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Who are the people?

While Peru’s population has more than tripled over the last 50 years, most of the country is sparsely populated. Many people have migrated from the impoverished communities of the highlands to the coast and eastern lowlands, searching for a better life for themselves and their children. As a result, 71 percent of the country’s total population of more than 27 million now lives in urban areas.

Peru’s inhabitants are from diverse cultures and backgrounds. A little more than half of the people are Indian. Another 12 percent is of European descent, and 32 percent is mestizo, or mixed Indian and European ancestry. In 1975, Peru made Quechua its second official language, in addition to Spanish. Quechua is the original lnca language, which is spoken by approximately 50 percent of the population.

In Peru, education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 7 and 16. Peru’s literacy rate is 88 percent.

Poverty is a serious problem afflicting half of all residents. Twenty percent of the families are extremely poor and do not have enough food to properly feed their children. Peruvians typically try to earn a living from mining, fishing, or agriculture—the key components of the nation’s economy.

What is it like to live there?

The South American country of Peru extends 1,500 miles along the Pacific Ocean, which makes up its western border. Ecuador and Colombia are Peru’s neighbors to the north. Brazil and Bolivia lie along its eastern edge, and Chile adjoins Peru along its southern boundary.


 
Country Statistics 
Population28 million
Land Mass494,28 sq. miles
Life Expectancy70 years
Infant Mortality Rate30 / 1,000
Literacy Rate91%
School Enrollment97%
Access to Safe Water83%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)US$2610
 
 
The Andes Mountains and the Amazon River are significant natural features of this region. The mountains create three distinct geographic areas within Peru. To the west of the Andes lie the coastal lowlands. To the east is the upper Amazon basin. In the middle are the Andean highlands or Sierra.

Peru is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, and its people have long suffered the effects of a struggling economy. Inflation has been as high as 8,000 percent in recent years and, at times, more than half of Peru’s work force has been unemployed or underemployed. The financial crisis has created hardships for residents.

Many families live without adequate sanitation or a source of safe water, and more than half of the population lacks access to health care services. Through sponsorship, however, World Vision is working to make improvements in all of these areas, while also taking steps to help people become more economically secure.

How You Can Pray for Your Sponsored Child
  • Pray that your sponsored child might be open to God’s love and grace.
  • Ask God to guide your sponsored child as he or she learns, grows, and moves toward a future full of hope and possibilities.
  • Pray for God to protect the health of your sponsored child and his or her family.
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