Peru
Peru, 1821 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed
Peru formally proclaimed independence from Spain in 1821, and it completed its independence in 1824 after the decisive battle of Ayacucho. The country first suffered from political instability until a period of relative economic and political stability began due to the exploitation of guano. Throughout the 20th century, Peru grappled with political and social instability, interspersed with periods of economic growth.
Seat of power: Lima
Rulers
Augusto Leguía
President of Peru, 1919–1930
His term from 1919 to 1930 was known as the Oncenio after its eleven-year length. The years of his tenure were marked with a dictatorial style of ruling by suppressing all opposition harshly.
Portrait of Augusto Leguía: Government of Peru (Life time: ca. 1908-1912), Public domain, file
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Óscar R. Benavides
President of Peru, 1933–1939
His second term (1933–1939) was a period of authoritarianism. He annulled the 1936 Peruvian general election, where his favored candidate appeared to be losing, and subsequently stayed on as president.
Portrait of Óscar R. Benavides: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Manuel Prado Ugarteche
President of Peru, 1939–1945
Under his first administration, Peru came out victorious against Ecuador in the Ecuadorian-Peruvian War. Peru also became the first country in South America to break relations with the Axis.
Portrait of Manuel Prado Ugarteche: Unknown author, Public domain, file
Manuel Odría
President of Peru, 1948–1956
He ousted President José Luis Bustamante y Rivero in the 1948 Peruvian coup d'état and seized power. He ruled as a dictator, repressing the political opposition.
Portrait of Manuel Odría: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Manuel Prado Ugarteche
President of Peru, 1956–1962
He defeated Belaunde in the elections in 1956, as his second administration came to power. He sided with the United States in the Cold War, but was deposed in a coup, led by Ricardo Perez Godoy in 1962.
Portrait of Manuel Prado Ugarteche: Unknown author, Public domain, file
Fernando Belaúnde
President of Peru, 1963–1968
A military coup deposed him in 1968. His projects included the Carretera Marginal de la Selva, a highway linking Chiclayo on the Pacific coast with then isolated northern regions of Amazonas and San Martín.
Portrait of Fernando Belaúnde: https://www.flickr.com/photos/144155804@N02/, CC BY 2.0, file
Juan Velasco Alvarado
President of Peru, 1968–1975
He was the military leader of Peru from 1968 to 1975 after a successful coup d'état against Fernando Belaúnde's presidency. A cornerstone of Velasco's political and economic strategy was an agrarian reform program to expropriate farms and diversify land ownership.
Portrait of Juan Velasco Alvarado: https://www.flickr.com/photos/144155804@N02/, Public domain, file
Francisco Morales Bermúdez
President of Peru, 1975–1980
Morales Bermúdez led a military coup against Velasco and took over as President of Peru on 29 August 1975. He was forced to return power to civilian rule, marking the end of the Revolutionary Government of the Armed Forces.
Portrait of Francisco Morales Bermúdez: FMG, Public domain, file
Fernando Belaúnde
President of Peru, 1980–1985
He was re-elected in 1980 after twelve years of military rule. Belaúnde's popularity eroded under the stress of inflation, economic hardship, and terrorism.
Portrait of Fernando Belaúnde: https://www.flickr.com/photos/144155804@N02/, CC BY 2.0, file
Alan García
President of Peru, 1985–1990
García's first presidential term was marked by a severe economic crisis, social unrest, corruption, and violence. He was elected to the presidency in 1985 in a landslide.
Portrait of Alan García: Asamblea Nacional del Ecuador, CC BY-SA 2.0, file
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Alberto Fujimori
President of Peru, 1990–2000
Fujimori was president of Peru from 1990 to 2000. In 1992 Fujimori dissolved the Peruvian Congress and Supreme Court.
Portrait of Alberto Fujimori: Christian Lambiotte / European Communities, 1991 / EC - Audiovisual Service, CC BY 4.0, file
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Alejandro Toledo
President of Peru, 2001–2006
He served as President of Peru from 2001 to 2006. His administration was characterized by macroeconomic boom, promoting foreign investment, and the signing of free trade agreements.
Portrait of Alejandro Toledo: San Francisco Foghorn, CC BY 2.0, file
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Alan García
President of Peru, 2006–2011
Throughout García's second term, Peru experienced a steady economy, becoming Latin America's fastest-growing country in 2008. Peru signed free trade agreements with the United States and China during García's presidency.
Portrait of Alan García: Asamblea Nacional del Ecuador, CC BY-SA 2.0, file
Ollanta Humala
President of Peru, 2011–2016
A leftist, he founded the Peruvian Nationalist Party, but shifted towards neoliberalism and the political centre during his presidency. To allay fears of radical policies, he filled much of his cabinet with centrists at the start of his term.
Portrait of Ollanta Humala: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Perú, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Keiko Fujimori
President of Peru, 2026 to today
She narrowly won the presidency during her fourth attempt in 2026, defeating Roberto Sánchez in the runoff. She has led the party Popular Force since 2009.
Portrait of Keiko Fujimori: Ministerio de la Producción, Public domain, file
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Culture
- Peruvian culture is primarily rooted in Iberian and Andean traditions, though it has also been influenced by various European, Asian, and African ethnic groups.
- Arts stagnated after independence until the emergence of Indigenismo in the early 20th century.
- The current palace was built from 1926 to 1938, under the direction of President Oscar R. Benavides.
Picture
The Government Palace is the seat of the executive branch of the Peruvian government and the official residence of the president of Peru.
Image: User:Pedro Felipe, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.