Peru
Republic of PeruRepublica del Peru
republicIndependence 28 July 1821 (from Spain)
Peru as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific | Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
18 fieldsLand useshare of 1,285,220 sq km
Terrain
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Environment--current issues
- deforestation;
- 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 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
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1999 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 35% (male 4,786,048; female 4,637,280)
- 15-64 years:
- 60% (male 8,045,747; female 7,939,760)
- 65 years and over:
- 5% (male 557,252; female 658,495) (1999 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 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
- total population:
- 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Government
Republic; President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990)
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 120 seats, elected 9 April 1995one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Peru
- conventional short form:
- Peru
- local long form:
- Republica del Peru
- local short form:
- Peru
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: 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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); note--the president is both the chief of state and head of government
note: Prime Minister Victor JOYWAY (since 4 January 1999) 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; election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
- election results:
- President FUJIMORI reelected; percent of vote--Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%, Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%
Legislative branch
unicameral Democratic Constituent Congress or Congresso Constituyente Democratico (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party--C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%, other parties 33.9%;
- seats by party--C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM 6, CODE-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3, Renovation 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2, other parties 3
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary
Political pressure groups and leaders
leftist guerrilla groups RAMIREZ Durand (top leader at-large)]; Tupac Amaru Revolutionary (top leader at-large)]
International organization participation
APEC, CAN, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Ricardo V. LUNA MENDOZA
- chancery:
- 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
- consulate(s) general:
- Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Dennis C. JETT
- embassy:
- Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima
- mailing address:
- P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031-5000
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 llama, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath
Economy
The Peruvian economy has become increasingly | market-oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990 in | the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries.
31 fieldsGDP--composition by sector(1997)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy--overview
The Peruvian economy has become increasingly market-oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990 in the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. An austerity program implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government took office in July 1990 contributed to a short-lived contraction of economic activity, but the slide came to a halt late that year, and in 1991 output rose 2.4%. By working with the IMF and World Bank on new financial conditions and arrangements, the government succeeded in ending its arrears by March 1993.
In 1992, GDP fell by 2.8%, in part because a warmer-than-usual El Nino current resulted in a 30% drop in the fish catch, but the economy rebounded as strong foreign investment helped push growth to 7% in 1993, about 13% in 1994, and 6.8% in 1995. Growth slowed to 2.8% in 1996 as the government adopted tight fiscal and monetary policy to reduce the current account deficit and meet its IMF targets.
Growth then rebounded to 7.3% in 1997 even as inflation fell to its lowest level in 23 years. Capital inflows surged to record levels in early 1997 and have remained strong. In 1998, El Nino's impact on agriculture, the financial crisis in Asia, and instability in Brazilian markets undercut growth. While Lima publicly projects a rebound to 5% in 1999, private sector analysts believe this figure is overly optimistic.
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, transport, services
Industries
mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication
Agriculture--products
- coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca;
- poultry, beef, dairy products, wool;
- fish
Exports--commodities
copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton
Imports--commodities
machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Exchange rates
nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1--3.250 (January 1999), 2.930 (1998), 2.664 (1997), 2.453 (1996), 2.253 (1995), 2.195 (1994)
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
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)
Transportation
9 fieldsMerchant marine, 7 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
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
Military
Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de | Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air | Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police
7 fieldsMilitary branches
Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$913 million (1998); note--may not include off-budget purchases related to military modernization program
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes--international
- on 26 October 1998, Peru and Ecuador concluded treaties on commerce and navigation and on boundary integration, to complete a package of agreements settling the long-standing boundary dispute between them;
- demarcation of the agreed-upon boundary was scheduled to begin in mid-January 1999
Illicit drugs
- until recently the world's largest coca leaf producer, Peru has reduced the area of coca under cultivation by 26%, from 68,800 hectares in 1997 to 51,000 hectares at the end of 1998;
- most of cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombia and Brazil for processing into cocaine for the international drug market, but exports of finished cocaine are increasing
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Peru.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/peru/1999.