Peru Regions and Provinces Explained

Peru is divided into 24 departments and one constitutional province, the Constitutional Province of Callao. Each department is further divided into provinces, which are then divided into districts. The department is the unit that elects a governor, while a district is the smallest layer, closer to a town hall than to a state capital.

Lima is a unique case, as it is both a province and a region with no governor. It is run by a Metropolitan Council, which holds the powers of a regional council, and its mayor performs the work of a governor. The rest of Lima department is known as Lima Provincias and also has its own governor.

The Coast, located between the Pacific and the Andes, is home to 58.7% of Peru's population and includes 58 departments. The economy of the Coast is driven by ports, agro-export, fishing, industry, and services. Lima, together with Callao, accounts for 42.4% of national GDP. Arequipa, one of only four provinces with more than 1 million people, contributes 5.4% of the GDP, while La Libertad, Piura, and Ica contribute 4.6%, 4.4%, and 4.3% respectively.

The Andes zone, or Sierra, rises from the coastal desert into high mountain ranges. It includes 26.7% of the population and has 7 departments. The economy in this region is a mix of mining and farming, with tourism around Cusco and Machu Picchu. The Sierra departments have varying levels of GDP per capita, with Cajamarca having the lowest and Moquegua having the highest.

The Amazon zone, or Selva, covers the eastern lowlands and includes 14.3% of Peruvians. It has 5 departments with varying levels of GDP. Ucayali, San Martín, Loreto, and Amazonas have the lowest output per head in Peru, while Loreto and Amazonas have roughly half the national average. The Regional Council is responsible for law-making and oversight, while the Regional Coordination Council provides advisory opinions. The Regional Governments are responsible for education, health, regional roads, and tourism promotion.