Peru

Republic of PeruRepublica del Peru

constitutional republicIndependence 28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Peru as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 110 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalLima

Position10 00 S, 76 00 W

Area1,285,220 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

27.01 million July 2000 est. · 21.91m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.75% 2000 est. · 1.9% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 23.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

70.01 years 2000 est. · 65.17 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.04 children per woman 2000 est. · 3.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

40.6 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 67 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,400 1999 est. · $1,100 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.4% 1999 est. · -2.8% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980. In recent years, bold reform programs and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity and drug trafficking have resulted in solid economic growth.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 1,285,220 sq km

arable land 3%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 21%forests and woodland 66%other 10% (1993 est.)irrigated 12,800 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

1,285,220sq km

land: 1.28 million sq kmwater: 5,220 sq kmslightly smaller than Alaska

Coastline

2,414km

continental shelf: 200 nmterritorial sea: 200 nm

Highest point

6,768m

Nevado Huascaranlowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

5,536km

border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km, Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

10 00 S, 76 00 W

Map references

South America

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)

Natural resources

copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower

Natural hazards

earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity

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 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

Geography - note

shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia

People

15 fields

Population

27,012,899

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 1.75% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

24.48Death

5.84Net migration

-1.1

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)70.01

67.63 · 72.5

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)88.7%

94.5% · 83%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 35% (male 4,776,074; female 4,628,899)
15-64 years:: 61% (male 8,224,829; female 8,119,751)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 579,465; female 683,881) (2000 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 (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.04 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Peruvian(s)
adjective:: Peruvian

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%

Languages

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara

Government

Constitutional republic; President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

64.42%

Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%other 9.67%election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held 9 April 2000)

Legislature, 120 seats, elected 9 April 1995one dot, one seat

C90/NM 67UPP 17APRA 8FIM 6CODE-Pais Posible 5AP 4PPC 3Renovation Party 3IU 2OBRAS 2other parties 3

Percent of vote

C90/NM 52.1%UPP 14%other parties 33.9%

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Peru
conventional short form:: Peru
local long form:: Republica del Peru
local short form:: Peru

Data code

Government type

constitutional republic

Capital

Lima

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

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 Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government;
additionally there are two vice presidents
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;
additionally there are two vice presidents

note: Prime Minister Alberto BUSTAMANTE (since 13 October 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 9 April 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 9 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 Party 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2, other parties 3

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 [Luis ALVA Castro];
Change 90-New Majority or C90/NM [Alberto FUJIMORI];
Civic Works Movement or OBRAS [Ricardo BELMONT];
Democratic Coordinator or CODE-Pais Posible [Jose BARBA Caballero and Alejandro TOLEDO];
Independent Agrarian Movement or MIA [leader NA];
Independent Moralizing Front or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega];
Peru 2000 [Alberto FUJIMORI];
coalition of C90/NM and Vamos Vecino;
Popular Action Party or AP [Juan DIAZ Leon];
Popular Christian Party or PPC [Luis BEDOYA Reyes];
Renovation Party [Rafael REY Rey];
Union for Peru or UPP [Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR];
United Left or IU [leader NA];
Vamos Vecino or VV [leader NA]

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)]

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 Alfonso RIVERO Monsalve
chancery:: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
FAX:: [1] (202) 659-8124
consulate(s) general:: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador John HAMILTON
embassy:: Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima
mailing address:: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031-5000
telephone:: [51] (1) 434-3000
FAX:: [51] (1) 434-3037

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 fields

Real growth rate

2.4%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: 1.2% (1996)

Inflation, consumer prices

5.5%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.7%

extensive underemployment (1997)

Population below poverty line

54%

(1991 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1998)

agriculture 13%industry 42%services 45% (1998)

Budget

Revenues

$8.5 billionExpenditures

$9.3 billion (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $2 billion

Electricity

fossil fuel 24.53%hydro 74.79%other 0.68% (1998)nuclear 0%

Electricity production

18.28 billion (1998)Electricity consumption

17.002 billion (1998)Electricity imports

2 million (1998)

Economy - overview

The Peruvian economy has become increasingly market-oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990 in the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. Thanks to strong foreign investment and the cooperation between the FUJIMORI 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. Lima did manage to complete negotiations for an Extended Fund Facility with the IMF in June 1999, although it subsequently had to renegotiate the targets.

Pressure on spending is growing in the run-up to the 2000 elections. Nevertheless, improved commodity prices and the recovery of the fishing sector should help drive GDP growth above the 5% mark in 2000.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $116 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,400 (1999 est.)

Labor force

7.6 million (1996 est.)

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

$5.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products, copper, zinc, gold, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, coffee, sugar, cotton

Exports - partners

US 25%, China 8%, Japan 7%, Switzerland, Germany, UK, Brazil (1997)

Imports

$8.4 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners

US 19%, Colombia 6%, Venezuela 5%, Chile 4%, Brazil 4% (1997)

Debt - external

$31 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$895.1 million (1995)

Currency

1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates

nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1 - 3.500 (January 2000), 3.383 (1999), 2.930 (1998), 2.664 (1997), 2.453 (1996), 2.253 (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

504,995

(1998)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

1.509 million

(1998)

Telephone 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); Pan American submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations

AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)

Radios

6.65 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

3.06 million (1997)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 44Unpaved 190

Networkskm

Highways

72,900Railways

1,988

Highways: paved: 8,700 km · unpaved: 64,200 km (1999 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 1,608 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 380 km 0.914-m gauge

Railways

total:: 1,988 km
standard gauge:: 1,608 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 380 km 0.914-m gauge

Highways

total:: 72,900 km
paved:: 8,700 km
unpaved:: 64,200 km (1999 est.)

Waterways

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

Pipelines

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

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

Merchant marine

total:: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 65,193 GRT/100,584 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 1, cargo 6 (1999 est.)

Airports

234 (1999 est.)

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 (Policia Nacional)

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

(FY98)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

demarcation of the agreed-upon border with Ecuador was completed in May 1999

Illicit drugs

until recently the world's largest coca leaf producer, Peru has reduced the area of coca under cultivation by 24% to 38,700 hectares at the end of 1999;
most of cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombia, Bolivia, and Brazil for processing into cocaine for the international drug market, but exports of finished cocaine are increasing by maritime conveyance to Mexico, US, and Europe [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Central Intelligence Agency. “Peru.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/peru/2000.

How to cite ← 1999 edition 2001 edition →