Administrative divisions of Peru nation's capital, is located in this province.) Callao also is its own region, which contains only one province, the Constitutional Province of Callao. Administrative divisions of Peru The administrative divisions of Peru have changed from time to time, since the nation gained independence from Spain in the early 19th century. The old territorial subdivisions have split or merged due to several reasons, the most common ones being the need for decentralization, and population increase, especially in Lima. Peru was divided into 24 departments ("departamentos"; singular: "departamento") until the creation of the regions in 2002. These regions are governed by Regional
Geography of Peru a peace treaty in 1995. Peru fell under Spanish rule in November 1533 after the death of Incan emperor, Atahuallpa. Francisco Pizarro marched to Cusco, the Incan capital to establish Spanish rule. Peru remained under Spanish control until gaining independence on December 9, 1824 after Simon Bolivar Palacios defeated Spanish forces in Ayacucho. Peru is active in a variety of global organizations including the UN, the WTO, the Organization of American States (OAS), APEC, IMF, the World Bank, the Union of South American States (UNASUR), the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), Andean Community of States, the Community of