View source for Administrative divisions of Peru

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{{Politics of Peru}}
The '''administrative divisions of Peru''' have changed from time to time since the nation gained [[Independence of Peru|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]].

==History==
Peru is divided into 24 [[Department (subnational entity)|departments]] (''departamentos''; singular: ''departamento''), which have been governed by [[Regions of Peru|regional governments]], created in 2002. A failed attempt to divide the country into [[former regions of Peru|twelve autonomous regions]] had previously been 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 [[rainforest]], 4,000 in the [[Andes]] highlands, and 10,000 in the [[Chala|coast]]al area.

In the dry Andean area, many districts have fewer than 3,500 inhabitants. 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 are usually large in area but 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 the financial means to govern their whole jurisdictions and 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 baja'' ([[Omagua|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 [[Amazon Basin|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 area|urban]] areas. This is less of a problem on the coast, where communication is easier. However, reaching large populations remain a problem in this area.<ref>{{in lang|es}} [[Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática]]. ''[http://iinei.inei.gob.pe/iinei/perumapas/ Perú en Mapas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113175446/http://iinei.inei.gob.pe/iinei/perumapas/ |date=2009-11-13 }}''. Retrieved November 1, 2009.</ref>

==Current division==
{{main|Regions of Peru|Provinces of Peru|Districts of Peru|Populated centers of Peru}}
{{Imageframe|width=450|content= {{Peru Labelled Area Map}} <!--map text is jumbled on mobile--> |caption=Clickable map of the regions of Peru|link=Image:Perú Mapa Divisiones Administrativas (Sin etiquetas) ImgID1.png |align=right}}

[[Peru]]'s territory, according to the Regionalization Law, which was passed on November 18, 2002, is divided into 26 units: 25 [[Regions of Peru|departments or regions]] (''departamentos''; informally ''regiones'') and the [[Callao|Constitutional Province of Callao]]. The departments are subdivided into [[Provinces of Peru|provinces]] (''provincias''), which are composed of [[Districts of Peru|districts]] (''distritos''). There are 196 provinces and 1,891 districts in Peru.<ref>{{in lang|es}} [http://www.cnd.gob.pe/ Sistema Nacional de Estadística] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321045616/http://www.cnd.gob.pe/ |date=2007-03-21 }}</ref> [[Callao]] is autonomous since 1836, and does not belong to any department.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{in lang|es}} [http://www.inei.gob.pe/ Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970412040139/http://www.inei.gob.pe/ |date=1997-04-12 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050306154358/http://www.peru.com/peruinfo/ingles/info_dptos/in_dptos.htm Peru Info: Information by regions]

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[[Category:Subdivisions of Peru| ]]
[[Category:Decentralization]]

[[no:Peru#Administrativ inndeling]]