Lima

Lima (/ˈliːmə/ LEE-mə; Spanish pronunciation: [ˈlima]), originally founded as Ciudad de Los Reyes (City of The Kings), is the capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín Rivers, in the desert zone of the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city is considered the political, cultural, financial and commercial center of Peru. Due to its geostrategic importance, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network has categorized it as a "beta" tier city. Jurisdictionally, the metropolis extends mainly within the province of Lima and in a smaller portion, to the west, within the Constitutional Province of Callao, where the seaport and the Jorge Chávez Airport are located. Both provinces have regional autonomy since 2002.

Quick facts: Lima Ciudad de Los Reyes, Country, Provin... ▼

Lima Ciudad de Los Reyes
Capital city
Miraflores skyline Metropolitan Cathedral Plaza Mayor Park of the Reserve San Francisco el Grande La Marina Lighthouse San Isidro skyline
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  Ciudad de los Reyes (City of the Kings) La Tres Veces Coronada Villa (The Three Times Crowned Ville) La Perla del Pacífico (The Pearl of the Pacific)
Motto(s):  Hoc Signum Vere Regum Est (Latin) "This is the real sign of the Kings")
Interactive map of Lima
Coordinates: 12°03′36″S 77°02′15″W
Country	Peru
Province	Lima
Established	6 January 1535
Founded by	Francisco Pizarro
Government
• Mayor	Rafael López Aliaga
Area
• City	2,672.3 km2 (1,031.8 sq mi)
• Urban	800 km2 (300 sq mi)
• Metro	2,819.3 km2 (1,088.5 sq mi)
Elevation [1]	0–1,550 m (0–5,090 ft)
Population  (2023)[2]
• Urban	9,751,717
• Urban density	12,000/km2 (32,000/sq mi)
• Metro	11,283,787[3]
• Metro density	4,002.3/km2 (10,366/sq mi)
Demonyms	Limeño/a
Time zone	UTC−5 (PET)
UBIGEO	15000
Area code	1
Website	www.munlima.gob.pe
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Historic Centre of Lima
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iv
Designated	1988, 1991 (12th, 15th sessions)
Reference no.	500
Region	Latin America and the Caribbean

The 2023 census projection indicates that the city of Lima has an estimated population of 10,092,000 inhabitants, making it the most populated city in the country.[5] Together with the seaside city of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima Metropolitan Area, which encompasses a total of 10,151,200 inhabitants.[6][note 1] When considering the constitutional province of Callao, the total agglomeration reaches a population of 11,342,100 inhabitants, one of the thirty most populated urban agglomerations in the world.

Lima was named by natives in the agricultural region known by native Peruvians as Limaq. It became the capital and most important city in the Viceroyalty of Peru. Following the Peruvian War of Independence, it became the capital of the Republic of Peru (República del Perú). Around one-third of the national population now lives in its metropolitan area. Today is home to one of the oldest institutions of higher learning: the National University of San Marcos, founded on 12 May 1551, is the first officially established and the oldest continuously functioning university in the New World.

In October 2013, Lima was chosen to host the 2019 Pan American Games; these games were held at venues in and around Lima, and were the largest sporting event ever hosted by the country. It also hosted the APEC Meetings of 2008 and 2016, the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in October 2015, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December 2014, and the Miss Universe 1982 contest.