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Background:
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Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations,
most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish
conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821, and
remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of
military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980, but
experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency.
President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that
saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in
curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, the president's increasing
reliance on authoritarian measures and an economic slump in the late
1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime, which led to
his ouster in 2000. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the
spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of
government - Peru's first democratically elected president of Native
American ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of
Alan GARCIA who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to
1990, returned to the presidency with promises to improve social
conditions and maintain fiscal responsibility. |
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Location:
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Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
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Geographic coordinates:
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10 00 S, 76 00 W
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Map references:
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South America
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Area:
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total: 1,285,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Alaska
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Land boundaries:
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total: 7,461 km
border countries: Bolivia 1,075 km, Brazil 2,995 km, Chile 171 km, Colombia 1,800 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
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Coastline:
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2,414 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
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Climate:
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varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
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Terrain:
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western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
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Natural resources:
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copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.88%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.65% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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12,000 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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1,913 cu km (2000)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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Total: 20.13 cu km/yr (8%/10%/82%)
Per capita: 720 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the
slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal
waters from municipal and mining wastes |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with
Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is the
ultimate source of the Amazon River |
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Population:
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28,674,757 (July 2007 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 30.3% (male 4,427,080/female 4,271,390)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 9,267,642/female 9,150,816)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 734,533/female 823,296) (2007 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 25.5 years
male: 25.2 years
female: 25.8 years (2007 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.289% (2007 est.)
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Birth rate:
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20.09 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Death rate:
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6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.036 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.013 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.892 male(s)/female
total population: 1.013 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 29.96 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 70.14 years
male: 68.33 years
female: 72.04 years (2007 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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2.46 children born/woman (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.5% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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82,000 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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4,200 (2003 est.)
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Nationality:
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noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian
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Ethnic groups:
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Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian 0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.)
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Languages:
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Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number of minor Amazonian languages
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.7%
male: 93.5%
female: 82.1% (2004 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru
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Government type:
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constitutional republic
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Capital:
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name: Lima
geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province* (provincia);
Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao,
Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque,
Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San
Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali |
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Independence:
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28 July 1821 (from Spain)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
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Constitution:
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29 December 1993
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Legal system:
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based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note -
for the first time in recent elections, members of the military and
national police were eligible to vote in the 2006 elections |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state:
President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006); First Vice President
Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar
(since 28 July 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since
28 July 2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice
President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006)
note: Prime Minister Jorge DEL CASTILLO Galvez (since
28 August 2006) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the
hands of the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a
nonconsecutive reelection); presidential and congressional elections
held 9 April 2006 with runoff election held 4 June 2006; next to be
held in April 2011
election results: Alan GARCIA elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Alan GARCIA 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA Tasso 47.5%
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de la Republica
del Peru (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 April 2006 (next to be held in April 2011)
election results:
percent of vote by party - UPP 21.2%, PAP 20.6%, UN 15.3%, AF 13.1%, FC
7.1%, PP 4.1%, RN 4.0%, other 14.6%; seats by party - UPP 45, PAP 36,
UN 17, AF 13, FC 5, PP 2, RN 2 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Alliance For Progress (Alianza Para El Progreso) [Cesar ACUNA Peralta];
Alliance For The Future (Alianza Por El Futuro) or AF (a coalition of
pro-FUJIMORI parties including Cambio 90, Nueva Mayoria, and Si
Cumple); Centrist Front (Frente Del Centro) or FC (a coalition of
Accion Popular, Somos Peru, and Coordinadora Nacional de
Independientes); Independent Moralizing Front (Frente Independiente
Moralizador) or FIM; National Renovation Party (Partido Renovacion
Nacional) [Rafael REY]; National Restoration (Restauracion Nacional) or
RN [Humberto LAY Sun]; National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN (a
coalition of Partido Popular Cristiano and Partido Solidaridad
Nacional) [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Peru Possible (Peru Posible) or PP
[Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique]; Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista
Peruano) or PAP [Alan GARCIA] (also referred to by its original name
Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana or APRA); Peruvian Nationalist
Party (Partido Nacionalista Peruano) or PNP [Ollanta HUMALA Tasso];
Union for Peru (Union por el Peru) or UPP [Aldo ESTRADA Choque] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path [Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso
(imprisoned), Gabriel MACARIO (top leader at-large)]; Tupac Amaru
Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned), Hugo
AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)] |
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International organization participation:
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APEC, CAN, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA,
MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,
UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Felipe ORTIZ de Zevallos
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, Washington, DC
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador J. Curtis STRUBLE
embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33
mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031-5000
telephone: [51] (1) 434-3000
FAX: [51] (1) 618-2397
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Flag description:
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three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with
the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features
a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a
yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath
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Economy - overview:
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Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal region,
the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering Colombia and
Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the mountainous areas,
and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent fishing grounds. However,
overdependence on minerals and metals subjects the economy to
fluctuations in world prices, and a lack of infrastructure deters trade
and investment. After several years of inconsistent economic
performance, the Peruvian economy grew by more than 4% per year during
the period 2002-06, with a stable exchange rate and low inflation.
Growth jumped to 7.5% in 2007, driven by higher world prices for
minerals and metals. Risk premiums on Peruvian bonds on secondary
markets reached historically low levels in late 2004, reflecting
investor optimism regarding the government's prudent fiscal policies
and openness to trade and investment. Despite the strong macroeconomic
performance, underemployment and poverty have stayed persistently high.
