1989 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1989 (Internet Archive)
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 12% of GDP, 37% of labor force; commercial crops — coffee, cotton, sugarcane; other crops — rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca; animal products — poultry, red meats, dairy, wool; not self-sufficient in grain or vegetable oil; fish catch of 4.6 million metric tons (1987), world's fifth-largest
Aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $1.6 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $3.7 billion; Communist countries (1970-88), $577 million
Budget
revenues $3.2 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $796 million (1986)
Currency
inti (plural — intis); 1 inti (I/) = 1,000 soles
Electricity
4,867,000 kW capacity; 15,540 million kWh produced, 725 kWh per capita (1989)
Exchange rates
intis (I/) per US$1— 5,26 1.40 (December 1989), 128.83(1988), 16.84(1987), 13.95 (1986), 10.97 (1985) Fiscal yean calendar year
Exports
$3.55 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities— fishmeal, cotton, sugar, coffee, copper, iron ore, refined silver, lead, zinc, crude petroleum and byproducts; partners—EC 22%, US 20%, Japan 1 1%, Latin America 8%, USSR 4%
External debt
$17.7 billion (December 1989)
GDP
S18.9 billion, per capita $880; real growth rate -12.2% (1989 est.)
Illicit drugs
world's largest coca producer and source of supply for coca paste and cocaine base; about 85% of cultivation is for illicit production; most of coca base is shipped to Colombian drug dealers for processing into cocaine for the international drug market
Imports
$2.50 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities— foodstuffs, machinery, transport equipment, iron and steel semimanufactures, chemicals, Pharmaceuticals; partners—US 23%, Latin America 16%, EC 12%, Japan 7%, Switzerland 3%
Industrial production
growth rate -25.0% (1988 est.)
Industries
mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2,775% (1989)
Overview
The economy is verging on hyperinflation and economic activity is contracting rapidly. Deficit spending is at the root of domestic economic problems, but poor relations with international lenders — the result of curtailing debt payments since 1985 — are preventing an inflow of funds to generate a recovery. Reduced standards of living have increased labor tensions, and strikes, particularly in the key mining sector, have cut production and exports. Foreign exchange shortages have forced reductions in vital consumer imports such as food and industrial inputs. Peru is the world's leading producer of coca, from which the drug cocaine is produced.
Unemployment rate
15.0%; underemployment estimated at 60% (1989)
Communications
Airports
242 total, 226 usable; 35 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 24 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 39 with runways 1,2202,439 m
Branches
Peruvian Army (Ejercito Peruano), Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru), Peruvian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru)
Civil air
27 major transport aircraft
Defense expenditures
4.9% of GNP (1987) Aparri*. Bag 'L uzon South An<"* MAM
Highways
56,645 km total; 6,030 km paved, 11,865 km gravel, 14,610 km improved earth, 24,140 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways
8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km Lago Titicaca
Merchant marine
32 ships (1,000 CRT or over) totaling 341,213 GRT/535,215 DWT; includes 18 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 8 bulk; note — in addition, 7 naval tankers and 1 naval cargo are sometimes used commercially
Military manpower
males 15-49, 5,543,166; 3,751,077 fit for military service; 236,814 reach military age (20) annually
Pipelines
crude oil, 800 km; natural gas and natural gas liquids, 64 km
Ports
Callao, Ilo, Iquitos, Matarani, Talara
Railroads
1,876 km total; 1,576 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 300 km 0.914-meter gauge
Telecommunications
fairly adequate for most requirements; nationwide radio relay system; 544,000 telephones; stations — 273 AM, no FM, 140 TV, 144 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations, 12 domestic antennas Defense Forces