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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

10 major TV networks of which only one, Television Nacional de Peru, is state owned; multi-channel cable TV services are available; in excess of 2,000 radio stations including a substantial number of indigenous language stations (2010)

Internet country code [time series]

.pe

Internet users [time series]

total: 12.452 million | percent of population: 40.9% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: adequate for most requirements; nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations | domestic: fixed-line teledensity is only about 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple providers, exceeds 110 telephones per 100 persons | international: country code - 51; the South America-1 (SAM-1) and Pan American (PAN-AM) submarine cable systems provide links to parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 2,912,316 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 34.236 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

artichokes, asparagus, avocados, blueberries, coffee, cocoa, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes, oranges, pineapples, guavas, bananas, apples, lemons, pears, coca, tomatoes, mangoes, barley, medicinal plants, quinoa, palm oil, marigold, onion, wheat, dry beans; poultry, beef, pork, dairy products; guinea pigs; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $56.71 billion | expenditures: $60.8 billion (2015 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-2.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Central bank discount rate [time series]

5.05% (31 December 2012) | 5.05% (31 December 2011) | country comparison to the world: 76

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

16.1% (31 December 2015 est.) | 15.74% (31 December 2014 est.) | note: domestic currency lending rate, 90 day maturity | country comparison to the world: 30

Current account balance [time series]

-$8.431 billion (2015 est.) | -$8.091 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Debt - external [time series]

$67.87 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $66.47 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

45.3 (2012) | 51 (2005) | country comparison to the world: 42

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Peru's economy reflects its varied topography - an arid lowland coastal region, the central high sierra of the Andes, the dense forest of the Amazon, with tropical lands bordering Colombia and Brazil. A wide range of important mineral resources are found in the mountainous and coastal areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent fishing grounds. Peru is the world's second largest producer of silver and third largest producer of copper. | The Peruvian economy grew by an average of 5.6% from 2009-13 with a stable exchange rate and low inflation, which in 2013 was just below the upper limit of the Central Bank target range of 1% to 3%. This growth was due partly to high international prices for Peru's metals and minerals exports, which account for almost 60% of the country's total exports. Growth slipped in 2014 and 2015, due to weaker world prices for these resources. Despite Peru's strong macroeconomic performance, dependence on minerals and metals exports and imported foodstuffs makes the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices. | Peru's rapid expansion coupled with cash transfers and other programs have helped to reduce the national poverty rate by 28 percentage points since 2002, but inequality persists and continues to pose a challenge for the Ollanta HUMALA administration, which has championed a policy of social inclusion and a more equitable distribution of income. Poor infrastructure hinders the spread of growth to Peru's non-coastal areas. The HUMALA administration passed several economic stimulus packages in 2014 to bolster growth, including reforms to environmental regulations in order to spur investment in Peru’s lucrative mining sector, a move that was opposed by some environmental groups. However, in 2015, mining investment fell as global commodity prices remained low and social conflicts plagued the sector. | Peru's free trade policy has continued under the HUMALA administration; since 2006, Peru has signed trade deals with the US, Canada, Singapore, China, Korea, Mexico, Japan, the EU, the European Free Trade Association, Chile, Thailand, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, concluded negotiations with Guatemala and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and begun trade talks with Honduras, El Salvador, India, Indonesia, and Turkey. Peru also has signed a trade pact with Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, called the Pacific Alliance, that seeks integration of services, capital, investment and movement of people. Since the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement entered into force in February 2009, total trade between Peru and the US has doubled.

Exchange rates [time series]

nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar - | 3.185 (2015 est.) | 2.8383 (2014 est.) | 2.8383 (2013 est.) | 2.64 (2012 est.) | 2.7541 (2011 est.)

Exports [time series]

$34.16 billion (2015 est.) | $39.53 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61

Exports - commodities [time series]

copper, gold, lead, zinc, tin, iron ore, molybdenum, silver; crude petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas; coffee, asparagus and other vegetables, fruit, apparel and textiles, fishmeal, fish, chemicals, fabricated metal products and machinery, alloys

Exports - partners [time series]

China 22.1%, US 15.2%, Switzerland 8.1%, Canada 7% (2015)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$192.1 billion (2015 est.)

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

$389.1 billion (2015 est.) | $376.9 billion (2014 est.) | $368.1 billion (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 48

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 7.3% | industry: 34.6% | services: 58.1% (2015 est.)

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

$12,200 (2015 est.) | $12,000 (2014 est.) | $11,900 (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 121

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

3.3% (2015 est.) | 2.4% (2014 est.) | 5.9% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Gross national saving [time series]

21.6% of GDP (2015 est.) | 22.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | 23.7% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.4% | highest 10%: 36.1% (2010 est.)

Imports [time series]

$36.99 billion (2015 est.) | $40.48 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Imports - commodities [time series]

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, plastics, machinery, vehicles, TV sets, power shovels, front-end loaders, telephones and telecommunication equipment, iron and steel, wheat, corn, soybean products, paper, cotton, vaccines and medicines

Imports - partners [time series]

China 22.7%, US 20.7%, Brazil 5.1%, Mexico 4.5% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.5% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Industries [time series]

mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas and natural gas liquefaction; fishing and fish processing, cement, glass, textiles, clothing, food processing, beer, soft drinks, rubber, machinery, electrical machinery, chemicals, furniture

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.5% (2015 est.) | 3.2% (2014 est.) | note: data are for metropolitan Lima, annual average | country comparison to the world: 148

Labor force [time series]

16.64 million | note: individuals older than 14 years of age (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 25.8% | industry: 17.4% | services: 56.8% (2011)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$153.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $121.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $160.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Population below poverty line [time series]

25.8% (2012 est.)

Public debt [time series]

23.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | 20.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued by government entities other than the treasury; the data exclude treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities | country comparison to the world: 154

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$61.59 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $62.51 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Stock of broad money [time series]

$91.26 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $84.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$2.815 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $4.127 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$86.11 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $79.71 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$49.92 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $48.12 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$29.86 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $32.93 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

29.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.2% (2015 est.) | 5.5% (2014 est.) | note: data are for metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment | country comparison to the world: 56

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

41 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Crude oil - exports [time series]

14,770 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Crude oil - imports [time series]

84,280 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Crude oil - production [time series]

58,010 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

700 million bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity - consumption [time series]

39 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Electricity - exports [time series]

13 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

63.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

35.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

Electricity - imports [time series]

5 million kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

12 million kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Electricity - production [time series]

44 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Electricity access [time series]

population without electricity: 2,900,000 | electrification - total population: 91% | electrification - urban areas: 98% | electrification - rural areas: 73% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

7.66 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Natural gas - exports [time series]

5.24 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Natural gas - production [time series]

12.9 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

414.1 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 33

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

229,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

103,400 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

75,330 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

208,400 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,285,216 sq km | land: 1,279,996 sq km | water: 5,220 sq km | country comparison to the world: 20

Area - comparative [time series]

almost twice the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska

Climate [time series]

varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes

Coastline [time series]

2,414 km

Elevation [time series]

mean elevation: 1,555 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

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

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

10 00 S, 76 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

25,800 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 7,062 km | border countries (5): Bolivia 1,212 km, Brazil 2,659 km, Chile 168 km, Colombia 1,494 km, Ecuador 1,529 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 18.8% | arable land 3.1%; permanent crops 1.1%; permanent pasture 14.6% | forest: 53% | other: 28.2% (2011 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]

territorial sea: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity | volcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Ubinas (elev. 5,672 m), which last erupted in 2009, is the country's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes include El Misti, Huaynaputina, Sabancaya, and Yucamane

Natural resources [time series]

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

Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]

approximately one-third of the population resides along the desert coastal belt in the west, with a strong focus on the capital city of Lima; the Andean highlands, or sierra, which is strongly identified with the country's Amerindian population, contains roughly half of the overall population; the eastern slopes of the Andes, and adjoining rainforest, are sparsely populated

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]

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 | note: Callao, the largest port in Peru, is also referred to as a constitutional province, the only province of the the Callao region

Capital [time series]

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

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent: yes | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 2 years

Constitution [time series]

several previous; latest promulgated 29 December 1993, enacted 31 December 1993; amended several times, last in 2015 (2016)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Peru | conventional short form: Peru | local long form: Republica del Peru | local short form: Peru | etymology: exact meaning is obscure, but the name may derive from a native word "biru" meaning "river"

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Brian A. NICHOLS (since 30 June 2014) | embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17 s/n, Surco, Lima 33 | mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031-5000 | telephone: [51] (1) 618-2000 | FAX: [51] (1) 618-2397

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Jose PAREJA Rios (since 16 September 2016) | chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 | telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869 | FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124 | consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (NJ), San Francisco, Washington DC

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard (since 28 July 2016); First Vice President Martin Alberto VIZCARRA Cornejo (since 28 July 2016); Second Vice President Mercedes Rosalba ARAOZ Fernandez (since 28 July 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard (since 28 July 2016); First Vice President Martin Alberto VIZCARRA Cornejo (since 28 July 2016); Second Vice President Mercedes Rosalba ARAOZ Fernandez (since 28 July 2016) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive terms); election last held on 10 April 2016 with runoff on 5 June 2016 (next to be held in April 2021) | election results: Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard elected president; first round election results from 10 April 2016: percent of vote - Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi 39.85%, Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard 21%, Veronika MENDOZA 18.82%, Alfredo BARNECHEA 6.97%, Alan GARCIA 5.82%; second round election results from 5 June 2016: percent of vote - Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard (Peruanos Por el Kambio) 50.1%, Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi (Fuerza Popular) 49.9% | note: Prime Minister Fernando ZAVALA Lombardi (since 28 July 2016) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the president

