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| GENERAL INFORMATION |
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| ABOUT PERU |
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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 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. |
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| GEOGRAPHY |
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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
references:
South America
Area:
total: 1,285,220 sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km
Area
- comparative:
slightly smaller than Alaska
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
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
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: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
11,950 sq km (1998 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; remote Lake McIntyre is the ultimate
source of the Amazon River |
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| PEOPLE |
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Population:
27,949,639 (July 2002 est.)
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/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death
rate:
5.74 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net
migration rate:
-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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 (2002 est.)
Infant mortality
rate:
38.18 deaths/1,000 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.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.35% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS:
48,000 (1999 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: 88.3%
male: 94.5%
female: 83% (1995 est.) |
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| GOVERNMENT |
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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:
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 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 Roberto DANINO (since 28 July 2001)
does not exercise executive power; this power is in the
hands of the president
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:
unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congresso
de la Republica del Peru (120 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
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 [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]
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-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 Allan WAGNER
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20036
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San
Francisco, Washington (DC)
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
Diplomatic
representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John R. 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 vicuna, cinchona
tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia
spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath |
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| ECONOMY |
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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%.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $132 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.3% (2001 est.)
GDP
- per capita:
purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 35%
services: 55% (2001 est.)
Population below
poverty line:
50% (2000 est.)
Household
income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1996)
Distribution
of family income - Gini index:
46.2 (1996)
Inflation
rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2001 est.)
Labor
force:
7.5 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction,
transport, services
Unemployment rate:
9%; widespread underemployment (2001 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $10.4 billion
expenditures: $10.4 billion, including capital expenditures
of $NA (2002 est.)
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.)
Electricity
- production:
19.679 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity
- production by source:
fossil fuel: 17.89%
hydro: 81.38%
other: 0.73% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity -
consumption:
18.301 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity
- exports:
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity
- imports:
0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture
- products:
coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, corn,
plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool;
fish
Exports:
$7.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports
- commodities:
fish and fish products, gold, copper, zinc, crude petroleum
and byproducts, lead, coffee, sugar, cotton
Exports - partners:
US 28%, UK 8%, Switzerland 8%, China 6%, Japan, Chile,
Brazil (2000)
Imports:
$7.4 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports
- commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum,
iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports
- partners:
US 27%, Chile 8%, Spain 6%, Venezuela 4%, Colombia, Brazil,
Japan (2000)
Debt - external:
$33.1 billion (2001 est.)
Economic
aid - recipient:
$895.1 million (1995)
Currency:
nuevo sol (PEN)
Currency
code:
PEN
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)
Fiscal
year:
calendar year |
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| COMMUNICATIONS |
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Telephones -
main lines in use:
1.509 million (1998)
Telephones
- 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
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
country code:
.pe
Internet Service
Providers (ISPs):
10 (2000)
Internet
users:
400,000 (2000) |
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| TRANSPORTATION |
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Railways:
total: 2,102 km
standard gauge: 1,695 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 407 km 0.914-m gauge (2001)
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: 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
Airports:
239 (2001)
Airports
- with paved runways:
total: 47
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved
runways:
total: 192
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 65
under 914 m: 102 (2001) |
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| MILITARY |
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Military branches:
Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru;
includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea del Peru; FAP), National Police (includes
General Police, Security Police, and Technical Police)
Military manpower
- military age:
17 years of age (2002 est.)
Military
manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 7,356,395 (2002 est.)
Military
manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,944,952 (2002 est.)
Military
manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 276,458 (2002 est.)
Military
expenditures - dollar figure:
$1 billion (FY01)
Military
expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.8% (FY01) |
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| TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES |
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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; Peru reduced the area of coca under cultivation
by 64% to 34,000 hectares between 1996 and the end of
2001; 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 |
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