# Peru Regions and Provinces Explained

> Peru's 24 departments and 1 constitutional province explain regional governance, economic divides, and election timelines.
- Title: Peru Regions and Provinces Explained · The Rio Times
- Summary: Peru's 24 departments and 1 constitutional province explain regional governance, economic divides, and election timelines.
- Keywords: peru, departments, provinces, governors, lima, callao, coast, sierra, selva, elections, runoffs, gdp
- Source: The Rio Times — https://riotimesonline.com/peru-regions-provinces-explained-2026
- Author: Contributing Reporter
- Published: 2026-11-08T18:12:11+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: peru, departments, provinces, governors, lima, callao, coast, sierra, selva, elections, runoffs, gdp
## Key Facts
Peru has 24 departments plus Callao, the port province beside Lima, and all 25 units elect their own governor.
## Population Distribution
34.2 million people live in Peru, with 58.7% on the Coast, 26.7% in the Sierra, and 14.3% in the Selva.
## Economic Power
Lima and Callao produced 42.4% of national GDP in 2024, with Arequipa at 5.4% and La Libertad at 4.6%.
## Lima's Unique Status
Lima city has a mayor under a special legal regime, not a governor, while the rest of the department elects its own governor.
## Regional Government Structure
Each department has provinces, which have districts, with provinces elected by mayors and districts by local authorities.
## Election Timeline
Governor runoffs are set for Sunday 6 December 2.026 where no candidate pair won 30% of valid votes.
## Coast Region
The Coast includes 10 departments with 58.7% of Peru's population, dominated by Lima and Callao's economy.
## Sierra Region
The Sierra covers 26.7% of Peru's population with departments including Cusco and Puno, focused on mining and tourism.
## Selva Region
The Selva accounts for 14.3% of Peru's population with departments like Loreto and Amazonas, relying on timber and gold.
## Mining Impact
Apurimac and Pasco have over 50% of their economies from mining, with Tacna and Moquegua also heavily dependent.
## Regional Powers
Regions manage land, resources, services, and movement, including education, health, and road infrastructure.
## Election Results
4 October 2026 elections filled 25 governor posts, with runoffs set for 6 December 2026 for regions without a majority.
## Social Conflicts
Peru's state ombudsman counted 191 social conflicts in July 2026, 49.2% of which were socio-environmental.
## Regional Governance
Regional councils make laws and oversee governance, with mayors elected for four years and regional budgets tied to mining.
## Economic Disparities
Cerro Colorado grew 3.6% annually between 2017 and 2025, while Trujillo and Chiclayo shrank by 0.7% and 0.2%.
## Regional Challenges
Mining canon revenue links regional budgets to metal prices, with 50% of mining tax shared annually by the Ministry of Economy.
## Key takeaway

Peru has 24 departments plus Callao, each electing their own governor, with Lima having a mayor instead of a governor.