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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $998 million, 1.6% of GDP (1996)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 6,441,513 males fit for military service: 4,347,460 males reach military age (20) annually: 255,067 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 273, FM 0, shortwave 144

Radios [time series]

5.7 million (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

779,306 (1990 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

140

Televisions [time series]

2 million (1993 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca; poultry, red meats, dairy products, wool; fish catch of 6.9 million metric tons (1990)

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $363 million (1993)

Economic overview [time series]

The Peruvian economy has become increasingly market-oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990 in the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. In the 1980s, the economy suffered from hyperinflation, declining per capita output, and mounting external debt. Peru was shut off from IMF and World Bank support in the mid-1980s because of its huge debt arrears. An austerity program implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government took office in July 1990 contributed to a third consecutive yearly contraction of economic activity, but the slide came to a halt late that year, and in 1991 output rose 2.4%. After a burst of inflation as the austerity program eliminated government price subsidies, monthly price increases eased to the single-digit level and by December 1991 dropped to the lowest increase since mid-1987. Lima obtained a financial rescue package from multilateral lenders in September 1991, although it faced $14 billion in arrears on its external debt. By working with the IMF and World Bank on new financial conditions and arrangements, the government succeeded in ending its arrears by March 1993. In 1992, GDP fell by 2.8%, in part because a warmer-than-usual El Nino current resulted in a 30% drop in the fish catch, but the economy rebounded as strong foreign investment helped push growth to 6% in 1993, about 13% in 1994, and 6.8% in 1995.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 4,190,000 kW production: 11.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 448 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1 - 2.350 (January 1996), 2.253 (1995), 2.195 (1994), 1.988 (1993), 1.246 (1992), 0.773 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$5.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton partners: US 19%, Japan 9%, Italy, Germany

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$22.4 billion (1994 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $87 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$3,600 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

6.8% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

world's largest coca leaf producer with about 115,300 hectares under cultivation in 1995; source of supply for most of the world's coca paste and cocaine base; at least 85% of coca cultivation is for illicit production; most of cocaine base is shipped to Colombian drug dealers for processing into cocaine for the international drug market, but exports of finished cocaine are increasing

Imports [time series]

$7.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals partners: US 21%, Colombia, Argentina, Japan, Germany, Brazil

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

10.2% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

8 million (1992) by occupation: agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, transport, services

Unemployment rate [time series]

15%; extensive underemployment (1992 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 1,285,220 sq km land area: 1.28 million sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Alaska

Climate [time series]

varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west

Coastline [time series]

2,414 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: deforestation; 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 natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, 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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

10 00 S, 76 00 W

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

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

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

three sections of the boundary with Ecuador are in dispute

Irrigated land [time series]

12,500 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 6,940 km border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km, Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 21% forest and woodland: 55% other: 21%

Location [time series]

Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200 nm territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva) lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Lima

Legislative branch (Congress) [time series]

elections last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%, 11 other parties 33.9%; seats - (120 total, when installed on 28 July 1995) C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM 6, (CODE)-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3, Renovacion 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2, MIA 1, FRENATRACA 1, FREPAP 1

Constitution [time series]

31 December 1993

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ricardo V. LUNA MENDOZA chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results - Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%, Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67% cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president note: Prime Minister Alberto PANDOLFI Arbulu (since 3 April 1996) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 659-8124 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[51] (12) 21-3543

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

AG, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary

Legal system [time series]

based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path, Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned); Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, Nestor SERPA and Victor POLAY (imprisoned)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Change 90-New Majority (C90/NM), Alberto FUJIMORI; Union for Peru (UPP), Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR; American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), Agustin MANTILLA Campos; Independent Moralizing Front (FIM), Fernando OLIVERA Vega; Democratic Coordinator (CODE) - Pais Posible, Jose BARBA Caballero and Alejandro TOLEDO; Popular Action Party (AP), Raul DIEZ CANSECO; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes; Renovacion, Rafael REY Rey; Civic Works Movement (OBRAS), Ricardo BELMONT; United Left (IU), Agustin HAYA de la TORRE; Independent Agrarian Movement (MIA), Rolando SALVATERRIE; Peru 2000-National Front of Workers and Peasants (FRENATRACA), Roger CACARES; Popular Agricultural Front (FREPAP), Ezequiel ATAUCUSI

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Alvin P. ADAMS, Jr. embassy: Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031 telephone: [51] (12) 21-1202

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 35% (male 4,360,379; female 4,214,970) 15-64 years: 61% (male 7,480,747; female 7,375,825) 65 years and over: 4% (male 497,775; female 593,712) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

24.33 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.13 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Indian 45%, mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

52.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 69.13 years male: 66.97 years female: 71.39 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Peruvian(s) adjective: Peruvian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

24,523,408 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.74% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.84 male(s)/female all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.04 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 230 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 15 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 12 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 with paved runways under 914 m: 96 with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 22 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 71 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 69,942 km paved: 13,538 km unpaved: 56,404 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 77,584 GRT/144,030 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 7 (1995 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 800 km; natural gas and natural gas liquids 64 km

Ports [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 2,041 km standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 315 km 0.914-m gauge (1994)

Waterways [time series]

8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km of Lago Titicaca