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 vicuna (representing fauna), a cinchona tree (the source of quinine, signifying flora), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out coins (denoting mineral wealth); red recalls blood shed for independence, white symbolizes peace

Government type [time series]

presidential republic

Independence [time series]

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

APEC, BIS, CAN, CD, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 16 judges and divided into civil, criminal, and constitutional-social sectors) | judge selection and term of office: justices proposed by the National Council of the Judiciary or National Judicial Council (a 7-member independent body), nominated by the president, and confirmed by the Congress (all appointments reviewed by the Council every 7 years); justices appointed for life or until age 70 | subordinate courts: Court of Constitutional Guarantees; Superior Courts or Cortes Superiores; specialized civil, criminal, and mixed courts; 2 types of peace courts in which professional judges and selected members of the local communities preside

Legal system [time series]

civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de la Republica del Peru (130 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 10 April 2016 with run-off election on 6 June 2016 (next to be held in April 2021) | election results: percent of vote by party - Fuerza Popular 36.34%, PPK 16.47%, Frente Amplio 13.94%, APP 9.23%; APRA 8.31%; AP 7.20%, other 8.51%; seats by party - Fuerza Popular 71, PPK 20, Frente Amplio 20, APP 9; APRA 5; AP 5

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Himno Nacional del Peru" (National Anthem of Peru) | lyrics/music: Jose DE LA TORRE Ugarte/Jose Bernardo ALZEDO | note: adopted 1822; the song won a national anthem contest

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

National symbol(s) [time series]

vicuna (a camelid related to the llama); national colors: red, white

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

Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso) or APP [Cesar ACUNA Peralta] | Broad Front (Frente Amplio; also known as El Frente Amplio por Justicia, Vida y Libertad), a coalition of left-of-center parties including Tierra y Libertad [Marco ARANA Zegarra], Ciudadanos por el Gran Cambio [Salomon LERNER Ghitis], and Fuerza Social [Susana VILLARAN de la Puente] | Fuerza Popular (formerly Fuerza 2011) [Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi] | National Solidarity (Solidaridad Nacional) or SN [Luis CASTANEDA Lossio] | Peru Posible or PP (a coalition of Accion Popular and Somos Peru) [Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique] | Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista Peruano) or PAP [Alan GARCIA Perez] (also referred to by its original name Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana or APRA) | Peruvian Nationalist Party [Ollanta HUMALA] | Peruvians for Change (Peruanos Por el Kambio) or PPK [Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI] | Popular Action (Accion Popular) or AP [Mesias GUEVARA Amasifuen] | Popular Christian Party (Partido Popular Cristiano) or PPC [Lourdes FLORES Nano]

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

General Workers Confederation of Peru (Confederacion General de Trabajadores del Peru) or CGTP [Mario HUAMAN] | Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) or SL [Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned), Victor QUISPE Palomino (top leader at-large)] (leftist guerrilla group)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70

Introduction

Background [time series]

Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peru declared its independence in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces were 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 resignation in 2000. A caretaker government oversaw a new election in the spring of 2001, which installed Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique as the new head of government - Peru's first democratically elected president of indigenous ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA Perez who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, oversaw a robust economic rebound. Former army officer Ollanta HUMALA Tasso was elected president in June 2011, and carried on the sound, market-oriented economic policies of the three preceding administrations. Poverty and unemployment levels have fallen dramatically in the last decade, and today Peru boasts one of the best performing economies in Latin America. Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard won a very narrow presidential runoff election in June 2016.

Military and Security

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Peruvian Army (Ejercito Peruano), Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru, MGP; includes naval air, naval infantry, and Coast Guard), Air Force of Peru (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP) (2013)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.28% of GDP (2012) | 1.15% of GDP (2011) | 1.28% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 78

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-50 years of age for male and 18-45 years of age for female voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 26.62% (male 4,164,681/female 4,019,436) | 15-24 years: 18.63% (male 2,868,743/female 2,859,476) | 25-54 years: 39.91% (male 5,892,065/female 6,377,681) | 55-64 years: 7.62% (male 1,135,938/female 1,205,579) | 65 years and over: 7.21% (male 1,049,409/female 1,168,054) (2016 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]

total number: 2,545,855 | percentage: 34% | note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2007 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

3.1% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 103

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

75.5% (2012)

Death rate [time series]

