Peru, officially known as the Republic of Peru, is a country located in western South America. It occupies a land area of approximately 1,285,216 km² (496,225 sq mi), making it the third largest country in South America and the 19th largest in the world. The nation shares borders with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, and Chile to the south, while its western and southern coasts meet the Pacific Ocean.
The country is characterized as megadiverse, featuring a wide variety of habitats including the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region, the peaks of the Andes mountains, and the tropical Amazon basin rainforest in the east. Peru has a population exceeding 32 million people, with Lima serving as its capital and largest city.