| Republic of Peru República del Perú
Origin of Name the
Quechua of Central America referred to this region as
"Piru," meaning land of abundance, and that
name was subsequently adopted by the Spanish
conquistadors (as Peru)
Location western South
America
Bordered By Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile
Area 496,225 sq mi
(1,285,216 sq km)
Greatest Distance E-W 875 mi (1,408 km)
Greatest Distance N-S 1,225 mi (1,971
km)
Coastline 1,448 mi (2,330 km)
Highest Point Nevado Huascarán; 22,205
ft (173 m)
Lowest Point Pacific Ocean coast; sea
level
Natural Resources copper, silver, gold,
petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate,
potash, hydropower, natural gas
Nationality Peruvian
Population (July 2016 est) 30,741,062
Largest Cities Lima, Arequipa, Callao
Ethnic Groups Amerindian, mestizo, white
Religions Roman Catholic, Seventh Day
Adventist
Languages Spanish (official), Quechua
(official), Aymara
Capital Lima
Form of Government constitutional
republic
Present Constitution Adopted December 29, 1993
Chief of State and Head of Government President
Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (since July 28, 2016)
Cabinet Council of Ministers
Legislature unicameral Congress of the Republic
of Peru (Congreso de la República del Perú)
Judiciary Supreme Court of Justice (Corte
Suprema de Justicia)
Local Administration 25 regions (regiones) and 1
province (provincia)
Currency Neuvo Sol
Per Capita Income $12,200
Industries mining and refining of
minerals, steel, metal fabrication, petroleum extraction
and refining, natural gas, fishing and fish processing,
textiles, clothing, food processing
Agricultural Products aspargus, coffee, cotton,
sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes,
oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, fish,
guinea pigs
Export Commodities copper, gold, zinc,
crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee, potatoes,
asparagus, textiles, guinea pigs
Import Commodities petroleum and
petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles, iron
and steel, wheat, paper
Independence Achieved
July 28, 1821
From Spain
National Holiday Independence Day; July
28
Flag three equal vertical bands of red,
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
SEE ALSO
Ecuador
Colombia
Brazil
Bolivia
Chile
Lima
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