Administrative divisions of Peru
Encyclopedia
The administrative divisions of Peru have changed from time to time, since the nation gained independence
from Spain
in the early 19th century. The old territorial subdivisions have split or merged due to several reasons, the most common ones being the need for decentralization
, and population increase, especially in Lima
.
(departamentos; singular: departamento) until the creation of the regions in 2002. These regions are governed by Regional Governments
. Many people still use the old departamentos term when referring to the current regions of Peru, although it is now obsolete. The departments were identical to today's regions, with the exception of two new regions (Callao and Lima
). Before the 2002 changeover, the province of Lima (which is basically the city of Lima) was part of the Lima department, and the city of Callao had the special status of Provincia Constitucional (constitutional province). When the regionalization law was passed, the Callao region was created from the former constitutional province, and the province of Lima separated from the rest of the Lima department, which in turn came to form the new Lima Region
. A failed attempt to divide the country into twelve autonomous regions
was made during the 1980s under the government of Alan García.
, 4,000 in the Andes
highlands and 10,000 in the coast
al area.
In the dry Andean area, many districts have fewer than 3,500 inhabitants due to low population density
. In some cases, their populations have decreased in comparison to the days when they were founded. Districts that are located at very high altitudes tend to be scarcely populated. These districts usually are large in area, but they have little available level land for use. Many basic government services do not reach all residents of these districts due to their difficult geography. Many such districts lack financial means to govern their whole jurisdictions and they often have high emigration
rates.
A similar pattern can be observed in many districts located in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest
. Once important settlements created during the era of colonization, they now do not offer much space for agriculture
. Deeper into the jungle, the districts of the selva alta (lower jungle
) have higher populations living in geographically large districts. Districts located outside the former colonized area have very low populations, which are entirely composed of Native Amazonian tribes.
All over the country, many districts have higher populations than the minimum required by law. This is true of the colonized areas of the rainforest and the northern Andes, as well as in the southern Andes from Huancayo
to the shores of Lake Titicaca
, which is the historical heartland of the Peruvian highlands. These districts are old centers of civilization; they tend to be smaller in area with high population densities since pre-Hispanic times.
Districts in the Chala
(coastal area) tend to be mid-sized, except in low-density areas such as the Sechura desert
and part of the Southern coast. All have gained large populations due to emigration from other regions of the country, which has turned the Peruvian coast into the country's main economic powerhouse.
Districts with a population of more than 10 000 inhabitants should ideally be subdivided, particularly if they are also large in area, as is the case in part of the Amazon rainforest. Settlement can happen quickly and boundaries of districts are often not modified, except in large urban
areas. This is less of a problem in the coast where communication is easier. However, reaching to large populations remain a problem in this area.
's territory, according to the Regionalization Law which was passed on November 18, 2002, is divided into 25 region
s (regiones; singular: región). These regions are subdivided into province
s, which are composed of district
s (provincias and distritos). There are 195 provinces and 1833 districts in Peru.
The Lima Province
, located in the central coast of the country, is unique in that it does not belong to any of the twenty-five regions. The city of Lima
, which is the nation's capital, is located in this province. Callao also is its own region, even though it only contains one province, the Constitutional Province of Callao.
Independence of Peru
The Peruvian War of Independence was a series of military conflicts beginning in 1809 that culminated in the proclamation of the independence of Peru by José de San Martín on July 28, 1821. During the previous decade Peru had been a stronghold for royalists, who fought those in favor of...
from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in the early 19th century. The old territorial subdivisions have split or merged due to several reasons, the most common ones being the need for decentralization
Decentralization
__FORCETOC__Decentralization or decentralisation is the process of dispersing decision-making governance closer to the people and/or citizens. It includes the dispersal of administration or governance in sectors or areas like engineering, management science, political science, political economy,...
, and population increase, especially in Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
.
History
Peru was divided into 24 departmentsDepartment (subnational entity)
Department is the name given to the administrative and political subdivisions of many countries.As a territorial unit, "department" was first used by the French Revolutionary governments, apparently to emphasize that each territory was simply an administrative sub-division of the united sovereign...
(departamentos; singular: departamento) until the creation of the regions in 2002. These regions are governed by Regional Governments
Regional Governments of Peru
Regional Governments, in the Government of Peru, is a government organization which organizes, conducts, and manages, each one of the twenty-five regions of Peru. It has political, economic, and administrative autonomy in the subjects of its matter....
