Question 1

What is the population of Peru?

Accepted Answer

The population of Peru is approximately 33.4M.

Question 2

How do people greet each other in Peru?

Accepted Answer

Both men and women shake hands when meeting and parting, while close friends greet with a kiss on one cheek. First names are for friends, but elderly people and officials are addressed by title and last name. Do: Shake hands when meeting and parting Use titles and last names for elderly people and officials Greet close friends with a kiss on one cheek Don't: Never give a kiss between boys Teenage boys often greet with hand-slaps, hugs, or a friendly nickname said out loud To get someone's attention, it's common to just talk to them or make eye contact

Question 3

What are the dining customs in Peru?

Accepted Answer

Table manners matter and the continental style is followed, keeping both hands above the table. A polite guest eats all the food offered. Do: Eat all the food that is offered Keep both hands above the table (continental style) Rest your arms on the table if needed Don't: Don't put your elbows on the table A typical family eats breakfast, lunch and dinner Some have a pre-dinner around 6:00 PM with dinner around 8:00 PM Try cebiche (raw fish seasoned with lemon and vinegar), popular on the coast Staples include rice, beans, fish, tropical fruits, soups and corn

Question 4

What should I know about social etiquette and visiting in Peru?

Accepted Answer

Peruvians are hospitable and enjoy visiting one another, and they consider people more important than schedules, so meetings may not start on time. Do: Make advance arrangements for visits outside close friends and family Acknowledge children in the home, which hosts appreciate Express any personal criticism in a positive manner Don't: Don't joke about their lifestyle, especially as a foreigner Don't expect meetings to always start on time Gifts aren't expected, but small gifts like fruit or wine are welcome Between friends and relatives, most visits are unannounced People often meet outdoors, in public places, or on public transportation

Question 5

What should I wear in Peru?

Accepted Answer

Western-style clothing is worn regularly in Lima and other urban areas, while rural campesinos often wear traditional clothing tied to their ethnic background. Nice clothing is always in trend Rural traditional clothes are often made from hand-woven fabrics

Question 6

What gestures and body language should I be aware of in Peru?

Accepted Answer

People stand close during conversation and maintain constant eye contact, and hand gestures are used a great deal. Do: Maintain constant eye contact during conversation Expect people to stand close when talking Don't: Women should not place the ankle of one leg on the knee of the other (okay for men)

Question 7

What is family life like in Peru?

Accepted Answer

The family is important in Peru, with the father as the undisputed head and the mother directing household duties. Families average three children. The whole family is supposed to eat together, though it isn't compulsory Common-law marriage is widely accepted, except in the upper class

Question 8

What do people do for recreation in Peru?

Accepted Answer

Soccer is the most popular sport, and in the evenings young people go to peñas to hear traditional Peruvian folk music. Visit a peña in the evening for traditional Peruvian folk music

Question 9

What is the capital of Peru?

Accepted Answer

Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, situated on the Pacific coast in a narrow desert strip between the Andes mountains and the ocean. Founded by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, it served as the seat of Spanish colonial power in South America for nearly three centuries. Today Lima is the country's political, economic, and cultural hub, home to the presidential palace, the national congress, and a thriving culinary and arts scene.

Question 10

Where is Peru located?

Accepted Answer

Peru is located on the western coast of South America, straddling the central portion of the continent. It lies just south of the equator and borders the Pacific Ocean to the west, with terrain that transitions dramatically from a narrow coastal desert through the soaring peaks of the Andes to the dense Amazon rainforest basin in the east. It is one of the largest countries in South America by land area.

Question 11

What countries border Peru?

Accepted Answer

Peru shares land borders with five countries. To the north it borders Ecuador and Colombia; to the east, Brazil and Bolivia; and to the south, Chile. These borders span highly varied terrain, from Amazonian jungle in the northeast to high-altitude altiplano in the south, where Peru and Bolivia share Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable body of water at approximately 3,800 metres above sea level.

Question 12

What religion is practiced in Peru?

Accepted Answer

Roman Catholicism is by far the dominant religion in Peru, practiced by roughly 90 percent of the population. The faith was introduced by Spanish colonizers in the sixteenth century and became deeply embedded in Peruvian culture, blending over time with pre-Columbian Andean spiritual traditions to produce distinctive syncretic festivals and rituals. Religious observances, patron saint celebrations, and Catholic feast days remain central to community life across both urban and rural areas.

Question 13

What is the currency of Peru?

Accepted Answer

The official currency of Peru is the Peruvian Sol, with the ISO code PEN. The sol was reintroduced in 1991, replacing the inti as part of sweeping economic stabilization reforms undertaken during the presidency of Alberto Fujimori. The currency's name — sol, meaning "sun" in Spanish — carries symbolic resonance with the Inca sun god Inti and reflects the country's deep pre-Columbian heritage.

Question 14

What languages are spoken in Peru?

Accepted Answer

Peru has three official languages: Spanish, spoken by approximately 84 percent of the population, Quechua, spoken by roughly 13 percent, and Aymara, spoken by about 1.7 percent. Quechua was the administrative language of the Inca Empire and remains widely used across Andean highland communities. Additionally, the Ashaninka language and a large number of minor Amazonian indigenous languages account for a small but culturally significant share of speakers, reflecting Peru's extraordinary linguistic diversity.

Question 15

What is Peru known for?

Accepted Answer

Peru is known above all for Machu Picchu, the fifteenth-century Inca citadel perched high in the Andes and one of the world's most visited archaeological sites. The country is also internationally recognized for its cuisine — including ceviche, lomo saltado, and an extraordinary diversity of native potato and corn varieties — and for its Andean geography, which includes Colca Canyon, one of the world's deepest canyons at roughly 3,350 metres. Peru is additionally a leading global exporter of copper, gold, and zinc, and its ancient Inca heritage anchors one of South America's richest cultural identities.

Peru

Declare Your Relationship to Peru

CountryReports Community

Quick Look Factsheet