Peru
Capital:
Lima
Population:
31,036,656
Official language:
Spanish, Quechua and Aymara
Religion:
60% Roman Catholic, 14.6% other Christian, 0.3% other, 4% none, 21.1% unspecified
Peru sits on the western coast of South America. It is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicentres bordering the Pacific Ocean. Up to 90% of the world’s earthquakes and 75% of the world’s volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire. Peru’s landscape stretches from coastal plains, through jungle to the high and rugged Andes.
While the poverty rate in Peru has dropped substantially over the last decade, it remains high at about 30%. This rises to more than 55% in rural areas. Many children living in poverty do not have the opportunity to go to school; instead they work to support their families, often putting in long hours at hazardous mining or construction sites.
Poverty, illiteracy and domestic violence all go hand in hand. Gender discrimination means that families give priority of education to boys over girls. Illiteracy rates are higher in the poorer rural areas. When visiting rural churches, the Peruvian Bible Society finds that 90% of the people lack reading comprehension. The highest rates of violence are also found in these indigenous communities.
