1.
[syn: Peru, Republic of Peru]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Peru
n 1: a republic in western South America; achieved independence
from Spain in 1821; was the heart of the Inca empire from
the 12th to 16th centuries [syn: Peru, Republic of
Peru]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Peru
Introduction Peru
-----------------
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.
Geography Peru
--------------
Location: Western South America, bordering the
South Pacific Ocean, between Chile
and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 1,285,220 sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million 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: continental shelf: 200 NM
territorial sea: 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: 2.85%
permanent crops: 0.38%
other: 96.77% (1998 est.)
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 party to: Antarctic-Environmental
agreements: Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, 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,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: shares control of Lago Titicaca,
world's highest navigable lake, with
Bolivia; remote Lake McIntyre is the
ultimate source of the Amazon River
People Peru
-----------
Population: 27,949,639 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 4,820,892;
female 4,671,205)
15-64 years: 61.1% (male 8,598,328;
female 8,492,830)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male
627,601; female 738,783) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.66% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 23.36 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 5.74 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: -1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: 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
total population: 1.01 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.59 years
female: 73.12 years (2002 est.)
male: 68.18 years
Total fertility rate: 2.89 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.35% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 48,000 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 4,100 (1999 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
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 88.3%
male: 94.5%
female: 83% (1995 est.)
Government Peru
---------------
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: 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
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
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
Raul DIEZ Canseco (since 28 July
2001) 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
Raul DIEZ Canseco (since 28 July
2001) and Second Vice President
David WAISMAN (since 28 July 2001)
note: Prime Minister Roberto DANINO
(since 28 July 2001) does not
exercise executive power; this power
is in the hands of 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%
cabinet: Council of Ministers
appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic
of Peru or Congresso 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)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte
Suprema de Justicia (judges are
appointed by the National Council of
the Judiciary)
Political parties and leaders: American Popular Revolutionary
Alliance 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 leftist guerrilla groups include
leaders: 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 ABEDA, APEC, CAN, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,
participation: G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, 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, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Allan
WAGNER
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
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador John R.
US: HAMILTON
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 Peru
------------
Economy - overview: Thanks to strong foreign investment
and the cooperation between the
government and the IMF and World
Bank, growth was strong in 1994-97
and inflation was brought under
control. In 1998, El Nino's impact
on agriculture, the financial crisis
in Asia, and instability in
Brazilian markets undercut growth.
And 1999 was another lean year for
Peru, with the aftermath of El Nino
and the Asian financial crisis
working its way through the economy.
Political instability resulting from
the presidential election and
FUJIMORI's subsequent departure from
office limited growth in 2000. The
downturn in the global economy
further depressed growth in 2001.
President TOLEDO, who assumed the
presidency in July 2001, is working
to reinvigorate the economy and
reduce unemployment. Economic growth
in 2002 is projected to be 3 to
3.5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $132
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -0.3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,800
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10%
industry: 35%
services: 55% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 1.6%
percentage share: highest 10%: 35.4% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini 46.2 (1996)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 7.5 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, mining and quarrying,
manufacturing, construction,
transport, services
Unemployment rate: 9%; widespread underemployment (2001
est.)
Budget: revenues: $10.4 billion
expenditures: $10.4 billion,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (2002 est.)
