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.

Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S 76 00 W

Map reference: South America

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

Land boundaries
Total: 5,536 km
Border countries: (4) Bolivia 900 km; , Brazil 1,560 km; , Chile 160 km; , Colombia 1,496 km; (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km

Coastline: 2,414 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: 200 NM
Territorial sea: 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: 2.85%
Permanent crops: 0.38%
Other: 96.77% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 11,950 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: earthquakes tsunamis flooding landslides mild volcanic activity

Geography
Note: shares control of Lago Titicaca world's highest navigable lake with Bolivia; remote Lake McIntyre is the ultimate source of the Amazon River

Population: 27,949,639 (July 2002 est.)
Growth rate: 1.66% (2002 est.)
Below poverty line: 50% (2000 est.)

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

Religions: Roman Catholic 90%

Age structure
0-14 years: 34% (male 4,820,892; female 4,671,205)
15-64 years: 61.1% (male 8,598,328; female 8,492,830)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 627,601; female 738,783) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.66% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 23.36 births/1000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 5.74 deaths/1000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.05 migrant(s)/1000 population (2002 est.)

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male/female
Total population: 1.01 male/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 38.18 deaths/1000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.59 years
Female: 73.12 years (2002 est.)
Male: 68.18 years

Total fertility rate: 2.89 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.35% (1999 est.)
People living with hivaids: 48,000 (1999 est.)
Deaths: 4,100 (1999 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 88.3%
Male: 94.5%
Female: 83% (1995 est.)

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: Lima

Administrative divisions
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

Independence: 28 July 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day 28 July (1821)

Constitution: 31 December 1993

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
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)
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 Luis SOLARI DE LA FUENTE (since 12 July 2002) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president; DANINO resigned 11 July 2002 and was replaced by Luis SOLARI
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
Election results: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique 53.1%, Alan GARCIA 46.9%
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Legislative branch
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)

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: American Popular Revolutionary Alliance or APRA (now Peruvian Aprista Party or PAP as of April 2001) [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]

International organization participation: ABEDA APEC CAN CCC ECLAC FAO G-15 G-19 G-24 G-77 IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC 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 WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WToO WTrO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto DANINO
In the us chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, Washington (DC)
In the us fax: [1] (202) 659-8,124
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 833-9,860 through 9,869
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador John R. DAWSON
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) 434-3,037

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 overview: Thanks to strong 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. And 1999 was another 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 depressed growth in 2001. President TOLEDO who assumed the presidency in July 2001 is working to reinvigorate the economy and reduce unemployment. Economic growth in 2002 is projected to be 3 to 3.5%.

Real gdp growth rate: -0.3% (2001 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2001 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 10%
Industry: 35%
Services: 55% (2001 est.)

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (2001 est.)

Labor force: 7.5 million (2000 est.)
By occupation government and other services: 44%
By occupation agriculture: 37%
By occupation industry: 19% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: 9%; widespread underemployment (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line: 50% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2%
Highest 10: 35% (1996) (1996)

Distribution of family income gini index: 46 (1996)

Budget
Revenues: $10.4 billion
Expenditures: $10.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.) (2002 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 1.5% (2001 est.)

Exports: $7.3 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Commodities: fish and fish products gold copper zinc crude petroleum and byproducts lead coffee sugar cotton
Partners: US 28% UK 8% Switzerland 8% China 6% Japan Chile Brazil (2000)

Imports: $7.4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Commodities: machinery transport equipment foodstuffs petroleum iron and steel chemicals pharmaceuticals
Partners: US 27% Chile 8% Spain 6% Venezuela 4% Colombia Brazil Japan (2000)

Debt external: $33.1 billion (2001 est.)

Exchange rates: nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.4400 (November 2001) 3.509 (2001) 3.4900 (2000) 3.3833 (1999) 2.9300 (1998) 2.6642 (1997)

Electricity
Production: 19.679 billion kWh (2000)
Production by source fossil fuel: 18%
Production by source hydro: 81%
Production by source other: 1% (2000)
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Consumption: 18.301 billion kWh (2000)
Exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Imports: 0 kWh (2000)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 1.8 million (2000)
Mobile cellular: 504,995 (1998)

Telephone system
General assessment: 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); Pan American submarine cable

Internet
Country code: .pe
Service providers isps: 10 (2000)
Users: 3 million (2002)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $1 billion (FY01)
Percent of gdp: 1.8% (FY01)

Airports: 239 (2001)
With paved runways total: 49
With paved runways over 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 20
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 13
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 9
With paved runways under 914 m: 2 (2002)
With unpaved runways total: 184
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 23
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 61
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 100 (2002)

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

Railways
Total: 2,102 km
Standard gauge: 1,695 km 1.435-m gauge
Narrow gauge: 407 km 0.914-m gauge (2001)

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

Merchant marine
Total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 29,470 GRT/45,451 DWT
Note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: United States 1 (2002 est.)
Ships by type: cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1

Disputes international: dispute with Chile over the economic zone delimited by the maritime boundary; Colombian drug activities penetrate Peruvian border area

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