1996 Edition

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 llama, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath

Location

10 00 S, 76 00 W -- Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than Alaska

land area

1.28 million sq km

total area

1,285,220 sq km

Climate

varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west

Coastline

2,414 km

Environment

current issues

deforestation; 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

international agreements

party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

natural hazards

earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity

Geographic coordinates

10 00 S, 76 00 W

Geographic note

shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia

International disputes

three sections of the boundary with Ecuador are in dispute

Irrigated land

12,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km, Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km

total

6,940 km

Land use

arable land

3%

forest and woodland

55%

meadows and pastures

21%

other

21%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 nm

territorial sea

200 nm

Natural resources

copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash

Terrain

western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

highest point

Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 35% (male 4,360,379; female 4,214,970) 15-64 years: 61% (male 7,480,747; female 7,375,825) 65 years and over: 4% (male 497,775; female 593,712) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

24.33 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

6.13 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Indian 45%, mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Infant mortality rate

52.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.39 years (1996 est.)

male

66.97 years

total population

69.13 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

83%

male

94.5%

total population

88.7%

Nationality

adjective

Peruvian

noun

Peruvian(s)

Net migration rate

-0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

24,523,408 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.74% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic

Sex ratio

all ages

1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.04 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

the 1979 constitution mandated the creation of regions (regiones, singular - region) to function eventually as autonomous economic and administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been constituted from 23 of the 24 departments - Amazonas (from Loreto), Andres Avelino Caceres (from Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from Arequipa), Chavin (from Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca (from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Apurimac), La Libertad (from La Libertad), Los Libertadores-Huari (from Ica, Ayacucho, Huancavelica), Mariategui (from Moquegua, Tacna, Puno), Nor Oriental del Maranon (from Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas), San Martin (from San Martin), Ucayali (from Ucayali); formation of another region has been delayed by the reluctance of the constitutional province of Callao to merge with the department of Lima; because of inadequate funding from the central government and organizational and political difficulties, the regions have yet to assume major responsibilities; the 1993 constitution retains the regions but limits their authority; the 1993 constitution also reaffirms the roles of departmental and municipal governments

Capital

Lima

Congress

elections last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%, 11 other parties 33.9%; seats - (120 total, when installed on 28 July 1995) C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM 6, (CODE)-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3, Renovacion 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2, MIA 1, FRENATRACA 1, FREPAP 1

Constitution

31 December 1993

Data code

PE

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Ricardo V. LUNA MENDOZA

telephone

[1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

chief of state and head of government

President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%, Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%

note

Prime Minister Alberto PANDOLFI Arbulu (since 3 April 1996) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president

FAX

[1] (202) 659-8124

[51] (12) 21-3543

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), and San Francisco

Flag

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 llama, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath

Independence

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

International organization participation

AG, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary

Legal system

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Peru

conventional short form

Peru

local long form

Republica del Peru

local short form

Peru

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Other political or pressure groups

leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path, Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned); Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, Nestor SERPA and Victor POLAY (imprisoned)

Political parties and leaders

Change 90-New Majority (C90/NM), Alberto FUJIMORI; Union for Peru (UPP), Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR; American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), Agustin MANTILLA Campos; Independent Moralizing Front (FIM), Fernando OLIVERA Vega; Democratic Coordinator (CODE) - Pais Posible, Jose BARBA Caballero and Alejandro TOLEDO; Popular Action Party (AP), Raul DIEZ CANSECO; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes; Renovacion, Rafael REY Rey; Civic Works Movement (OBRAS), Ricardo BELMONT; United Left (IU), Agustin HAYA de la TORRE; Independent Agrarian Movement (MIA), Rolando SALVATERRIE; Peru 2000-National Front of Workers and Peasants (FRENATRACA), Roger CACARES; Popular Agricultural Front (FREPAP), Ezequiel ATAUCUSI

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Alvin P. ADAMS, Jr.

embassy

Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima

mailing address

P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031

telephone

[51] (12) 21-1202

Agriculture

coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca; poultry, red meats, dairy products, wool; fish catch of 6.9 million metric tons (1990)

Budget

expenditures

$9.3 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

revenues

$8.5 billion

Currency

1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $363 million (1993)

Economic overview

The Peruvian economy has become increasingly market-oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990 in the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. In the 1980s, the economy suffered from hyperinflation, declining per capita output, and mounting external debt. Peru was shut off from IMF and World Bank support in the mid-1980s because of its huge debt arrears. An austerity program implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government took office in July 1990 contributed to a third consecutive yearly contraction of economic activity, but the slide came to a halt late that year, and in 1991 output rose 2.4%. After a burst of inflation as the austerity program eliminated government price subsidies, monthly price increases eased to the single-digit level and by December 1991 dropped to the lowest increase since mid-1987. Lima obtained a financial rescue package from multilateral lenders in September 1991, although it faced $14 billion in arrears on its external debt. By working with the IMF and World Bank on new financial conditions and arrangements, the government succeeded in ending its arrears by March 1993. In 1992, GDP fell by 2.8%, in part because a warmer-than-usual El Nino current resulted in a 30% drop in the fish catch, but the economy rebounded as strong foreign investment helped push growth to 6% in 1993, about 13% in 1994, and 6.8% in 1995.

Electricity

capacity

4,190,000 kW

consumption per capita

448 kWh (1993)

production

11.2 billion kWh

Exchange rates

nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1 - 2.350 (January 1996), 2.253 (1995), 2.195 (1994), 1.988 (1993), 1.246 (1992), 0.773 (1991)

Exports

$5.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities

copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton

partners

US 19%, Japan 9%, Italy, Germany

External debt

$22.4 billion (1994 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $87 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$3,600 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

6.8% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

world's largest coca leaf producer with about 115,300 hectares under cultivation in 1995; source of supply for most of the world's coca paste and cocaine base; at least 85% of coca cultivation is for illicit production; most of cocaine base is shipped to Colombian drug dealers for processing into cocaine for the international drug market, but exports of finished cocaine are increasing

Imports

$7.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)

commodities

machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

partners

US 21%, Colombia, Argentina, Japan, Germany, Brazil

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.2% (1995 est.)

Labor force

8 million (1992)

by occupation

agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, transport, services

Unemployment rate

15%; extensive underemployment (1992 est.)

Branches

Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $998 million, 1.6% of GDP (1996)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

6,441,513

males fit for military service

4,347,460

males reach military age (20) annually

255,067 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 273, FM 0, shortwave 144

Radios

5.7 million (1992 est.)

Telephone system

adequate for most requirements

domestic

nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

779,306 (1990 est.)

Television broadcast stations

140

Televisions

2 million (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

230

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

12

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

15

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

6

with paved runways over 3 047 m

5

with paved runways under 914 m

96

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

22

with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

2

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

71 (1995 est.)

with unpaved runways over 3 047 m

1

Highways

paved

13,538 km

total

69,942 km

unpaved

56,404 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 2, cargo 7 (1995 est.)

total

9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 77,584 GRT/144,030 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 800 km; natural gas and natural gas liquids 64 km

Ports

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

Railways

narrow gauge

315 km 0.914-m gauge (1994)

standard gauge

1,726 km 1.435-m gauge

total

2,041 km

Waterways

8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km of Lago Titicaca