User:Amakuru/Peru
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Peru (Spanish: Perú, Quechua: Piruw, Aymara: Piruw), officially the Republic of Peru (Spanish: República del Perúⓘ, IPA: [re'pu.βli.ka del pe'ɾu]), is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Republic of Peru República del Perú | |
---|---|
Anthem: Somos libres, seámoslo siempre (Spanish) "We are free, may we always be so" | |
Capital and largest city | Lima 12°2.6′S 77°1.7′W |
Official languages | Spanish1 |
Government | Constitutional republic |
Alan García Pérez | |
Jorge Del Castillo | |
Independence from the Spanish Empire | |
• Declared | 28 July 1821 |
• Water (%) | 8.80 |
Population | |
• July 2007 estimate | 28,674,757 (41st) |
• 2005 census | 27,219,266 |
GDP (PPP) | 2005 estimate |
• Total | $170.089 billion (51st) |
• Per capita | $6,715 (94th) |
GDP (nominal) | 2006 estimate |
• Total | $93.268 billion (55th) |
• Per capita | $3,374 (87th) |
Gini (2002) | 54.6 high |
HDI (2004) | 0.767 Error: Invalid HDI value (82nd) |
Currency | Nuevo Sol (PEN) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (PET) |
not observed | |
Calling code | 51 |
ISO 3166 code | PE |
Internet TLD | .pe |
Peruvian territory was home to the Norte Chico civilization, one of the oldest in the world, and to the Inca Empire, the largest state in Pre-Columbian America. The Spanish Empire conquered the country in the 16th century and established a Viceroyalty, which included most of its South American colonies. After achieving independence in 1821, Peru has undergone periods of political unrest and fiscal crisis as well as periods of stability and economic upswing.
Peru is a presidential representative democratic republic divided into 25 regions. Its geography varies from the arid plains of the Pacific coast to the peaks of the Andes mountains and the tropical forests of the Amazon Basin. It is a developing country with a medium Human Development Index score and a poverty level around 50%. Its main economic activities include agriculture, fishing, mining, and manufacturing of products such as textiles.
The Peruvian population, estimated at 28 million, is multiethnic, including Amerindians, Africans and Spaniards. The main spoken language is Spanish, although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechua and other native languages. This mixture of cultural traditions has resulted in a wide diversity of expressions in fields such as art, cuisine, literature, and music.