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Peru

Germany and Peru have a long, shared history of development cooperation. Peru has traditionally been a focus of German development cooperation in Latin America.

Capital

Lima

Official languages

Spanish, Quechua, Aimara

Area

1,285,220 km²

Population

approx. 31.42 million

Population growth

0.96 %

Rural population

22 % of the overall population

Gross domestic product

225.4 billion US dollars

Annual income per capita

Approx. 7007 US dollars

Agriculture as a proportion of GDP

6.89 % (as of 2019)

Severity of hunger according to the World Hunger Index

low (WHI: 8.8)

Human Development Index

Index: 0,759 / Rank: 82 of 189

Cooperation for democracy, climate action and resource conservation

Since the turn of the millennium, Peru has evolved from being a virtually failed state to become a model for democratic stabilisation and, at the same time, achieved impressive economic growth. Great progress has been made in lifting people out of poverty. In 2006, almost half the population was living below the national poverty line. Today only around one in five people count as poor.
However, there are stark social and regional differences. Whilst, in 2014, the poverty ratio in urban areas was 15 per cent, in rural regions it was as high as 46 per cent. Large numbers of people are often still excluded from the positive developments that have taken place. Moreover, the state’s weak presence and capacity in remote regions is a key challenge for the country’s sustainable development.

Natural resources as a basis for economic success

Economic growth is largely based on exploiting the country’s natural and mineral resources. Conflicts between different population groups and even with the state over the use of resources are a regular occurrence.
Peru has the fourth biggest area of tropical forests on earth and is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries. However, its rapid economic development is also contributing to the destruction of these natural assets. Logging, slash-and-burn cultivation and illegal mining in particular are threatening to destroy parts of the Amazon rainforest.
Development cooperation
Germany and Peru have a long, shared history of development cooperation. Peru has traditionally been a focus of German development cooperation in Latin America. German-Peruvian cooperation is fully aligned with the development goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The focus is on managing natural resources and protecting global public goods in times of climate change, environmental and climate protection in cities, and strengthening democracy, civil society and the rule of law.