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: some reports indicate that the 24 departments and 1 constitutional province are now being referred to as regions; Peru is implementing a decentralization program whereby these 25 administrative divisions will begin to exercise greater governmental authority over their territories; in November 2002, voters chose their new regional presidents and other regional leaders; the authority that the regional government will exercise has not yet been clearly defined, but it will be devolved to the regions over the course of several years

Age structure
0-14 years: 32.1% (male 4,496,146; female 4,340,580)
15-64 years: 62.8% (male 8,709,098; female 8,594,351)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 660,734; female 743,396) (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products
coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish

Airports
233 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways
total: 52
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16

Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 181
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 98 (2003 est.)

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

Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Alaska

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 led to his ouster by Congress 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.

Birth rate
21.27 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Budget
revenues: $15.86 billion
expenditures: $17.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (2003 est.)

Capital
Lima

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

Coastline
2,414 km

Constitution
31 December 1993

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

Currency
nuevo sol (PEN)

Currency code
PEN

Current account balance
$-1.116 billion (2003)

Death rate
6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Debt - external
$29.95 billion (2003 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Curtis STRUBLE
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

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo FERRERO Costa
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, Washington (DC)
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869

Disputes - international
Bolivia has reanimated its claim to restore the Atacama corridor ceded to Chile and adjoining Peru in 1884 to secure sovereign maritime assess for Bolivian natural gas

Distribution of family income - Gini index
46.2 (1996)

Economic aid - recipient
$895.1 million (1995)

Economy - overview
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 was one of the fastest growing in Latin America in 2002 and 2003, growing by 5% and 4%, respectively, with the exchange rate stable and an annual inflation lower than 2%. Foreign direct investment also was strong, thanks to the ongoing Camisea natural gas pipeline project (scheduled to begin operations in 2004) and investments in gold mining. Risk premiums on Peruvian bonds on secondary markets reached historically low levels in late 2003, reflecting investor optimism and the government's fiscal restraint. Despite the strong macroeconomic performance, political intrigue and allegations of corruption continued to swirl in 2003, with the TOLEDO administration growing increasingly unpopular, and local and foreign concern rising that the political turmoil could place the country's hard-won fiscal and financial stability at risk. Moreover, as of late 2003, unemployment had yet to respond to the strong growth in economic activity, owing in part to rigid labor market regulations that act as an impediment to hiring.

Electricity - consumption
19.15 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production
20.59 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 14.5%
hydro: 84.7%
other: 0.8% (2001)
nuclear: 0%

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

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, 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

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

Exchange rates
nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.4785 (2003), 3.5165 (2002), 3.5068 (2001), 3.49 (2000), 3.3833 (1999)

Executive branch
chief of state: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (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 (vacant) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN (since 28 July 2001); note - Raul DIEZ Canseco resigned as First Vice President on 30 January 2004
head of government: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (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 (vacant) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN (since 28 July 2001); note - Raul DIEZ Canseco resigned as First Vice President on 30 January 2004
note: Prime Minister Carlos FERRERO Costa (since 15 December 2003) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president; note - Beatriz MERINO was asked to resign on 12 December 2003 and was replaced by Carlos FERRERO Costa three days later
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; special presidential and congressional elections held 8 April 2001, with runoff election held 3 June 2001; next to be held 9 April 2006
election results: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique 53.1%, Alan GARCIA 46.9%
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Exports
$8.954 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities
fish and fish products, gold, copper, zinc, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, coffee, sugar, cotton

Exports - partners
US 27.1%, UK 12.4%, China 7.7%, Switzerland 7.6%, Chile 4.7%, Japan 4.4% (2003 est.)

Fiscal year
calendar year

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

GDP
purchasing power parity - $146 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 8%
industry: 27%
services: 65% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate
4% (2003 est.)

Geographic coordinates
10 00 S, 76 00 W

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

Government type
constitutional republic

Heliports
1 (2003 est.)