Growth prospects depend on exports of minerals, textiles, and
agricultural products, and by expectations for the Camisea natural gas
megaproject and for other promising energy projects. Upon taking
office, President GARCIA announced Sierra Exportadora, a program aimed
at promoting economic growth in Peru's southern and central highlands. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$217.5 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$84.54 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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7.5% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$7,600 (2007 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 8.4%
industry: 25.6%
services: 66% (2007 est.)
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Labor force:
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9.419 million (2007 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 9%
industry: 18%
services: 73% (2001)
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Unemployment rate:
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7.4% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2007 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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44.5% (2006)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 40.9% (2003)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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52 (2003)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.5% (2007 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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20.8% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $30.35 billion
expenditures: $29.8 billion (2007 est.)
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Public debt:
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29.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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asparagus, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains,
grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish, guinea pigs
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Industries:
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mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum
extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing,
textiles, clothing, food processing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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5% (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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24.97 billion kWh (2005 est.)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 14.5%
hydro: 84.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.8% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption:
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22.59 billion kWh (2005)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2005)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2005)
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Oil - production:
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110,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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166,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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53,040 bbl/day (2004 est.)
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Oil - imports:
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121,500 bbl/day (2004)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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929.6 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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1.515 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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1.515 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2005)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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236.9 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
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Current account balance:
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$2.045 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$27.14 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee, potatoes, asparagus, textiles, guinea pigs
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Exports - partners:
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US 24.1%, China 9.6%, Switzerland 7.1%, Canada 6.8%, Chile 6%, Japan 5.2% (2006)
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Imports:
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$18.75 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel, wheat, paper
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Imports - partners:
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US 16.5%, China 10.3%, Brazil 10.3%, Ecuador 7.2%, Colombia 6.1%, Chile 5.8%, Argentina 4.8%, Mexico 4% (2006)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$397.8 million (2005)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$24.06 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$27.81 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$19.36 billion (2006 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$1.476 billion (2006 est.)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$59.66 billion (2006)
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Currency (code):
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nuevo sol (PEN)
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Currency code:
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PEN
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Exchange rates:
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nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.1731 (2007), 3.2742 (2006), 3.2958 (2005), 3.4132 (2004), 3.4785 (2003)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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2.332 million (2006)
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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8.5 million (2006)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: adequate for most requirements
domestic:
fixed-line teledensity is only about 8 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular
teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple providers, has
increased to about 30 telephones per 100 persons; nationwide microwave
radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth
stations
international: country code - 51; the South America-1
(SAM-1) and Pan American (PAN-AM) submarine cable systems provide links
to parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)
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Radios:
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6.65 million (1997)
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Television broadcast stations:
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13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)
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Televisions:
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3.06 million (1997)
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Internet country code:
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.pe
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Internet hosts:
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270,193 (2007)
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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10 (2000)
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Internet users:
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6.1 million (2006)
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Airports:
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237 (2007)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 54
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 3 (2007)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 183
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 117 (2007)
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Heliports:
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1 (2007)
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Pipelines:
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gas 1,181 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 61 km; liquid natural gas 106
km; liquid petroleum gas 517 km; oil 1,749 km; refined products 13 km
(2007) |
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Railways:
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total: 1,989 km
standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 263 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)
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Roadways:
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total: 78,829 km
paved: 11,351 km (includes 276 km of expressways)
unpaved: 67,478 km (2004)
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Waterways:
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8,808 km
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km of Lago Titicaca (2007)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 76,220 GRT/119,615 DWT
by type: cargo 3, petroleum tanker 3
foreign-owned: 1 (US 1)
registered in other countries: 16 (Belize 1, Panama 15) (2007)
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Ports and terminals:
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Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Paita, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas; note - Iquitos,
Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the Amazon and its
tributaries |
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Military branches:
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Peruvian Army (Ejercito Peruano), Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del
Peru, MGP (includes naval air, naval infantry, and coast guard)),
Peruvian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP) (2007) |
|
Military service age and obligation:
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18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 1999 (2004)
|
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 18-49: 6,647,874
females age 18-49: 6,544,408 (2005 est.)
|
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 18-49: 4,938,417
females age 18-49: 5,278,511 (2005 est.)
|
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males age 18-49: 277,105
females age 18-49: 269,799 (2005 est.)
|
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
1.5% (2006)
|
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Disputes - international:
|
Chile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral legislation
to shift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime boundaries
along the parallels of latitude to equidistance lines which favor Peru;
organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated
Peru's shared border; Peru rejects Bolivia's claim to restore maritime
access through a sovereign corridor through Chile along the Peruvian
border |
|
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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IDPs: 60,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2005)
|
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Illicit drugs:
|
until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer, Peru is now the
world's second largest producer of coca leaf, though it lags far behind
Colombia; cultivation of coca in Peru rose 25% to 34,000 hectares in
2005; much of the cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombia for
processing into cocaine, while finished cocaine is shipped out from
Pacific ports to the international drug market; increasing amounts of
base and finished cocaine, however, are being moved to Brazil and
Bolivia for use in the Southern Cone or transshipped to Europe and
Africa |
This page was last updated on 12 February, 2008
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