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

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 7,461 km border countries: Bolivia 1,075 km, Brazil 2,995 km, Chile 171 km, Colombia 1,800 km, Ecuador 1,420 km

Coastline:

2,414 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: 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: 2.88% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 96.65% (2005)

Irrigated land:

12,000 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

1,913 cu km (2000)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 20.13 cu km/yr (8%/10%/82%) per capita: 720 cu m/yr (2000)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is the ultimate source of the Amazon River

People
Peru

Population:

29,180,900 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.7% (male 4,409,227/female 4,253,836) 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 9,501,597/female 9,381,139) 65 years and over: 5.6% (male 770,389/female 864,711) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.8 years male: 25.5 years female: 26.1 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.264% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

19.77 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

6.16 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 29.53 deaths/1,000 live births male: 32.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.44 years male: 68.61 years female: 72.37 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.42 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

82,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, Oroya fever, and yellow fever water contact disease: leptospirosis (2008)

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 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian 0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.)

Languages:

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number of minor Amazonian languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87.7% male: 93.5% female: 82.1% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 14 years (2006)

Education expenditures:

2.5% of GDP (2006)

Government
Peru

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:

name: Lima geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province* (provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali

Independence:

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Constitution:

29 December 1993

Legal system:

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note - for the first time in recent elections, members of the military and national police were eligible to vote in the 2006 elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006) note: Prime Minister Yehude SIMON Munaro (since 14 October 2008) 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 (eligible for a nonconsecutive reelection); presidential and congressional elections held 9 April 2006 with runoff election held 4 June 2006; next to be held in April 2011 election results: Alan GARCIA elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Alan GARCIA 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA Tasso 47.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de la Republica del Peru (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 April 2006 (next to be held in April 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - UPP 21.2%, PAP 20.6%, UN 15.3%, AF 13.1%, FC 7.1%, PP 4.1%, RN 4.0%, other 14.6%; seats by party - UPP 45, PAP 36, UN 17, AF 13, FC 5, PP 2, RN 2

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:

Alliance For Progress (Alianza Para El Progreso) [Cesar ACUNA
Peralta]; Alliance For The Future (Alianza Por El Futuro) or AF (a
coalition of pro-FUJIMORI parties including Cambio 90, Nueva
Mayoria, and Si Cumple); Central Front (Frente Del Centro) or FC (a
coalition of Accion Popular, Somos Peru, and Coordinadora Nacional
de Independientes) [Victor Andres GARCIA Belaunde]; National
Renovation Party (Partido Renovacion Nacional) [Rafael REY];
National Restoration Party (Restauracion Nacional) or RN [Humberto
LAY Sun]; National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN (a coalition of
Partido Popular Cristiano and Partido Solidaridad Nacional) [Lourdes
FLORES Nano]; Peru Possible (Peru Posible) or PP [Alejandro TOLEDO
Manrique]; Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista Peruano) or PAP
[Alan GARCIA] (also referred to by its original name Alianza Popular
Revolucionaria Americana or APRA); Peruvian Nationalist Party
(Partido Nacionalista Peruano) or PNP [Ollanta HUMALA Tasso]; Union
for Peru (Union por el Peru) or UPP [Aldo ESTRADA Choque]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Shining Path [Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel MACARIO
(top leader at-large)] (leftist guerrilla group); Tupac Amaru
Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned), Hugo
AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)] (leftist guerrilla group)

International organization participation:

APEC, CAN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur
(associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Felipe ORTIZ de Zevallos chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 833-9860 through 9869 FAX: (202) 659-8124 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador P. Michael MCKINLEY 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: (1) 434-3000 FAX: (1) 618-2397

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
Peru

Economy - overview:

Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal region, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering Colombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the mountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent fishing grounds. However, overdependence on minerals and metals subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack of infrastructure deters trade and investment. After several years of inconsistent economic performance, the Peruvian economy grew by more than 4% per year during the period 2002-06, with a stable exchange rate and low inflation. Growth jumped to 7.5% in 2007, driven by higher world prices for minerals and metals. Risk premiums on Peruvian bonds on secondary markets reached historically low levels in late 2004, reflecting investor optimism regarding the government's prudent fiscal policies and openness to trade and investment. Despite the strong macroeconomic performance, underemployment and poverty have stayed persistently high. Growth prospects depend on exports of minerals, textiles, and agricultural products, and by expectations for the Camisea natural gas megaproject and for other promising energy projects. Upon taking office, President GARCIA announced Sierra Exportadora, a program aimed at promoting economic growth in Peru's southern and central highlands.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$219.6 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$109.1 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.4% industry: 25.6% services: 66% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

9.839 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 9% industry: 18% services: 73% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

6.9% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

44.5% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 40.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

52 (2003)

Investment (gross fixed):

23% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $32.54 billion expenditures: $29.15 billion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Public debt:

29.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.8% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

5.75% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

22.86% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$14.66 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$19.95 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$17.88 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

asparagus, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish, guinea pigs

Industries:

mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

9.8% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

24.92 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

22.37 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 14.5% hydro: 84.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0.8% (2001)

Oil - production:

125,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:

167,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:

69,090 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:

115,600 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

382.9 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.78 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.78 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

337.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.516 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$27.96 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee, potatoes, asparagus, textiles, guinea pigs

Exports - partners:

US 19.5%, China 12.7%, Canada 7.6%, Japan 7.5%, Chile 5.9%,
Switzerland 4.2%, Spain 4.1% (2007)

Imports:

$19.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel, wheat, paper

Imports - partners:

US 20.5%, China 10.8%, Brazil 9%, Ecuador 6.1%, Argentina 5.6%,
Chile 5%, Colombia 4.8% (2007)

Economic aid - recipient:

$397.8 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$27.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$32.83 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$24.72 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$1.476 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$59.66 billion (2006)

Currency (code):

nuevo sol (PEN)

Currency code: