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 caused him to resign 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.

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

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

Land use:

arable land:  3%

permanent crops:  0%

permanent pastures:  21%

forests and woodland:  66%

other:  10% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

12,800 sq km (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; remote Lake McIntyre is the ultimate source of the Amazon River

Population:

27,483,864 (July 2001 est.)

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.)

Population growth rate:

1.7% (2001 est.)

Birth rate:

23.9 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate:

5.78 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (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 - 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:  88.7%

male:  94.5%

female:  83% (1995 est.)

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 (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 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 llama, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath

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 - real growth rate:

3.6% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:

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

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture:  15%

industry:  42%

services:  43% (1999)

Population below poverty line:

49% (1994 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%:  1.9%

highest 10%:  34.3% (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.7% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

7.6 million (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

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

Unemployment rate:

7.7%; extensive underemployment (1997)

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

Industrial production growth rate:

8.5% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

18.886 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel:  23.04%

hydro:  76.43%

nuclear:  0%

other:  0.53% (1999)

Electricity - consumption:

17.565 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports:

1 million kWh (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

Exports - partners:

US 29%, EU 25%, Andean Community 6%, Japan 4%, Mercosur 3% (1999)

Imports:

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

Imports - commodities:

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

Imports - partners:

US 32%, EU 21%, Andean Community 6%, Mercosur 8%, Japan 5% (1999)

Debt - external:

$31 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$895.1 million (1995)

Currency:

nuevo sol (PEN)

Currency code:

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

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)

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 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 - military age:

20 years of age

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.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:

males:  276,458 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1 billion (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.9% (FY00)

Disputes - international:

none

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