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Introduction - Peru
Background:
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 Manrique 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 Perez who, after a
disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, has overseen a robust
macroeconomic performance.
Geography - Peru
Location:
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and
Ecuador
Geographic coordinates:
10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 1,285,216 sq km
country comparison to the world: 20
land: 1,279,996 sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
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
Coastline:
2,414 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
Terrain:
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern
lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources:
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate,
potash, hydropower, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 2.88%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.65% (2005)
Irrigated land:
12,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1,913 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 20.13 cu km/yr (8%/10%/82%)
per capita: 720 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
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
Environment - international agreements:
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
Geography - note:
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
People - Peru
Population:
29,907,003 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.5% (male 4,331,552/female 4,177,918)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 9,885,766/female 9,763,912)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 823,833/female 924,022) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.4 years
male: 26.1 years
female: 26.7 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.193% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Birth rate:
19 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Death rate:
6.13 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Net migration rate:
-0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Urbanization:
urban population: 71% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.046 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 27.74 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 79
male: 30.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.03 years
country comparison to the world: 139
male: 69.14 years
female: 73 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.32 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
76,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups:
Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black,
Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified or none 2.9%
(2007 Census)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number of minor
Amazonian languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.9%
male: 96.4%
female: 89.4% (2007 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 157
Government - Peru
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
name: Lima
geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
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
Independence:
28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution:
29 December 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006); First Vice
President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas (since 28 July 2006); 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 (since 28 July 2006); Second Vice President
Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006)
note: Prime Minister Javier VELASQUEZ Quesquen (since 12 July 2009) does not
exercise executive power; this power rests with the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for
nonconsecutive reelection); presidential and congressional elections last held
on 9 April 2006 with runoff election held on 4 June 2006; next to be held in
April 2011
election results: Alan GARCIA Perez elected president in runoff election;
percent of vote - Alan GARCIA Perez 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA Tasso 47.5%
Legislative branch:
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 on 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
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are appointed by
the National Council of the Judiciary)
Political parties and leaders:
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); Central Front (Frente
Del Centro) or FC (a coalition of Accion Popular, Somos Peru, and Coordinadora
Nacional de Independientes) [Victor Andres GARCIA Belaunde]; National Renovation
Party (Partido Renovacion Nacional) [Rafael REY]; National Restoration Party (Restauracion
Nacional) or RN [Humberto LAY Sun]; National Solidarity Party (Partido
Solidaridad Nacional) or SN [Luis CASTANEDA Lossio]; Peru Possible (Peru Posible)
or PP [Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique]; Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista
Peruano) or PAP [Alan GARCIA Perez] (also referred to by its original name
Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana or APRA); Peruvian Nationalist Party (Partido
Nacionalista Peruano) or PNP [Ollanta HUMALA Tasso]; Popular Christian Party (Partido
Popular Cristiano) or PPC [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Union for Peru (Union por el
Peru) or UPP [Aldo ESTRADA Choque]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
General Workers Confederation of Peru (Confederacion General de Trabajadores del
Peru) or CGTP [Mario HUAMAN]; Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) or SL [Abimael
GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned), Victor QUISPE Palomino (top leader at-large)]
(leftist guerrilla group)
International organization participation:
APEC, CAN, FAO, 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, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis VALDIVIESO Montano
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hartford,
Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador P. Michael MCKINLEY
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
Flag description:
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 (representing fauna), a cinchona tree (the source of quinine, signifying
flora), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out coins (denoting mineral wealth);
red recalls blood shed for independence, white symbolizes peace
Economy - Peru
Economy - overview:
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. 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 9% per year in 2007 and 2008, driven by higher world prices for
minerals and metals and the government's aggressive trade liberalization
strategies, but then fell to less than 1% in 2009 in the face of the world
recession and lower commodity export prices. Peru's rapid expansion has helped
to reduce the national poverty rate by about 15% since 2002, though
underemployment remain high; inflation has trended downward in 2009, to below
the Central Bank's 1-3% target. Despite Peru's strong macroeconomic performance,
overdependence on minerals and metals subjects the economy to fluctuations in
world prices, and poor infrastructure precludes the spread of growth to Peru's
non-coastal areas. Not all Peruvians therefore have shared in the benefits of
growth. President GARCIA's pursuit of sound trade and macroeconomic policies has
cost him political support since his election. Nevertheless, he remains
committed to Peru's free-trade path. Since 2006, Peru has signed trade deals
with the United States, Canada, Singapore, and China, concluded negotiations
with the European Union, and begun trade talks with Korea, Japan, and others.
The US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) entered into force 1 February 2009,
opening the way to greater trade and investment between the two economies.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$253 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$250.8 billion (2008 est.)
$228.4 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$128.9 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
9.8% (2008 est.)
8.9% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,600 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$8,600 (2008 est.)
$7,900 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.2%
industry: 32.1%
services: 59.7% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
10.32 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 23.8%
services: 75.5% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
8.1% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
8.1% (2008 est.)
note: data are for metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment
Population below poverty line:
44.5% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 37.9% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
52 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 19
46.2 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Budget:
revenues: $35.25 billion
expenditures: $37.89 billion (2009 est.)
Public debt:
24.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
24.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
5.8% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.25% (31 November 2009)
country comparison to the world: 56
7.25% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
23.67% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 12
24.1% (December 2008)
Stock of money:
$15.48 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 47
$14.66 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$25.27 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 49
$19.95 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$21.98 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 64
$17.88 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$69.75 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 48
$55.63 billion (31 December 2008)
$106 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
asparagus, coffee, cocoa, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains,
grapes, oranges, pineapples, guavas, bananas, apples, lemons, pears, coca,
tomatoes, mango, barley, medicinal plants, palm oil, marigold, onion, wheat, dry
beans; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish; guinea pigs
Industries:
mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction
and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food
processing
Industrial production growth rate:
-4.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Electricity - production:
30.57 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - consumption:
28.97 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
148,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Oil - consumption:
157,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Oil - exports:
68,640 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Oil - imports:
133,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Oil - proved reserves:
415.8 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - production:
3.39 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - consumption:
3.39 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Natural gas - proved reserves:
335.3 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Current account balance:
$247 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
-$4.18 billion (2008 est.)
Exports:
$26.89 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$31.53 billion (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee, potatoes,
asparagus, textiles, fishmeal
Exports - partners:
US 17.86%, China 15.96%, Canada 11.35%, Japan 6.75%, Chile 5.42%, Germany 4.25%
(2009)
Imports:
$21.01 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$28.44 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel,
wheat, paper
Imports - partners:
US 23.96%, China 10.74%, Ecuador 7.25%, Brazil 7.19%, Chile 5.68%, Argentina
5.59%, Mexico 5.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$33.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
$31.25 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$30.04 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$34.59 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$34.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$30.23 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.694 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$1.694 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar - 2.88 (2009), 2.91 (2008), 3.1731 (2007), 3.2742
(2006), 3.2958 (2005)
Communications - Peru
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.878 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 52
Telephones - mobile cellular:
20.952 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 38
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate for most requirements; nationwide microwave radio
relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is only about 10 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple providers,
has increased to more than 70 telephones per 100 persons
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) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.pe
Internet hosts:
274,592 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 58
Internet users:
7.128 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 36
Transportation - Peru
Airports:
201 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 57
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 144
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 79 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
extra heavy crude 533 km; gas 1,083 km; liquid petroleum gas 677 km; oil 1,018
km; refined products 15 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 1,989 km
country comparison to the world: 73
standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 263 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 102,877 km
country comparison to the world: 42
note: includes 23,838 km of national roads, 19,048 km of departmental roads, and
60,000 km of local roads (2007)
Waterways:
8,808 km
country comparison to the world: 14
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km of Lago
Titicaca (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 123
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned: 1 (Bahamas 1)
registered in other countries: 17 (Belize 1, Panama 16) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Paita, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas; note - Iquitos,
Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the Amazon and its
tributaries
Military - Peru
Military branches:
Army of Peru (Ejercito Peruano), Navy of Peru (Marina de Guerra del Peru, MGP
(includes naval air, naval infantry, and Coast Guard)), Air Force of Peru
(Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; no
conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,920,056
females age 16-49: 7,795,130 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,045,256
females age 16-49: 6,501,224 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 312,375
female: 302,452 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 99
Transnational Issues - Peru
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:
IDPs: 60,000-150,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous
peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2007)
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 declined to 36,000 hectares in 2007; second largest
producer of cocaine, estimated at 210 metric tons of potential pure cocaine in
2007; 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, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia for use in the Southern Cone or
transshipment to Europe and Africa; increasing domestic drug consumption
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