2003 Edition

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

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 33.5% (male 4,828,531; female 4,678,008) 15-64 years: 61.5% (male 8,794,799; female 8,689,072) 65 years and over: 5% (male 652,375; female 767,112) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish

Airports

233 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 9

total

49

under 914 m

2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

184 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 61

under 914 m

100 (2002) Military Peru

Area

land

1.28 million sq km

total

1,285,220 sq km

water

5,220 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Alaska

Background

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. Geography Peru

Birth rate

22.81 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$10.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)

revenues

$10.4 billion

Capital

Lima

Climate

varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes

Coastline

2,414 km

Constitution

31 December 1993

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Peru

conventional short form

Peru

local long form

Republica del Peru

local short form

Peru

Currency

nuevo sol (PEN)

Currency code

PEN

Death rate

5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$29.2 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John R. DAWSON

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant)

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, Washington (DC)

Disputes - international

Bolivia continues to press Chile and Peru to restore the Atacama corridor ceded to Chile in 1884

Distribution of family income - Gini index

46.2 (1996)

Economic aid - recipient

$895.1 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Thanks to foreign investment and the cooperation between the government and the IMF and World Bank, growth was strong in 1994-97 and inflation was brought under control. In 1998, El Nino's impact on agriculture, the financial crisis in Asia, and instability in Brazilian markets undercut growth. The following year was again lean year for Peru, with the aftermath of El Nino and the Asian financial crisis working its way through the economy. Political instability resulting from the presidential election and FUJIMORI's subsequent departure from office limited growth in 2000. The downturn in the global economy further curtailed growth in 2001. President TOLEDO, who assumed the presidency in July 2001, has been working to reinvigorate the economy and reduce unemployment. Economic growth in 2002 is estimated at 4.8%, led by construction in the retail and gas sectors.

Electricity - consumption

19.15 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

20.59 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

14.5%

hydro

84.7%

nuclear

0%

other

0.8% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.52 (2002), 3.51 (2001), 3.49 (2000), 3.38 (1999), 2.93 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

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 Raul DIEZ Canseco (since 28 July 2001) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN (since 28 July 2001)

election results

President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique 53.1%, Alan GARCIA 46.9%

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

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 Raul DIEZ Canseco (since 28 July 2001) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN (since 28 July 2001)

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

Exports

$7.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products, gold, copper, zinc, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, coffee, sugar, cotton

Exports - partners

US 28.1%, China 10.5%, UK 7%, Switzerland 6.1%, Japan 5.6% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 659-8124

[51] (1) 434-3037

telephone

[1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Peru

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $138.8 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

10%

industry

27%

services

63% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.3% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

10 00 S, 76 00 W

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

Government type

constitutional republic

Highways

paved

9,331 km

total

72,900 km

unpaved

63,569 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,900 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

53,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

35.4% (1996)

lowest 10%

1.6%

Illicit drugs

until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; emerging opium producer; cultivation of coca in Peru increased by 8% to 36,600 hectares between 2001 and the end of 2002; 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 18 December, 2003

Imports

$7.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 26.1%, Chile 7.9%, Spain 5.1%, Colombia 5%, Brazil 4.7%, Venezuela 4.7%, Argentina 4.3% (2002)

Independence

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (2002 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

31.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

42.04 deaths/1,000 live births

total

36.97 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.2% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, APEC, CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.pe

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

10 (2000)

Internet users

3 million (2002) Transportation Peru

Irrigated land

11,950 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

7.5 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

border countries

Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km, Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km

total

5,536 km

Land use

arable land

2.85%

other

96.77% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.38%

Languages

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara

Legal system

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

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)

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)

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.43 years (2003 est.)

male

68.45 years

total population

70.88 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

86.8% (2003 est.) Government Peru

male

95.2%

total population

90.9%

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

Median age

female

23.7 years (2002)

male

23.2 years

total

23.5 years

Merchant marine

convenience

US 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of

ships by type

cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1

total

5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,470 GRT/45,451 DWT

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1 billion (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (FY01) Transnational Issues Peru

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

7,510,882 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

5,045,619 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

281,717 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Nationality

adjective

Peruvian

noun

Peruvian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

370 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

370 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

245.1 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

161,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

95,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

614.7 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 388 km; oil 1,557 km; refined products 13 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Peruvian Aprista Party or PAP [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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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)]

Population

28,409,897 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

50% (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.61% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)

Radios

6.65 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

314 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)

standard gauge

1,515 km 1.435-m gauge

total

1,829 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

adequate for most requirements

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Pan American submarine cable

Telephones - main lines in use

1.8 million (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

504,995 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

3.06 million (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

2.81 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.4%; widespread underemployment (2002 est.)

Waterways

8,808 km

note

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