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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [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 $2 billion (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$25.7 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $363 million (1993)

Economic overview (Economy-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 7% in 1993, about 13% in 1994, and 6.8% in 1995. Growth slowed to about 2.8% in 1996 as the government adopted tight fiscal and monetary policy to reduce the current account deficit and meet its IMF targets. Growth then rebounded to 7.3% in 1997 even as inflation fell to its lowest level in 23 years. Capital inflows surged to record levels in early 1997 and have remained strong despite economic shocks stemming from the Asian financial crisis and the El Nino weather events.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

4.187 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

648 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

15.6 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1-2.750 (January 1998), 2.664 (1997), 2.453 (1996), 2.253 (1995), 2.195 (1994), 1.988 (1993)

Exports [time series]

total value: $5.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton partners: US 20%, Japan 7%, UK 7%, China 7%, Germany 5% (1996)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

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

purchasing power parity-$110.2 billion (1997 est.)

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

agriculture: 14% industry: 41% services: 45% (1996)

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

purchasing power parity-$4,420 (1997 est.)

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

7.3% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $9.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals partners: US 31%, Colombia 7%, Chile 6%, Venezuela 6%, UK 6% (1996)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.2% (1996)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

6.7% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 7.6 million (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, transport, services

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.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

8.2%; extensive underemployment (1996)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,285,220 sq km land: 1.28 million sq km water: 5,220 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Alaska

Climate [time series]

varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west

Coastline [time series]

2,414 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

10 00 S, 76 00 W

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

12,800 sq km (1993 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% permanent pastures: 21% forests and woodland: 66% other: 10% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity

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)

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

Constitution [time series]

31 December 1993

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis C. JETT embassy: Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031-5000 telephone: [51] (1) 434-3000

Diplomatic representation in the 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: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government note: Prime Minister Alberto PANDOLFI Arbulu (since 3 April 1996) 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; election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: President FUJIMORI reelected; percent of vote-Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%, Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%

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

[1] (202) 659-8124 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco

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

[51] (1) 434-3037

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

republic

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, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, 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 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 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%, 11 other parties 33.9%; seats by party, 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, other parties 3

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Lima

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

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), Luis ALVA Castro; Independent Moralizing Front (FIM), Fernando OLIVERA Vega; Democratic Coordinator (CODE)-Pais Posible, Jose BARBA Caballero and Alejandro TOLEDO; Popular Action Party (AP), Juan DIAZ Leon; Popular Christian Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes; Renovation Party, Rafael REY Rey; Civic Works Movement (OBRAS), Ricardo BELMONT; United Left (IU); Independent Agrarian Movement (MIA)

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

leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path, Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned), Oscar RAMIREZ Durand (top leader at large); Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA, Victor POLAY (imprisoned), Hugo AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at large)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military 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 - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$998 million (1996); note-may not include off-budget purchases related to military modernization program

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

1.9% (1996)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 6,756,771 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 4,555,282 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

20 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 264,915 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 36% (male 4,745,363; female 4,589,017) 15-64 years: 60% (male 7,856,414; female 7,752,085) 65 years and over: 4% (male 535,566; female 632,665) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

26.69 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.81 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

43.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 69.97 years male: 67.78 years female: 72.25 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Peruvian(s) adjective: Peruvian

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

26,111,110 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.97% (1998 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: 0.85 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.31 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

three sections of the boundary with Ecuador are in dispute

Illicit drugs [time series]

until recently the world's largest coca leaf producer, Peru has reduced the area of coca under cultivation by 40%, from 115,300 hectares in 1995 to 68,800 hectares at the end of 1997; source of supply for most of the world's cocaine base; 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 PHILIPPINES

Transportation

Airports [time series]

244 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 43 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 201 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 73 under 914 m: 100 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 72,800 km paved: 7,353 km unpaved: 65,447 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 68,752 GRT/100,213 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 7 (1997 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [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