2005 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 31.5% (male 4,479,278/female 4,323,356) 15-64 years: 63.3% (male 8,891,785/female 8,776,343) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 685,179/female 769,687) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish

Airports

234 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

52 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

182 1,524 to 2,437 m: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 62 under 914 m: 99 (2004 est.)

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 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. 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; his presidency has been hampered by allegations of corruption. Geography Peru

Birth rate

20.87 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion, for general government, excluding private enterprises (2004 est.)

revenues

$13.6 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 (code)

nuevo sol (PEN)

Currency code

PEN

Current account balance

$-30 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$29.79 billion (2004 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador J. Curtis STRUBLE

embassy

Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33

FAX

[51] (1) 434-3037

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 Eduardo FERRERO Costa

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Denver, Hartford, 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

Disputes - international

Peru proposes changing its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis; organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated Peru's shared border; Peru does not support Bolivia's claim to restore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through Chile along the Peruvian border

Distribution of family income - Gini index

49.8 (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$491 million (2002)

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. 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 an average 4 percent per year during the period 2002-2004, with a stable exchange rate and low inflation. 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, the TOLEDO administration remained unpopular in 2004, and unemployment and poverty have stayed persistently high.

Electricity - consumption

20.22 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - production

22.88 billion kWh (2004 est.)

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, 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

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 - 3.4132 (2004), 3.4785 (2003), 3.5165 (2002), 3.5068 (2001), 3.49 (2000)

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, the constitution provides for two vice presidents, First Vice President (vacant) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN Rjavinsthi (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, the constitution provides for two vice presidents, First Vice President (vacant) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN Rjavinsthi (since 28 July 2001) note: Prime Minister Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI (since 25 August 2005) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president

Exports

$12.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee

Exports - partners

US 29.5%, China 9.9%, UK 9%, Chile 5.1%, Japan 4.4% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

8%

industry

27%

services

65% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$155.3 billion (2004 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

Heliports

1 (2004 est.) Military Peru

Highways

paved

10,452 km

total

78,230 km

unpaved

67,778 km (2001)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

82,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)

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 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

$9.6 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel, wheat, paper

Imports - partners

US 30.3%, Spain 11.5%, Chile 7.2%, Brazil 5.4%, Colombia 5.2% (2004)

Independence

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Industrial production growth rate

5.2% (2004 est.)

Industries

mining and refining of minerals and metals, petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas, fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food processing, steel, metal fabrication

Infant mortality rate

female

29.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

34.53 deaths/1,000 live births

total

31.94 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.8% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

APEC, CAN, CSN, FAO, G-15, 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, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.pe

Internet hosts

65,868 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

10 (2000)

Internet users

2.85 million (2003) Transportation Peru

Investment (gross fixed)

17.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

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

11 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 9%, industry 18%, services 73% (2001)

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

2.89%

other

96.71% (2001)

permanent crops

0.4%

Languages

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number of minor Amazonian languages

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 - PP 26.3%, APRA 19.7%, UN 13.8%, FIM 11.0%, others 29.2%; seats by party - PP 47, APRA 28, UN 17, FIM 11, others 17

elections

last held 8 April 2001 (next to be held 9 April 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.37 years (2005 est.)

male

67.77 years

total population

69.53 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

82.1% (2004 est.) Government Peru

male

93.5%

total population

87.7%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 6,647,874 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 4,938,417 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

277,105 (2005 est.)

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 nm

territorial sea

200 nm

Median age

female

25.21 years (2005 est.)

male

24.69 years

total

24.95 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1

foreign-owned

1 (United States 1)

registered in other countries

14 (2005)

total

4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 13,666 GRT/17,611 DWT

Military branches

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 expenditures - dollar figure

$829.3 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4% (2004) Transnational Issues Peru

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service (1999)

National holiday

Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Nationality

adjective

Peruvian

noun

Peruvian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

910 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

910 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

245.1 billion cu m (2004)

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 (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

161,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

49,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

95,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

408.8 million bbl (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 388 km; oil 1,557 km; refined products 13 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Independent Moralizing Front or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega]; National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Peru Posible or PP [David WAISMAN]; Peruvian Aprista Party or PAP (also referred to by its original name Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana or APRA) [Alan GARCIA]; 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

27,925,628 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

54% (2003 est.)

Population growth rate

1.36% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas note: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the Amazon and its tributaries

Public debt

44.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)

Radios

6.65 million (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

500 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)

standard gauge

2,962 km 1.435-m gauge

total

3,462 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

60,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2004)

Religions

Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian 0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$12.7 billion (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

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 (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note - members of the military and national police may not vote

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

adequate for most requirements

international

country code - 51; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Pan American submarine cable

Telephones - main lines in use

1,839,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,908,800 (2003)

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

2.56 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.6% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2004 est.)

Waterways

8,808 km note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km of Lago Titicaca (2004)