Peru, is a country in western South America bordering Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

• View World Bank Country Brief in PDF Format (220 kb)
• View World Bank Country Brief on the web

Mineralization

• Peru is one of the most extensively mineralized regions in the world and is rich in copper, silver, lead, zinc, oil and gold.
• Host to some of the largest and lowest cost precious and base metal mines in the world, including Alta Chicama, Yanacocha and Antamina.

Mining Industry

• Peru is the world's sixth largest Gold producer.
• A long history of mining activity, that dates back to pre-Columbian times.
• One of the largest private sector budgets for mineral exploration and development in the world.
• Many of the world's major mining companies, including BHP-Billiton, Newmont, Phelps Dodge and Barrick have operations in the country.

Economic Impact of Mining

• Mining in Peru plays a significant role in the country's overall economy, of the total exports for the year 2002, gold accounted for over 19% of the gross value, copper over 15% and zinc over 5%.

Legal Framework

• Established and consistent mining law in Peru provides an attractive framework for the exploration for and development of mining projects.

Politics

• Peru is a democratic constitutional republic.
• Three branches of Government; Executive, Legislative and Judicial
• 25 regions and 1 province* (provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali.

Culture

• Peru has a strong Inca and pre-Inca heritage, which includes the ancient Incan capital of Cuzco and the lost city of Machu Picchu.Peru.
• The country also enjoys spectacular and varied scenery, including Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake.

Quick Facts About Peru

• Population: 28 million (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Lima
• Area: 1.28 million sq km (496,225 sq miles)
• Major languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 67 years (men), 72 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 nuevo sol = 100 centimos
• Main exports: Fish and fish products, copper, zinc, gold, crude petroleum and by-products, lead, coffee, sugar, cotton
• GNI per capita: US $2,360 (World Bank, 2005)
• Internet domain: .pe
• International dialling code: 51