Provinces of Peru

thumb|Map of Peruvian provinces

The provinces of Peru () are the second-level administrative subdivisions of the country. They are divided into districts (). There are 196 provinces in Peru, grouped into 24 departments (or regions), while two provinces—Lima and Callao—are subject to a special regime, with the latter not belonging to any department. This makes an average of seven provinces per department. The department with the fewest provinces is the Constitutional Province of Callao (one province equal in status to a department) and the one with the most is Ancash (twenty).

While provinces in the sparsely populated Amazon rainforest of eastern Peru tend to be larger, there is a large concentration of them in the north-central area of the country. The province with the fewest districts is Purús Province, with just one district. The province with the most districts is Lima Province, with 43 districts. The most common number of districts per province is eight; a total of 29 provinces share this number of districts.

Provincial organization

The current provincial system dates back to the 1823 constitution, which replaced the partidos of the former Viceroyalty of Peru. In 1824, seven departments were created, divided into 56 provinces in total.

Until the 20th century, a number of provinces were granted the designation of littoral province (), an autonomous regime equal in status to a department. The most notable example is that of Callao, which operated under this regime from 1836 to 1857, when this status was changed to a constitutional province (), a designation with no practical difference, on April 22 of that year.

According to the 2002 law for the decentralisation of the country, there are two provinces under a special regime (): Lima and Callao. The latest to be created is that of Putumayo, on April 10, 2014.

List of provinces

The table below shows all provinces with their capitals and the department in which they are located. The UBIGEO code uniquely identifies each province. Capitals in bold are also a departmental capital. Provinces in which the department's capital is located all have an UBIGEO code ending in <code>01</code>.

{| align=center class="wikitable sortable" Style="align:center;"

