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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 conquistadores 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. FUJIMORI won reelection to a
third term in the spring of 2000, but international pressure
and corruption scandals led to his ouster by Congress in
November of that year. A caretaker government oversaw new
elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro
TOLEDO as the new head of government. |
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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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Map references:
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South
America |
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Area:
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total:
1,285,220 sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million 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:
5,536 km
border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km,
Chile 160 km, Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km |
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Coastline:
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2,414 km |
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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:
2.85%
permanent crops: 0.38%
other: 96.77% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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11,950 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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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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27,544,305 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
32.1% (male 4,496,146; female 4,340,580)
15-64 years: 62.8% (male 8,709,098; female 8,594,351)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 660,734; female 743,396)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
24.6 years
male: 24.4 years
female: 24.9 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.39% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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21.27
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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6.29 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
32.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 30.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 35.57 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 69.22 years
male: 67.48 years
female: 71.03 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.4% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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53,000 (2001
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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3,900 (2001 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
90% |
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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: 90.9%
male: 95.2%
female: 86.8% (2003 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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Lima |
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Administrative divisions:
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24 departments (departamentos,
singular - departamento) and 1 constitutional province* (provincia
constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa,
Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco,
Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de
Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes,
Ucayali
note: some reports indicate that the 24 departments and
1 constitutional province are now being referred to as
regions; Peru is implementing a decentralization program
whereby these 25 administrative divisions will begin to
exercise greater governmental authority over their
territories; in November 2002, voters chose their new regional
presidents and other regional leaders; the authority that the
regional government will exercise has not yet been clearly
defined, but it will be devolved to the regions over the
course of several years |
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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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31 December 1993 |
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Legal system:
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based on civil
law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (since 28 July
2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government; additionally two vice presidents are
provided for by the constitution, First Vice President
(vacant) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN (since 28
July 2001); note - Raul DIEZ Canseco resigned as First Vice
President on 30 January 2004
head of government: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique
(since 28 July 2001); note - the president is both the chief
of state and head of government; additionally two vice
presidents are provided for by the constitution, First Vice
President (vacant) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN
(since 28 July 2001); note - Raul DIEZ Canseco resigned as
First Vice President on 30 January 2004
note: Prime Minister Carlos FERRERO Costa (since 15
December 2003) does not exercise executive power; this power
is in the hands of the president; note - Beatriz MERINO was
asked to resign on 12 December 2003 and was replaced by Carlos
FERRERO Costa three days later
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
five-year term; special presidential and congressional
elections held 8 April 2001, with runoff election held 3 June
2001; next to be held 9 April 2006
election results: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique
elected president in runoff election; percent of vote -
Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique 53.1%, Alan GARCIA 46.9%
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president |
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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)
election results: percent of vote by party - Peru
Posible 26.3%, APRA 19.7%, Unidad Nacional 13.8%, FIM 11.0%,
others 29.2%; seats by party - Peru Posible 47, APRA 28,
Unidad Nacional 17, FIM 11, others 17
elections: last held 8 April 2001 (next to be held 9
April 2006) |
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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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Peruvian Aprista
Party or PAP (also referred to by its original name Alianza
Popular Revolucionaria Americana or APRA) [Alan GARCIA];
Independent Moralizing Front or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega];
National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN [Lourdes FLORES Nano];
Peru Posible or PP [Luis SOLARI]; Popular Action or AP [Javier
DIAZ Orihuela]; Solucion Popular [Carlos BOLANA]; Somos Peru
or SP [Alberto ANDRADE]; Union for Peru or UPP [Roger GUERRA
Garcia] |
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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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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador Eduardo FERRERO Costa
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20036
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San
Francisco, Washington (DC)
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869 |
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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) 434-3037 |
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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 was one of the fastest growing in Latin
America in 2002 and 2003, growing by 5% and 4%, respectively,
with the exchange rate stable and an annual inflation lower
than 2%. Foreign direct investment also was strong, thanks to
the ongoing Camisea natural gas pipeline project (scheduled to