. Many people still use the old departamentos term when referring to the current regions of Peru, although it is now obsolete. The departments were identical to today's regions, with the exception of two new regions (Callao and Lima
Lima Region
Lima Region, also known as Lima Provincias, is one of twenty-five regions of Peru. Located in the central coast of the country, its regional seat is Huacho....
). Before the 2002 changeover, the province of Lima (which is basically the city of Lima) was part of the Lima department, and the city of Callao had the special status of Provincia Constitucional (constitutional province). When the regionalization law was passed, the Callao region was created from the former constitutional province, and the province of Lima separated from the rest of the Lima department, which in turn came to form the new Lima Region
Lima Region
Lima Region, also known as Lima Provincias, is one of twenty-five regions of Peru. Located in the central coast of the country, its regional seat is Huacho....
. A failed attempt to divide the country into twelve autonomous regions
Former regions of Peru
During the 1980s, then Peruvian president Alan García proposed what was supposed to be a radical restructuring of the political and economical divisions of the country: regionalization. The law, which was approved, mandated the creation of regions to function eventually as autonomous economic and...
was made during the 1980s under the government of Alan García.
Districts
For a new district to be legally established, a 1982 law requires a minimum number of residents to live in the area: 3,500 if it is located in the rainforestRainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
, 4,000 in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
highlands and 10,000 in the coast
Chala
The Chala or "Coast" is one of the eight natural regions in Peru. It is formed by all the western lands that arise from sea level up to the height of 500 meters....
al area.
In the dry Andean area, many districts have fewer than 3,500 inhabitants due to low population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
. In some cases, their populations have decreased in comparison to the days when they were founded. Districts that are located at very high altitudes tend to be scarcely populated. These districts usually are large in area, but they have little available level land for use. Many basic government services do not reach all residents of these districts due to their difficult geography. Many such districts lack financial means to govern their whole jurisdictions and they often have high emigration
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
rates.
A similar pattern can be observed in many districts located in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
. Once important settlements created during the era of colonization, they now do not offer much space for agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
. Deeper into the jungle, the districts of the selva alta (lower jungle
Omagua
Omagua or Low Jungle is one of the eight Natural Regions of Peru. It is located between 80 and 400 m above sea level in the Amazon rainforest. In this region, there are a lot of rivers that create meanders, swamps and lagoons....
) have higher populations living in geographically large districts. Districts located outside the former colonized area have very low populations, which are entirely composed of Native Amazonian tribes.
All over the country, many districts have higher populations than the minimum required by law. This is true of the colonized areas of the rainforest and the northern Andes, as well as in the southern Andes from Huancayo
Huancayo
Huancayo with a rock') is the capital of the Junín Region, in the central highlands of Peru. It is located in Junín Province, of which it is also capital. Situated near the Mantaro Valley at an altitude of 3,271 meters, it has a population of 377,000 and is the fifth most populous city of the...
to the shores of Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Peru and Bolivia. It sits 3,811 m above sea level, making it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world...
, which is the historical heartland of the Peruvian highlands. These districts are old centers of civilization; they tend to be smaller in area with high population densities since pre-Hispanic times.
Districts in the Chala
Chala
The Chala or "Coast" is one of the eight natural regions in Peru. It is formed by all the western lands that arise from sea level up to the height of 500 meters....
(coastal area) tend to be mid-sized, except in low-density areas such as the Sechura desert
Sechura Desert
The Sechura Desert is located south of the Piura Region of Peru along the Pacific Ocean coast and inland to the foothills of the Andes Mountains...
and part of the Southern coast. All have gained large populations due to emigration from other regions of the country, which has turned the Peruvian coast into the country's main economic powerhouse.
Districts with a population of more than 10 000 inhabitants should ideally be subdivided, particularly if they are also large in area, as is the case in part of the Amazon rainforest. Settlement can happen quickly and boundaries of districts are often not modified, except in large urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
areas. This is less of a problem in the coast where communication is easier. However, reaching to large populations remain a problem in this area.
Current division
PeruPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , 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....
's territory, according to the Regionalization Law which was passed on November 18, 2002, is divided into 25 region
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
s (regiones; singular: región). These regions are subdivided into province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
s, which are composed of district
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
s (provincias and distritos). There are 195 provinces and 1833 districts in Peru.
The Lima Province
Lima Province
Lima Province is located in the central coast of Peru and is the only province in the country not belonging to any of the twenty-five regions. Its capital is Lima, which is also the nation's capital....
, located in the central coast of the country, is unique in that it does not belong to any of the twenty-five regions. The city of Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, which is the nation's capital, is located in this province. Callao also is its own region, even though it only contains one province, the Constitutional Province of Callao.