! width=40% | Province

! width=20% | Department

! width=30% | Capital

! width=10% | Districts

! width=10% sort=1| UBIGEO

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN AMAZONAS DEPARTMENT

-->

| Chachapoyas

| rowspan="7"|Amazonas

| Chachapoyas

| align=right | 21

| align=center | 0101

| Bagua

| align=right | 6

| align=center | 0102

| Bongará

| Jumbilla

| align=right | 12

| align=center | 0103

| Condorcanqui

| Santa María de Nieva

| align=right | 3

| align=center | 0104

| Luya

| Lámud

| align=right | 23

| align=center | 0105

| Rodríguez de Mendoza

| Mendoza

| align=right | 12

| align=center | 0106

| Utcubamba

| Bagua Grande

| align=right | 7

| align=center | 0107

|- <!--

PROVINCE IN ANCASH DEPARTMENT

-->

| Huaraz

| rowspan="20"|Ancash

| Huaraz

| align=right | 12

| align=center | 0201

| Aija

| align=right | 5

| align=center | 0202

| Antonio Raymondi

| Llamellín

| align=right | 6

| align=center | 0203

| Asunción

| Chacas

| align=right | 2

| align=center | 0204

| Bolognesi

| Chiquián

| align=right | 15

| align=center | 0205

| Carhuaz

| align=right | 11

| align=center | 0206

| Carlos Fermín Fitzcarrald

| San Luis

| align=right | 3

| align=center | 0207

| Casma

| align=right | 4

| align=center | 0208

| Corongo

| align=right | 7

| align=center | 0209

| Huari

| align=right | 16

| align=center | 0210

| Huarmey

| align=right | 5

| align=center | 0211

| Huaylas

| Caraz

| align=right | 10

| align=center | 0212

| Mariscal Luzuriaga

| Piscobamba

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0213

| Ocros

| align=right | 10

| align=center | 0214

| Pallasca

| Cabana

| align=right | 11

| align=center | 0215

| Pomabamba

| align=right | 4

| align=center | 0216

| Recuay

| align=right | 10

| align=center | 0217

| Santa

| Chimbote

| align=right | 9

| align=center | 0218

| Sihuas

| align=right | 10

| align=center | 0219

| Yungay

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0220

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN APURÍMAC DEPARTMENT

-->

| Abancay

| rowspan="7"|Apurímac

| Abancay

| align=right | 9

| align=center | 0301

| Andahuaylas

| align=right | 19

| align=center | 0302

| Antabamba

| align=right | 7

| align=center | 0303

| Aymaraes

| Chalhuanca

| align=right | 17

| align=center | 0304

| Cotabambas

| Tambobamba

| align=right | 6

| align=center | 0305

| Chincheros

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0306

| Grau

| Chuquibambilla

| align=right | 14

| align=center | 0307

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN AREQUIPA DEPARTMENT

-->

| Arequipa

| rowspan="8"|Arequipa

| Arequipa

| align=right | 29

| align=center | 0401

| Camaná

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0402

| Caravelí

| align=right | 13

| align=center | 0403

| Castilla

| Aplao

| align=right | 14

| align=center | 0404

| Caylloma

| Chivay

| align=right | 19

| align=center | 0405

| Condesuyos

| Chuquibamba

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0406

| Islay

| Mollendo

| align=right | 6

| align=center | 0407

| La Unión

| Cotahuasi

| align=right | 11

| align=center | 0408

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN AYACUCHO DEPARTMENT

-->

| Huamanga

| rowspan="11"|Ayacucho

| Ayacucho

| align=right | 15

| align=center | 0501

| Cangallo

| align=right | 6

| align=center | 0502

| Huanca Sancos

| align=right | 4

| align=center | 0503

| Huanta

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0504

| La Mar

| San Miguel

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0505

| Lucanas

| Puquio

| align=right | 21

| align=center | 0506

| Parinacochas

| Coracora

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0507

| Páucar del Sara Sara

| Pausa

| align=right | 10

| align=center | 0508

| Sucre

| Querobamba

| align=right | 11

| align=center | 0509

| Víctor Fajardo

| Huancapi

| align=right | 12

| align=center | 0510

| Vilcas Huamán

| Vilcashuamán

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0511

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN CAJAMARCA DEPARTMENT

-->

| Cajamarca

| rowspan="13"|Cajamarca

| Cajamarca

| align=right | 12

| align=center | 0601

| Cajabamba

| align=right | 4

| align=center | 0602

| Celendín

| align=right | 12

| align=center | 0603

| Chota

| align=right | 19

| align=center | 0604

| Contumazá

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0605

| Cutervo

| align=right | 15

| align=center | 0606

| Hualgayoc

| Bambamarca

| align=right | 3

| align=center | 0607

| Jaén

| align=right | 12

| align=center | 0608

| San Ignacio

| align=right | 7

| align=center | 0609

| San Marcos

| align=right | 7

| align=center | 0610

| San Miguel

| San Miguel de Pallaques

| align=right | 13

| align=center | 0611

| San Pablo

| align=right | 4

| align=center | 0612

| Santa Cruz

| Santa Cruz de Succhubamba

| align=right | 11

| align=center | 0613

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN CALLAO

-->

| Callao

| None

| Callao

| align=right | 7

| align=center | 0701

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN CUSCO DEPARTMENT

-->

| Cusco

| rowspan="13"|Cusco

| Cusco

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0801

| Acomayo

| align=right | 7

| align=center | 0802

| Anta

| align=right | 9

| align=center | 0803

| Calca

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0804

| Canas

| Yanaoca

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0805

| Canchis

| Sicuani

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0806

| Chumbivilcas

| Santo Tomás

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0807

| Espinar

| Yauri

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0808

| La Convención

| Quillabamba

| align=right | 10

| align=center | 0809

| Paruro

| align=right | 9

| align=center | 0810

| Paucartambo

| align=right | 6

| align=center | 0811

| Quispicanchi

| Urcos

| align=right | 12

| align=center | 0812

| Urubamba

| align=right | 7

| align=center | 0813

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN HUANCAVELICA DEPARTMENT

-->

| Huancavelica

| rowspan="7"|Huancavelica

| Huancavelica

| align=right | 19

| align=center | 0901

| Acobamba

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 0902

| Angaraes

| Lircay

| align=right | 12

| align=center | 0903

| Castrovirreyna

| align=right | 13

| align=center | 0904

| Churcampa

| align=right | 10

| align=center | 0905

| Huaytará

| align=right | 16

| align=center | 0906

| Tayacaja

| Pampas

| align=right | 16

| align=center | 0907

|- <!--

PROVINCIAS IN HUÁNUCO DEPARTMENT

-->

| Huánuco

| rowspan="11"|Huánuco

| Huánuco

| align=right | 11

| align=center | 1001

| Ambo

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 1002

| Dos de Mayo

| La Unión

| align=right | 9

| align=center | 1003

| Huacaybamba

| align=right | 4

| align=center | 1004

| Huamalíes

| Llata

| align=right | 11

| align=center | 1005

| Leoncio Prado

| Tingo María

| align=right | 6

| align=center | 1006

| Marañón

| Huacrachuco

| align=right | 3

| align=center | 1007

| Pachitea

| Panao

| align=right | 4

| align=center | 1008

| Puerto Inca

| align=right | 5

| align=center | 1009

| Lauricocha

| Jesús

| align=right | 7

| align=center | 1010

| Yarowilca

| Chavinillo

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 1011

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN ICA DEPARTMENT

-->

| Ica

| rowspan="5"|Ica

| Ica

| align=right | 14

| align=center | 1101

| Chincha

| Chincha Alta

| align=right | 11

| align=center | 1102

| Nazca

| align=right | 5

| align=center | 1103

| Palpa

| align=right | 5

| align=center | 1104

| Pisco

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 1105

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN JUNÍN DEPARTMENT

-->

| Huancayo

| rowspan="9"|Junín

| Huancayo

| align=right | 28

| align=center | 1201

| Concepción

| align=right | 15

| align=center | 1202

| Chanchamayo

| La Merced

| align=right | 6

| align=center | 1203

| Jauja

| align=right | 34

| align=center | 1204

| Junín

| align=right | 4

| align=center | 1205

| Satipo

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 1206

| Tarma

| align=right | 9

| align=center | 1207

| Yauli

| La Oroya

| align=right | 10

| align=center | 1208

| Chupaca

| align=right | 9

| align=center | 1209

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN LA LIBERTAD DEPARTMENT

-->

| Trujillo

| rowspan="12"|La Libertad

| Trujillo

| align=right | 11

| align=center | 1301

| Ascope

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 1302

| Bolívar

| align=right | 6

| align=center | 1303

| Chepén

| align=right | 3

| align=center | 1304

| Julcán

| align=right | 4

| align=center | 1305

| Otuzco

| align=right | 10

| align=center | 1306

| Pacasmayo

| San Pedro de Lloc

| align=right | 5

| align=center | 1307

| Pataz

| Tayabamba

| align=right | 13

| align=center | 1308

| Sánchez Carrión

| Huamachuco

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 1309

| Santiago de Chuco

| align=right | 8

| align=center | 1310

| Gran Chimú

| Cascas

| align=right | 4

| align=center | 1311

| Virú

| align=right | 3

| align=center | 1312

|- <!--

PROVINCIAS IN LAMBAYEQUE DEPARTMENT

-->

| Chiclayo

| rowspan="3"|Lambayeque

| Chiclayo

| align=right | 20

| align=center | 1401

| Ferreñafe

| align=right | 6

| align=center | 1402

| Lambayeque

| align=right | 12

| align=center | 1403

|- <!--

PROVINCES IN LIMA DEPARTMENT

-->

| Huaura

| rowspan="10"|Lima

| Huacho