begin operations in 2004) and investments in gold mining. Risk
premiums on Peruvian bonds on secondary markets reached
historically low levels in late 2003, reflecting investor
optimism and the government's fiscal restraint. Despite the
strong macroeconomic performance, political intrigue and
allegations of corruption continued to swirl in 2003, with the
TOLEDO administration growing increasingly unpopular, and
local and foreign concern rising that the political turmoil
could place the country's hard-won fiscal and financial
stability at risk. Moreover, as of late 2003, unemployment had
yet to respond to the strong growth in economic activity,
owing in part to rigid labor market regulations that act as an
impediment to hiring. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $146.9 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $5,200 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
9.6%
industry: 26%
services: 64.4% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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54% (2003 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.2% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force:
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7.5 million (2000
est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture,
mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, transport,
services |
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Unemployment rate:
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13.4%; widespread
underemployment (2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$10.4 billion
expenditures: $10.4 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2002 est.) |
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Industries:
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mining of metals,
petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing,
cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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6.5% (2002 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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20.59 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
14.5%
hydro: 84.7%
other: 0.8% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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19.15 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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95,100 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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161,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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370 million cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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370 million cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, cotton,
sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, plantains, coca;
poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish |
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Exports:
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$8.954 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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fish and fish
products, gold, copper, zinc, crude petroleum and byproducts,
lead, coffee, sugar, cotton |
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Exports - partners:
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US 26.1%, UK
11.6%, China 7.9%, Switzerland 7.5%, Japan 4.9% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$8.244 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery,
transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals |
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Imports - partners:
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US 27.5%, Spain
8.3%, Chile 7.9%, Brazil 4.7%, Colombia 4.6% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$29.2 billion
(2002 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$895.1 million
(1995) |
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Currency:
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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 - 3.48 (2003), 3.52 (2002), 3.51 (2001), 3.49 (2000),
3.38 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
|
calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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1,766,100 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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2,306,900 (2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: adequate for most requirements
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a
domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 51; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Pan American submarine
cable |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 472, FM 198,
shortwave 189 (1999) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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13 (plus 112
repeaters) (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.pe |
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Internet hosts:
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19,447 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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2.5 million
(2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
1,829 km
standard gauge: 1,515 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 314 km 0.914-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
|
total:
72,900 km
paved: 9,331 km
unpaved: 63,569 km (1999 est.) |
|
Waterways:
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8,808 km
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon
system and 208 km of Lago Titicaca |
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Pipelines:
|
gas 388 km; oil
1,557 km; refined products 13 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Callao, Chimbote,
Ilo, Matarani, Paita, Puerto Maldonado, Salaverry, San Martin,
Talara, Iquitos, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas
note: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are all on the
upper reaches of the Amazon and its tributaries |
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Merchant marine:
|
total: 3
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 13,666 GRT/17,611 DWT
foreign-owned: United States 1
registered in other countries: 19 (2003 est.)
by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1 |
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Airports:
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233 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 52
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 181
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 98 (2003 est.) |
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Heliports:
|
1 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army (Ejercito
Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air,
Naval Infantry, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del
Peru; FAP) |
|
Military manpower - military age:
|
17 years of age
(2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
|
males age
15-49: 7,374,187 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 4,938,512 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males:
277,931 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$829.4 million
(2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
1.3% (2003) |
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Disputes - international:
|
Bolivia has
reanimated its claim to restore the Atacama corridor ceded to
Chile and adjoining Peru in 1884 to secure sovereign maritime
assess for Bolivian natural gas |
|
Illicit drugs:
|
until 1996 the
world's largest coca leaf producer; emerging opium producer;
cultivation of coca in Peru fell 15 percent to 31,150 hectares
between 2002 and the end of 2003; 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 11 May, 2004
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