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Peru - General Country Information

Introduction
Geography
Travel Weather
People
Government
Economy
Communications
Military
Transnational Issues

Travel Weather

Travel Weather: Peru

The summer is usually dry and is the most popular season to visit. If you want to go to the coast late winter to late spring is usually advisable as there is usually lots of sun between January and April.

Introduction

General Information: Peru

The capital of Peru is Lima.

Major cities of Peru are:
Arequipa, Cajamarca, Chicayo, Cuzco, Iquitos, Juliaca, Lima, Piura, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado, Tacna, Tarapoto, Trujillo, Tumbes.

Geography

Location:	Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Coordinates:	10 00 S, 76 00 W
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:	territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: 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, natural gas
Land Use:	arable land: 2.89% permanent crops: 0.4% other: 96.71% (2001)
Irrigated Land:	11,950 sq km (1998 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, 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
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

People

Population:	27,544,305 (July 2004 est.)
Age Structure:	total: 24.6 years male: 24.4 years female: 24.9 years (2004 est.)
Population Growth Rate:	1.39% (2004 est.)
Birth Rate:	21.27 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death Rate:	6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Migration Rate:	-1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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.)
Infant Mortality Rate:	total: 32.95 deaths/1,000 live births male: 35.57 deaths/1,000 live births female: 30.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Expectancy Birth:	total population: 69.22 years male: 67.48 years female: 71.03 years (2004 est.)
Fertility Rate:	2.61 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV Adult Prevalence Rate:	0.5% (2003 est.)
People Living HIV:	82,000 (2003 est.)
HIV Deaths:	4,200 (2003 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, and a large number of minor Amazonian languages
Literacy:	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.9% male: 95.2% female: 86.8% (2003 est.)

Gouvernment

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: 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
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 and compulsory until the age of 70; note - members of the military may not vote
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) 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: Prime Minister Carlos FERRERO Costa (since 15 December 2003) 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 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%
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) elections: last held 8 April 2001 (next to be held 9 April 2006) 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
Judicial Branch:	Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary)
Political Parties 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 [David WAISMAN]; 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 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:	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, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic in US:	chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo FERRERO Costa chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869 FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, Washington (DC)
Diplomatic from 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
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

Economy

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.
GDP:	purchasing power parity - $146 billion (2003 est.)
GDP Growth Rate:	4% (2003 est.)
GDP Capital:	purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2003 est.)
GDP Composition:	agriculture: 8% industry: 27% services: 65% (2003 est.)
Investment:	17.7% of GDP (2003)
Population Below Poverty Line:	54% (2003 est.)
Household Income:	lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 35.4% (1996)
Gini Index:	46.2 (1996)
Inflation Rate:	2.3% (2003 est.)
Labor Force:	8.63 million (2003 est.)
Labor Force 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)
Unemployment Rate:	9.7%; widespread underemployment (2003 est.)
Budget:	revenues: $15.86 billion expenditures: $17.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (2003 est.)
Public Debt:	49.2% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture Products:	coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish
Industries:	mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication
Industry Production Growth Rate:	2% (2003 est.)
Electricity Production:	20.59 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity Consumption:	19.15 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity Exports:	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity Imports:	0 kWh (2001)
Oil Production:	95,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil Consumption:	161,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil Exports:	NA (2001)
Oil Imports:	NA (2001)
Oil Proved Reserves:	614.7 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural Gas Production:	370 million cu m (2001 est.)
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 Proved Reserves:	245.1 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current Account Balance:	$-1.116 billion (2003)
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)
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)
Reserves:	$10.24 billion (2003)
Debt External:	$29.95 billion (2003 est.)
Currency:	nuevo sol (PEN)
Currency Code:	PEN
Exchange Rates:	nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.4785 (2003), 3.5165 (2002), 3.5068 (2001), 3.49 (2000), 3.3833 (1999)
Fiscal Year:	calendar year

Communications

Telephones Lines Use:	1,839,200 (2003)
Mobile Cellular:	2,908,800 (2003)
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
Radio Stations:	AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)
Television Stations:	13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)
Internet Code:	.pe
Internet Hosts:	65,868 (2003)
Internet Users:	2.85 million (2003)

Military

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 Age Obligation:	18 years of age for compulsory military service (1999)
Military Availability:	males age 15-49: 7,374,187 (2004 est.)
Fit Military Service:	males age 15-49: 4,938,512 (2004 est.)
Reaching Military Age Annually:	males: 277,931 (2004 est.)
Military Expenditures Dollar Figure:	$829.4 million (2003)
Military Expenditures Percent GDP:	1.3% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Disputes International: Peru

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

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