Population and Demographics

Peru is one of only three Latin American countries which have their largest population segment consisting of indigenous Amerindians, with around 45% of all Peruvians classified as such. Most are found in the southern Andes, although a large portion are also to be found in the southern and central coast due to the massive internal labour migration from remote Andean regions to coastal cities, especially Lima, during the past four decades. While the Andes are the 'heart' of indigenous Peru, the country's Amazonian region represents nearly 60% of Peruvian national territory and harbours a wide variety of indigenous groups that is rivalled only by its biodiversity. These tropical lowlands, however, are sparsely populated.

The two major indigenous or ethnic groups are the Quechuas (belonging to various cultural subgroups), followed by the Aymaras, mostly found in the extreme southern Andes. A large proportion of the indigenous population who live in the Andean highlands still speak Quechua or Aymara, and have vibrant cultural traditions, some which were part of the Inca Empire, arguably the most advanced agricultural civilisation in the world. Literally dozens of indigenous cultures are also dispersed throughout the country beyond the Andes Mountains and in the Amazon basin.

Peru's Amazonian region is rapidly becoming urbanised. Important urban centres include Iquitos, Nauta, Puerto Maldonado, Pucallpa and Yurimaguas. This region is home to numerous indigenous peoples, though they do not constitute a large proportion of the total population. Examples of indigenous peoples residing in eastern Peru include the Shipibo, Urarina, Cocama, and Aguaruna.

At the national level, mestizos constitute the second largest segment of the population, at around 37% of the total population. The term traditionally denotes Amerindian ancestry, and most Peruvian mestizos are of this combination, but other lineages (most notably African) are also present, in varying degrees, in some segments of the mestizo population. Most mestizos are urban dwellers and can be seen in coastal cities of the north coast, where they show stronger Spanish inheritance, the central coast like Lima Region, Cajamarca Region and also Arequipa Region.

Around 10% of the population is classified as criollos, the relatively unmixed descendants of the colonial Spanish colonisers. The majority of the criollos live in the largest cities, concentrated usually the northern coastal citites of Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura, and the capital Lima. The only southern city with a significant population is Arequipa. To the north Cajamarca and San Martin are also cities with a strong Spanish influence.

The remaining 3% of the population is of black African ancestry. The Afro-Peruvians are a legacy of Peru's history as an importer of slaves during the colonial period. Today also mulattos (mixed African and European) and zambos (mixed African and Amerindian) constitute an important part of the population as well, especially in Piura, Tumbes, Lambayeque, Lima and Ica regions.

The Afro-Peruvian population is concentrated mostly in coastal cities south of Lima, such as that of those found in the Ica Region, in cities like Cañete, Chincha, Ica, Nazca and Acari in the border with the Arequipa Region. Other large but poorly promoted segment of Afro-Peruvian presence is in the Yunga regions (west and just below the Andean chain of northern Peru) where sugarcane, lemon and mango production is still of importance, that is Piura and Lambayeque. Important communities are found all over the Morropon Province, such as in the city of Chulucanas, Yapatera town of the same city, and other even smaller farming towns like Pabur or La Matanza and even in the mountainous region near Canchaque. Further south, the colonial city of Zaña or farming towns like Capote and Tuman in Lambayeque are also important regions with Afro-Peruvian presence.

There is also a large presence of Asians, primarily Japanese and Chinese, which constitute some 3% of the population, which in proportion to the overall population is the largest of any Latin American nation.

Peru has the second largest population of people of Japanese descent in Latin America after Brazil and the largest population of Cantonese descent in Latin America. Historic communities inhabited by people of Chinese descent are found throughout the Peruvian upper Amazon, including cities such as Yurimaguas, Nauta, Iquitos and the north central coast (Lambayeque and Trujillo).

Population and Demographics

Facts and Figures