Peru

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

constitutional republicIndependence 28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Peru as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 117 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 land: 1.28 million sq km water: 5,220 sq km
LocationWestern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
2001

Every edition of Peru

Populationas each edition published it
27.48 million July 2001 est. · 21.91m in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.7% 2001 est. · 1.9% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 23.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
70.3 years 2001 est. · 65.17 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.96 children per woman 2001 est. · 3.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
39.39 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 67 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$4,550 2000 est. · $1,100 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.6% 2000 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

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Coastline
2,414km
continental shelf: 200 NM territorial sea: 200 NM
Irrigated land
12,800sq km
(1993 est.)

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

Area

total: 1,285,220 sq km land: 1.28 million sq km water: 5,220 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 5,536 km border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km, Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km

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 highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 21% forests and woodland: 66% other: 10% (1993 est.)

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-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 signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note

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

People

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Population
27,483,864
(July 2001 est.)growth rate: 1.7% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth
23.9Death
5.78Net migration
-1.08

Age structure

0-14 years: 34.41% (male 4,803,464; female 4,654,890) 15-64 years: 60.8% (male 8,408,210; female 8,302,943) 65 years and over: 4.79% (male 603,309; female 711,048) (2001 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 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

39.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.3 years male: 67.9 years female: 72.81 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.96 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,100 (1999 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

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.7% male: 94.5% female: 83% (1995 est.)

Government

Constitutional republic; President Alejandro TOLEDO (since 28 July 2001)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

53.1%
Alejandro TOLEDO 53.1%Alan GARCIA 46.9%

Legislature, 120 seatsone dot, one seat

Peru 2000 52Peru Possible 29FIM 9others 30

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Alejandro TOLEDO (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 Conseco (since 28 July 2001) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN (since 28 July 2001) head of government: President Alejandro TOLEDO (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 Conseco (since 28 July 2001) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN (since 28 July 2001) note: Prime Minister Roberto DANINO (since 28 July 2001) 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;
  • special presidential election held 8 April 2001 with runoff election 3 June 2001);
  • next to be held NA 2006 election results: President TOLEDO elected in runoff election;
  • percent of vote - Alejandro TOLEDO 53.1%, Alan GARCIA 46.9%

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 2000 (next to be held 8 April 2001) note: many congressmen defected to and then from former President FUJIMORI's coalition in 2000 election results: percent of vote by party - Peru 2000 42.16%, Peru Possible 23.34%, FIM 7.56%, Somos Peru 7.2%, APRA 5.5%, others 14.24%; seats by party - Peru 2000 52, Peru Possible 29, FIM 9, others 30

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 [Alan GARCIA];
  • Andean Rebirth [Ciro GALVEZ Herreria];
  • Avancemos [leader NA];
  • Democratic Cause [Jorge SANTISTEVAN];
  • Independent Moralizing Front or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega];
  • National Solidarity or SN [Luis CASTANEDA Lossio];
  • National Unity [Lourdes FLORES Nano];
  • Peru 2000 [leader NA];
  • Peru Posible or PP [Alejandro TOLEDO Maniquez];
  • Popular Action or AP [leader NA];
  • Popular Agrarian Front of Peru or Frepap [leader NA];
  • Popular Solution [Carlos BOLONA Behr];
  • Project Country [Mario Antonio ARRUNATEGUI];
  • Somos Peru or SP [Alberto ANDRADE];
  • Union for Peru or UPP [leader NA];
  • Vamos Vecinos or VV [Absalon VASQUEZ]

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

ABEDA, 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, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET, 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 La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33 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.

32 fields
Real growth rate
3.6%
(2000 est.)industrial production growth: 8.5% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate
7.7%
extensive underemployment (1997)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

29%
US
32%
25%
EU
21%
3%
Mercosur
8%
6%
Andean Community
6%
4%
Japan
5%
Exports $7 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)Imports $7.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)(1999)

Electricity

Electricity production
18.886 billion (1999)Electricity consumption
17.565 billion (1999)Electricity imports
1 million (1999)

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. Political instability resulting from the presidential election and FUJIMORI's subsequent departure from office limited economic growth in 2000.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $123 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,550 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 15% industry: 42% services: 43% (1999)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 34.3% (1994)

Labor force

7.6 million (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, transport, services

Budget

revenues: $8.5 billion expenditures: $9.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $2 billion (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 23.04% hydro: 76.43% nuclear: 0% other: 0.53% (1999)

Agriculture - products

  • coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca;
  • poultry, beef, dairy products, wool;
  • fish

Exports

$7 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$7.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Debt - external

$31 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$895.1 million (1995)

Currency

nuevo sol (PEN)

Exchange rates

nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.5230 (January 2001), 3.4900 (2000), 3.383 (1999), 2.930 (1998), 2.664 (1997), 2.453 (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields
Mobile cellular
504,995
(1998)
Fixed lines
1.509 million
(1998) · country code .pe

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

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)

Internet users

400,000 (2000)

Transportation

9 fields

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

8,808 km note: 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: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 40,623 GRT/61,769 DWT ships by type: cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.)

Airports

233 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 46 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 187 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 65 under 914 m: 95 (2000 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 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 (Policia Nacional)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 7,205,675 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 4,847,250 (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Illicit drugs

  • until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer, Peru reduced the area of coca under cultivation by 64% to 34,200 hectares between 1996 and the end of 2000;
  • much of the cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombia for processing into cocaine for the international drug market;
  • increasing amounts of finished cocaine, however, are being shipped to Europe or to Brazil and Bolivia for use in the Southern Cone or transshipped to world markets

Central Intelligence Agency. “Peru.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/peru/2001.

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