World Facts Index > Peru > Arequipa, Cusco, Lima
 Ancient
Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that
of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadors 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, which led to his
ouster in 2000. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of
2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government - Peru's
first democratically elected president of Native American ethnicity. The
presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA who, after a
disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, returned to the presidency
with promises to improve social conditions and maintain fiscal responsibility.
Geography of Peru
|
Location:
|
Western South America,
bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador |
|
Coordinates:
|
10 00 S, 76 00 W |
|
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:
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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 |
|
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 |
|
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
|
More Geography
Population of Peru
|
Population:
|
29,180,900 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 30.9% (male 4,456,195/female 4,300,233)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 9,078,123/female 8,961,981)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 709,763/female 796,308) |
|
Median age:
|
25.3 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
1.32% |
|
Infant mortality:
|
30.94 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 69.84 years
male: 68.05 years
female: 71.71 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
2.51 children born/woman |
|
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:
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Roman Catholic 90% |
|
Languages:
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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: 90.9%
male: 95.2%
female: 86.8%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of
Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru |
|
Government type:
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constitutional republic |
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Capital:
|
Lima |
|
Administrative divisions:
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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:
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28 July 1821 (from Spain) |
|
National holiday:
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Independence Day, 28 July (1821) |
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Constitution:
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31 December 1993 |
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Legal system:
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based on civil law system; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory
until the age of 70; note - members of the military may not vote |
|
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). |
|
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)
|
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema
de Justicia (judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary) |
Economy
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:
|
$219.6 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
6.7% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$7,600 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 8%
industry: 27%
services: 65% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
1.6% |
|
Labor force:
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9.06 million |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture, mining and quarrying,
manufacturing, construction, transport, services |
|
Unemployment:
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7.6% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $21.87 billion
expenditures: $22.47 billion |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 14.5%
hydro: 84.7%
other: 0.8%
nuclear: 0% |
|
Industries:
|
mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication;
petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing, textiles,
clothing, food processing |
|
Agriculture:
|
coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat,
potatoes, corn, plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish |
|
Exports:
|
copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum
products, coffee |
|
Export partners:
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US 31.1%, China 10.8%, Chile 6.6%, Canada 5.9%,
Switzerland 4.6% |
|
Imports:
|
petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery,
vehicles, iron and steel, wheat, paper |
|
Import partners:
|
US 18.2%, China 8.5%, Brazil 8%, Ecuador 7.4%, Colombia
6.1%, Argentina 5.1%, Chile 5.1%, Venezuela 4.1% |
|
Currency:
|
nuevo sol (PEN) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |