from all the goods and services produced in the country. Let's take a look at how it has changed over the years:
- 2021: $15,000
- 2022: $15,300
- 2023: $15,100
The GDP per capita gives us a peek into the average wealth of people living in Peru and shows us how the economy is doing overall! ππ΅
Real GDP per Capita in Peru (2021-2023)
Imports
π Let's take a look at how much Peru imports over the years! In 2021, the country imported $58.509 billion worth of goods. The next year, 2022, saw a bump up to $69.44 billion! And guess what? In 2023, the estimated imports are $62.99 billion. That's quite a journey of numbers! ππ°
Imports in 2021
$58.509 billion
Imports in 2022
$69.44 billion
Estimated Imports in 2023
$62.99 billion
Peru's Imports Over Years
Exports
π Let's talk about Peru's Exports! In 2023, Peru's estimated exports are a whopping $73.326 billion! π° That's a cool increase from $71.129 billion in 2022 and $66.061 billion in 2021. Isn't that awesome? π Over the past few years, Peru's exports have been climbing higher and higher! π
Exports in 2023
$73.326 billion
Exports in 2022
$71.129 billion
Exports in 2021
$66.061 billion
Peru's Export Growth Over Time
Population growth rate
π The population growth rate in Peru is projected to be 0.48% in 2024! This means that the number of people in Peru is slowly increasing, reflecting a steady population growth. π Keep an eye on these numbers as they can impact the country's economy, infrastructure, and resources in the future!
Projected Population Growth Rate for 2024
0.48%