República del Perú  (Spanish) Republic of Peru
Flag Coat of arms 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 Demonym Peruvian Government Presidential republic  -  President Alan García Pérez  -  Vice President Luis Giampietri Rojas  -  Prime Minister Jorge Del Castillo  -  President of Congress Luis Gonzales Posada Independence from Spain   -  Declared July 28, 1821   -  Recognized December 9, 1824  Area  -  Total 1,285,220 km² (20th) 496,222 sq mi   -  Water (%) 8.80	Population  -  2007 census 28,220,764   -  Density 22/km² (183rd) 57/sq mi GDP (PPP) 2007 estimate  -  Total $207.985 billion (51st)  -  Per capita $7,410 (79th) GDP (nominal) 2007 estimate  -  Total $101.504 billion (55th)  -  Per capita $3,616 (87th) Gini (2002) 54.6 (high)  HDI (2005) ▲0.773 (medium) (87th) Currency Nuevo Sol (PEN) Time zone PET (UTC-5) Internet TLD .pe Calling code +51

Peru (Spanish: Perú, Quechua: Piruw, Aymara: Piruw), officially the Republic of Peru (Spanish: República del Perú?·i, IPA: [reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu]), 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.

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 region 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 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 40%. 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, Europeans, Africans and Asians. The main spoken language is Spanish, although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechua or 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.