6 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Demographic profile [time series]

Peru's urban and coastal communities have benefited much more from recent economic growth than rural, Afro-Peruvian, indigenous, and poor populations of the Amazon and mountain regions. The poverty rate has dropped substantially during the last decade but remains stubbornly high at about 30% (more than 55% in rural areas). After remaining almost static for about a decade, Peru's malnutrition rate began falling in 2005, when the government introduced a coordinated strategy focusing on hygiene, sanitation, and clean water. School enrollment has improved, but achievement scores reflect ongoing problems with educational quality. Many poor children temporarily or permanently drop out of school to help support their families. About a quarter to a third of Peruvian children aged 6 to 14 work, often putting in long hours at hazardous mining or construction sites. | Peru was a country of immigration in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but has become a country of emigration in the last few decades. Beginning in the 19th century, Peru brought in Asian contract laborers mainly to work on coastal plantations. Populations of Chinese and Japanese descent - among the largest in Latin America - are economically and culturally influential in Peru today. Peruvian emigration began rising in the 1980s due to an economic crisis and a violent internal conflict, but outflows have stabilized in the last few years as economic conditions have improved. Nonetheless, more than 2 million Peruvians have emigrated in the last decade, principally to the US, Spain, and Argentina.

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 53.2% | youth dependency ratio: 42.7% | elderly dependency ratio: 10.5% | potential support ratio: 9.6% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.7% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 145

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.33% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

1,600 (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

66,200 (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

5.5% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 140

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 19 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 21.1 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 16.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official) 84.1%, Quechua (official) 13%, Aymara (official) 1.7%, Ashaninka 0.3%, other native languages (includes a large number of minor Amazonian languages) 0.7%, other (includes foreign languages and sign language) 0.2% (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.7 years | male: 71.7 years | female: 75.9 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 94.5% | male: 97.3% | female: 91.7% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, and Bartonellosis (Oroya fever) | note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

LIMA (capital) 9.897 million; Arequipa 850,000; Trujillo 798,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

68 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Median age [time series]

total: 27.7 years | male: 26.9 years | female: 28.4 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 139

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

22.2 | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2013 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Peruvian(s) | adjective: Peruvian

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

20.4% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 117

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.13 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population [time series]

30,741,062 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Population distribution [time series]

Population growth rate [time series]

0.96% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other 3.3%, none 2.9% (2007 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 13 years | male: 13 years | female: 14 years (2010)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.15 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 8.8% | male: 8.3% | female: 9.3% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 78.6% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Chile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral legislation to shift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime boundaries along the parallels of latitude to equidistance lines which favor Peru; organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated Peru's shared border; Peru rejects Bolivia's claim to restore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through Chile along the Peruvian border

Illicit drugs [time series]

until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer, Peru is now the world's second largest producer of coca leaf, though it lags far behind Colombia; cultivation of coca in Peru was estimated at 40,000 hectares in 2009, a slight decrease over 2008; second largest producer of cocaine, estimated at 225 metric tons of potential pure cocaine in 2009; finished cocaine is shipped out from Pacific ports to the international drug market; increasing amounts of base and finished cocaine, however, are being moved to Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia for use in the Southern Cone or transshipment to Europe and Africa; increasing domestic drug consumption

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

IDPs: 60,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions; as of 2011, no new information on the situation of these IDPs) (2015)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

191 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 30

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 59 | over 3,047 m: 5 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 | 914 to 1,523 m: 12 | under 914 m: 5 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 132 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 | 914 to 1,523 m: 30 | under 914 m: 82 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

OB (2016)

Heliports [time series]

5 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 22 | by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 13 | foreign-owned: 8 (Chile 6, Ecuador 1, Spain 1) | registered in other countries: 9 (Panama 9) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 92

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 7 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 35 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 13,907,948 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 223,643,434 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines [time series]

extra heavy crude 786 km; gas 1,526 km; liquid petroleum gas 679 km; oil 1,033 km; refined products 15 km (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Callao, Matarani, Paita | river port(s): Iquitos, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas (Amazon) | oil terminals: Conchan oil terminal, La Pampilla oil terminal | container port(s) (TEUs): Callao (1,616,365)

Railways [time series]

total: 1,854.4 km | standard gauge: 1,730.4 km 1.435-m gauge (34 km electrified) | narrow gauge: 124 km 0.914-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 73

Roadways [time series]

total: 140,672 km (18,699 km paved) | note: includes 24,593 km of national roads (14,748 km paved), 24,235 km of departmental roads (2,340 km paved), and 91,844 km of local roads (1,611 km paved) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 35

Waterways [time series]

8,808 km (8,600 km of navigable tributaries on the Amazon system and 208 km on Lago Titicaca) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 14