Map of Peru | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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 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 who after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990 returned to the presidency with promises to improve social conditions and maintain fiscal responsibility.


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Location: Western South America bordering the South Pacific Ocean between Chile and Ecuador

Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S 76 00 W

Map reference: South America

Area
Total: 1,285,220 km²
Land: 1.28 million km²
Water: 5,220 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries
Total: 7,461 km
Border countries: (5) 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: 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
Extremes 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 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: earthquakes tsunamis flooding landslides mild volcanic activity

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


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Population: 28,674,757 (July 2007 est.)
Growth rate: 1.289% (2007 est.)
Below poverty line: 53.1% (2004)

Nationality
Noun: Peruvian
Adjective: Peruvian

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

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

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

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 30.3% (male 4,427,080/female 4,271,390)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 9,267,642/female 9,150,816)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 734,533/female 823,296) (2007 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 25.5 years
Male: 25.2 years
Female: 25.8 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.289% (2007 est.)

Birth rate: 20.09 births/1000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate: 6.21 deaths/1000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.99 migrant(s)/1000 population (2007 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

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
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.036 male/female
15-64 years: 1.013 male/female
65 years and over: 0.892 male/female
Total population: 1.013 male/female (2007 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 29.96 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 32.47 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 27.34 deaths/1000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.14 years
Male: 68.33 years
Female: 72.04 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.46 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.5% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: 82,000 (2003 est.)
Deaths: 4,200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 87.7%
Male: 93.5%
Female: 82.1% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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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

Dependent areas

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note - for the first time in recent elections members of the military and national police were eligible to vote in the 2006 elections

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; 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; Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006)
Note: Prime Minister Jorge DEL CASTILLO Galvez (since 28 August 2006) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); presidential and congressional elections held 9 April 2006 with runoff election held 4 June 2006; next to be held in April 2011
Election results: Alan GARCIA elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Alan GARCIA 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA Tasso 47.5%

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 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 [Martha CHAVEZ Cossio] (a coalition of pro-FUJIMORI parties including Cambio 90 Nueva Mayoria and Si Cumple); Centrist Front (Frente Del Centro) or FC [Drago KISIC] (a coalition of Accion Popular Somos Peru and Coordinadora Nacional de Independientes); Independent Moralizing Front (Frente Independiente Moralizador) or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega]; Nationalist Party Uniting Peru (Partido Nacionalista Uniendo al Peru) or UPP [Ollanta HUMALA Tasso] (a coalition of Union for Peru (UPP) and Peruvian Nationalist Party (PNP)); National Restoration (Restauracion Nacional) or RN [Humberto LAY Sun]; National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Peru Possible (Peru Posible) or PP [David WAISMAN]; Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista Peruano) or PAP [Alan GARCIA] (also referred to by its original name Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana or APRA)

International organization participation: APEC CAN CSN FAO G-15 G-24 G-77 IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC ICCt ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO IMSO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO (correspondent) ITSO ITU ITUC LAES LAIA Mercosur (associate) MIGA MINUSTAH MONUC NAM OAS OPANAL OPCW PCA RG UN UN Security Council (temporary) UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO Union Latina UNMEE UNMIL UNMIS UNOCI UNWTO UPU WCL WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Felipe ORTIZ de Zevallos
In the us chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 833-9,860 through 9,869
In the us fax: [1] (202) 659-8,124
In the us consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, Washington, DC
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador J. Curtis STRUBLE
From the us embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34,031-5,000
From the us telephone: [51] (1) 434-3,000
From the us fax: [51] (1) 618-2,397

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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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 more than 4% per year during the period 2002-06 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 underemployment and poverty have stayed persistently high. Economic growth continues to be driven by exports of minerals textiles and agricultural products and by expectations for the Camisea natural gas megaproject and for other promising energy projects. Upon taking office President GARCIA announced Sierra Exportadora a program aimed at promoting economic growth in Peru's southern and central highlands.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $186.6 billion (2006 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 8% (2006 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $6,600 (2006 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 8.7%
Industry: 26.2%
Services: 65.1% (2006 est.)

Agriculture products: asparagus coffee cotton sugarcane rice potatoes corn plantains grapes oranges coca; 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: 7% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 9.21 million (2006 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 9%
By occupation industry: 18%
By occupation services: 73% (2001)

Unemployment rate: 7.2% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2006 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 53.1% (2004)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.3%
Highest 10: 40.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income gini index: 52 (2003)

Budget
Revenues: $27.03 billion
Expenditures: $25.12 billion (2006 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt: 32.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2% (2006 est.)

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares: $59.66 billion (2006)

Current account balance: $2.456 billion (2006 est.)

Exports: $23.75 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Commodities: copper gold zinc crude petroleum and petroleum products coffee potatoes asparagus textiles guinea pigs
Partners: US 24.1% China 9.6% Switzerland 7.1% Canada 6.8% Chile 6% Japan 5.2% (2006)

Imports: $14.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Commodities: petroleum and petroleum products plastics machinery vehicles iron and steel wheat paper
Partners: US 16.5% China 10.3% Brazil 10.3% Ecuador 7.2% Colombia 6.1% Chile 5.8% Argentina 4.8% Mexico 4% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $17.44 billion (2006 est.)

Debt external: $28.32 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $19.36 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $1.476 billion (2006 est.)

Exchange rates: nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.2742 (2006) 3.2958 (2005) 3.4132 (2004) 3.4785 (2003) 3.5165 (2002)


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Electricity
Production: 24.97 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Consumption: 22.59 billion kWh (2005)
Exports: 0 kWh (2005)
Imports: 0 kWh (2005)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 1.515 billion m³ (2005 est.)
Consumption: 1.515 billion m³ (2005 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2005 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2005)
Proven reserves: 236.9 billion m³ (1 January 2006 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 2.332 million (2006)
Mobile cellular: 8.5 million (2006)

Telephone system
General assessment: adequate for most requirements
Domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
International: country code - 51; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Pan American submarine cable

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .pe
Hosts: 270,193 (2007)
Users: 6.1 million (2006)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 1.5% (2006)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 1999 (2004)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 237 (2007)
With paved runways total: 54
With paved runways over 3047 m: 6
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 20
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 14
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 11
With paved runways under 914 m: 3 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 183
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 24
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 40
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 117 (2007)

Heliports: 1 (2007)

Pipelines: gas 983 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 61 km; liquid natural gas 106 km; liquid petroleum gas 517 km; oil 1754 km; refined products 13 km (2006)

Railways
Total: 1,989 km
Standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge
Narrow gauge: 263 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Roadways
Total: 78,829 km
Paved: 11,351 km (includes 276 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 67,478 km (2004)

Waterways
Note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km of Lago Titicaca (2007)

Merchant marine
Total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 76,220 GRT/119,615 DWT
By type: cargo 3, petroleum tanker 3
Foreign owned: 1 (US 1)
Registered in other countries: 16 (Belize 1, Panama 15) (2007)

Ports and terminals: Callao Iquitos Matarani Pucallpa Yurimaguas; note - Iquitos Pucallpa and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the Amazon and its tributaries


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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 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2005)

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 rose 25% to 34,000 hectares in 2005; 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