Highways
total: 72,900 km
paved: 9,331 km
unpaved: 63,569 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths
4,200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
82,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage shar
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1996)

Illicit drugs
until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; emerging opium producer; cultivation of coca in Peru fell 15 percent to 31,150 hectares between 2002 and the end of 2003; much of the cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombia for processing into cocaine, while 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 and Bolivia for use in the Southern Cone or transshipped to Europe and Africa

Imports
$8.244 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities
machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners
US 28.6%, Spain 10%, Chile 7.5%, Brazil 5.1%, Colombia 4.5% (2003 est.)

Independence
28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Industrial production growth rate
2% (2003 est.)

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

Infant mortality rate
total: 32.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 30.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 35.57 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.3% (2003 est.)

International organization participation
APEC, CAN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code
.pe

Internet hosts
65,868 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
10 (2000)

Internet users
2.85 million (2003)

Investment (gross fixed)
17.7% of GDP (2003)

Irrigated land
11,950 sq km (1998 est.)

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

Labor force
8.63 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 5.9%, mining and quarrying 0.4%, manufacturing 12.6%, construction 5.3%, commerce 26.3%, household work 4.9%, other services 44.6% (2004)

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

Land use
arable land: 2.89%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 96.71% (2001)

Languages
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number of minor Amazonian languages

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

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)
election results: percent of vote by party - Peru Posible 26.3%, APRA 19.7%, Unidad Nacional 13.8%, FIM 11.0%, others 29.2%; seats by party - Peru Posible 47, APRA 28, Unidad Nacional 17, FIM 11, others 17
elections: last held 8 April 2001 (next to be held 9 April 2006)

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 69.22 years
male: 67.48 years
female: 71.03 years (2004 est.)

Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.9%
male: 95.2%
female: 86.8% (2003 est.)

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

Map references
South America

Maritime claims
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Median age
total: 24.6 years
male: 24.4 years
female: 24.9 years (2004 est.)

Merchant marine
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 13,666 GRT/17,611 DWT
foreign-owned: United States 1
registered in other countries: 19 (2003 est.)
by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1

Military branches
Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Naval Infantry, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru; FAP)

Military expenditures - dollar figure
$829.4 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.3% (2003)

Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 7,374,187 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 4,938,512 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age
17 years of age (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 277,931 (2004 est.)

National holiday
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Nationality
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian

Natural gas - consumption
370 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production
370 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves
245.1 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Natural hazards
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity

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

Net migration rate
-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption
161,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports
NA (2001)

Oil - imports
NA (2001)

Oil - production
95,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves
614.7 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines
gas 388 km; oil 1,557 km; refined products 13 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders
Peruvian Aprista Party or PAP (also referred to by its original name Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana or APRA) [Alan GARCIA]; Independent Moralizing Front or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega]; National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Peru Posible or PP [Luis SOLARI]; Popular Action or AP [Javier DIAZ Orihuela]; Solucion Popular [Carlos BOLANA]; Somos Peru or SP [Alberto ANDRADE]; Union for Peru or UPP [Roger GUERRA Garcia]

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)]

Population
27,544,305 (July 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line
54% (2003 est.)

Population growth rate
1.39% (2004 est.)

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

Public debt
49.2% of GDP (2003)

Radio broadcast stations
AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)

Radios
6.65 million (1997)

Railways
total: 3,462 km
standard gauge: 2,962 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 500 km 0.914-m gauge (2003)

Religions
Roman Catholic 90%

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold
$10.24 billion (2003)

Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note - members of the military may not vote

Telephone system
general assessment: adequate for most requirements
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 51; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Pan American submarine cable

Telephones - main lines in use
1,839,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular
2,908,800 (2003)

Television broadcast stations
13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions
3.06 million (1997)

Terrain
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

Total fertility rate
2.61 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate
9.7%; widespread underemployment (2003 est.)

Waterways
8,808 km
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km of Lago Titicaca