Huancavelica (; ) is a department of Peru. It is bordered by the departments of Lima and Ica in the west, Junín in the north, and Ayacucho in the east. It has an area of and a population of 371,909 (2025 census). It is administered by a regional government. Its capital is the city of Huancavelica.
History The department was created by the Reglamento Provisional de Elecciones, published on April 26, 1822, which established the department of Huancavelica alongside those of Arequipa, Cuzco, Huamanga and Puno.
Political division
The department is divided into seven provinces.
Province (Capital) Acobamba Province (Acobamba) Angaraes Province (Lircay) Castrovirreyna Province (Castrovirreyna) Churcampa Province (Churcampa) Huancavelica Province (Huancavelica) Huaytará Province (Huaytará) Tayacaja Province (Pampas)
The main cities are Huancavelica, Pampas and Lircay. There are many little districts like Querco in Huancavelica. Querco is a nice little town. Most of the residents are agricultors. They own cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, mules, llamas, goats, chickens, and donkeys.
Demographics The region is mostly inhabited by indigenous people of Quechua descent.
Languages According to the 2007 Peru Census, the language learnt first by most of the residents was Quechua (64.03%) followed by Spanish (35.67%). The Quechua variety spoken in Huancavelica is Chanka Quechua. The following table shows the results concerning the language learnt first in the department of Huancavelica by province:inei.gob.pe INEI, Peru, Censos Nacionales 2007
Province Quechua Aymara Asháninka Another native language Spanish Foreign language Deaf or mute TotalAcobamba51,3384911108,261 -7859,747Angaraes40,669 627710,922 -5651,723Castrovirreyna4,093141314,168 -7318,352Churcampa33,025274198,542 312741,747Huancavelica73,340117281359,544 4157133,203Huaytara5,670134316,218 22821,938Tayacaja63,95091231533,900 124298,222Total272,0853737870151,55510761424,932%64.030.090.020.0235.670.000.18100.00
Education
The National University of Huancavelica is the only university in the region and it has branches in Pampas, Lircay, Acobamba and Castrovirreyna.
Health The region has two hospitals located in Huancavelica and Pampas. There are clinics and medical post in most of the towns.
Transportation
The region is connected with the neighboring regions by national roads, which are paved in most cases. There are regional and local roads that are serving the towns of the regions. Huancavelica has a train service with the city of Huancayo.
Notable natives Lina Medina, world's youngest mother
Authorities Governor: Rubén Alva Ochoa (2015–2018)
See also Aknuqucha Chunta mountain range Chuqlluqucha Inka Wasi Urququcha Warmiqucha
Sources
External links
Official regional site Official municipal site