Industries: mining of metals, petroleum,
fishing, textiles, clothing, food
processing, cement, auto assembly,
steel, shipbuilding, metal
fabrication
Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 19.679 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 17.89%
hydro: 81.38%
other: 0.73% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 18.301 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice,
wheat, potatoes, corn, plantains,
coca; poultry, beef, dairy products,
wool; fish
Exports: $7.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: fish and fish products, gold,
copper, zinc, crude petroleum and
byproducts, lead, coffee, sugar,
cotton
Exports - partners: US 28%, UK 8%, Switzerland 8%, China
6%, Japan, Chile, Brazil (2000)
Imports: $7.4 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery, transport equipment,
foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and
steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners: US 27%, Chile 8%, Spain 6%,
Venezuela 4%, Colombia, Brazil,
Japan (2000)
Debt - external: $33.1 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $895.1 million (1995)
Currency: nuevo sol (PEN)
Currency code: PEN
Exchange rates: nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.4400
(November 2001), 3.509 (2001),
3.4900 (2000), 3.3833 (1999), 2.9300
(1998), 2.6642 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Peru
-------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.509 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 504,995 (1998)
Telephone system: general assessment: 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); Pan American submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)
Radios: 6.65 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 3.06 million (1997)
Internet country code: .pe
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 10 (2000)
Internet users: 400,000 (2000)
Transportation Peru
-------------------
Railways: total: 2,102 km
standard gauge: 1,695 km 1.435-
m gauge
narrow gauge: 407 km 0.914-m gauge
(2001)
Highways: total: 72,900 km
paved: 8,700 km
unpaved: 64,200 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 8,808 km
note: 8,600 km of navigable
tributaries of Amazon system and 208
km of Lago Titicaca
Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; natural gas and
natural gas liquids 64 km
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
Merchant marine: total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 29,470 GRT/45,451 DWT
note: includes a foreign-owned ship
registered here as a flag of
convenience: United States 1 (2002
est.)
ships by type: cargo 4, petroleum
tanker 1
Airports: 239 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 47
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 192
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 65
under 914 m: 102 (2001)
Military Peru
-------------
Military branches: Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy
(Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes
Naval Air, Marines, and Coast
Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del
Peru; FAP), National Police
(includes General Police, Security
Police, and Technical Police)
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 7,356,395 (2002
est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 4,944,952 (2002
service: est.)
Military manpower - reaching males: 276,458 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $1 billion (FY01)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.8% (FY01)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Peru
-------------------------
Disputes - international: dispute with Chile over the economic
zone delimited by the maritime
boundary; Colombian drug activities
penetrate Peruvian border area
Illicit drugs: until 1996 the world's largest coca
leaf producer; emerging opium
producer; Peru reduced the area of
coca under cultivation by 64% to
34,000 hectares between 1996 and the
end of 2001; 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
U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000):
Peru, NE -- U.S. city in Nebraska
Population (2000): 569
Housing Units (2000): 290
Land area (2000): 0.536523 sq. miles (1.389589 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 0.536523 sq. miles (1.389589 sq. km)
FIPS code: 38960
Located within: Nebraska (NE), FIPS 31
Location: 40.480055 N, 95.731286 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 68421
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Peru, NE
Peru
U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000):
Peru, NY -- U.S. Census Designated Place in New York
Population (2000): 1514
Housing Units (2000): 558
Land area (2000): 1.602415 sq. miles (4.150236 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 1.602415 sq. miles (4.150236 sq. km)
FIPS code: 57364
Located within: New York (NY), FIPS 36
Location: 44.579556 N, 73.530539 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 12972
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Peru, NY
Peru
U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000):
Peru, IL -- U.S. city in Illinois
Population (2000): 9835
Housing Units (2000): 4413
Land area (2000): 5.940897 sq. miles (15.386853 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.108039 sq. miles (0.279821 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 6.048936 sq. miles (15.666674 sq. km)
FIPS code: 59234
Located within: Illinois (IL), FIPS 17
Location: 41.334458 N, 89.127385 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 61354
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Peru, IL
Peru
U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000):
Peru, IN -- U.S. city in Indiana
Population (2000): 12994
Housing Units (2000): 5943
Land area (2000): 4.615116 sq. miles (11.953094 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.043069 sq. miles (0.111547 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 4.658185 sq. miles (12.064641 sq. km)
FIPS code: 59328
Located within: Indiana (IN), FIPS 18
Location: 40.757690 N, 86.067791 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 46970
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Peru, IN
Peru
U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000):
Peru, KS -- U.S. city in Kansas
Population (2000): 183
Housing Units (2000): 101
Land area (2000): 0.377059 sq. miles (0.976578 sq. km)
Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km)
Total area (2000): 0.377059 sq. miles (0.976578 sq. km)
FIPS code: 55525
Located within: Kansas (KS), FIPS 20
Location: 37.081299 N, 96.096277 W
ZIP Codes (1990): 67360
Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
Headwords:
Peru, KS
Peru