Asunto: | [CeHuNews] 230/03 - Geography of Perú | Fecha: | Martes, 8 de Julio, 2003 08:52:46 (-0300) | Autor: | Humboldt <humboldt @............ar>
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CeHuNews 230/03
NCeHu 956/03
Geography of Perú

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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. |
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 agreements: |
party to: Antarctic-Environmental 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; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is the
ultimate source of the Amazon River |
Population: |
28,409,897 (July 2003 est.) |
Age structure: |
0-14 years: 33.5% (male 4,828,531; female 4,678,008)
15-64 years: 61.5% (male 8,794,799; female 8,689,072)
65 years and over: 5% (male 652,375; female 767,112)
(2003 est.) |
Median age: |
total: 23.5 years male: 23.2 years
female: 23.7 years (2002) |
Population growth rate: |
1.61% (2003 est.) |
Birth rate: |
22.81 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Death rate: |
5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
Net migration rate: |
-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 (2003 est.) |
Infant mortality rate: |
total: 36.97 deaths/1,000 live births female:
31.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 42.04
deaths/1,000 live births |
Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 70.88 years male: 68.45
years female: 73.43 years (2003 est.) |
Total fertility rate: |
2.81 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.4% (2001 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
53,000 (2001 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
3,900 (2001 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: 90.9% male: 95.2%
female: 86.8% (2003 est.) |
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 |
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 Beatriz MERINO (since 28 June 2003) does not exercise
executive power; this power is in the hands of the president; SOLARI
DE LA FUENTE submitted his resignation on 23 June 2003 and was
replaced by Beatriz MERINO five 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 |
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) |
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: |
Peruvian Aprista Party or PAP [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)] |
International organization participation: |
ABEDA, APEC, CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, 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, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTrO |
Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto DANINO
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 US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador John R. DAWSON
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 - overview: |
Thanks to 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. The following year was again 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 curtailed growth in 2001. President TOLEDO,
who assumed the presidency in July 2001, has been working to
reinvigorate the economy and reduce unemployment. Economic growth in
2002 is estimated at 4.8%, led by construction in the retail and gas
sectors. |
GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $132 billion (2002 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate: |
4.8% (2002 est.) |
GDP - per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2002 est.) |
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 10% industry: 27%
services: 63% (2001 est.) |
Population below poverty line: |
50% (2000 est.) |
Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 35.4% (1996)
|
Distribution of family income - Gini
index: |
46.2 (1996) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
0.2% (2002 est.) |
Labor force: |
7.5 million (2000 est.) |
Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction,
transport, services |
Unemployment rate: |
9.4%; widespread underemployment (2002 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: |
6.5% (2002 est.) |
Electricity - production: |
20.59 billion kWh (2001) |
Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 14.5% hydro: 84.7%
other: 0.8% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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 (January 2002 est.) |
Natural gas - proved reserves: |
245.1 billion cu m (January 2002 est.) |
Agriculture - products: |
coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, corn,
plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish |
Exports: |
$7.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
Exports - commodities: |
fish and fish products, gold, copper, zinc, crude petroleum and
byproducts, lead, coffee, sugar, cotton |
Exports - partners: |
US 25.2%, Switzerland 8%, China 6.3%, Japan 5.6%, UK, Chile,
Brazil (2001) |
Imports: |
$7.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
Imports - commodities: |
machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and
steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals |
Imports - partners: |
US 23.9%, Chile 8.2%, Venezuela 5.8%, Colombia 5.8%, Spain,
Brazil, Japan (2001) |
Debt - external: |
$29.2 billion (2002 est.) |
Economic aid - recipient: |
$895.1 million (1995) |
Currency: |
nuevo sol (PEN) |
Currency code: |
PEN |
Exchange rates: |
nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.5165 (2002), 3.5068 (2001), 3.49
(2000), 3.3833 (1999), 2.93 (1998) |
Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
Telephones - main lines in use: |
1.8 million (2000) |
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) |
Television broadcast stations: |
13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997) |
Internet country code: |
.pe |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
10 (2000) |
Internet users: |
3 million (2002) |
Railways: |
total: 1,829 km standard gauge: 1,515 km
1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 314 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)
|
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) 29,470 GRT/45,451 DWT
note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a
flag of convenience: US 1 (2002 est.) ships by type:
cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 |
Airports: |
233
(2002) |
Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 49 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to
3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523
m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (2002) |
Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 184 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to
1,523 m: 61 under 914 m: 100 (2002)
|
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 (2003 est.) |
Military manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49: 7,510,882 (2003 est.) |
Military manpower - fit for military
service: |
males age 15-49: 5,045,619 (2003 est.) |
Military manpower - reaching military age
annually: |
males: 281,717 (2003 est.) |
Military expenditures - dollar figure: |
$1 billion (FY01) |
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.8% (FY01) |
Disputes - international: |
Bolivia continues to press Chile and Peru to restore the Atacama
corridor ceded to Chile in 1884 |
Illicit drugs: |
until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; emerging
opium producer; cultivation of coca in Peru increased by 8% to
36,600 hectares between 2001 and the end of 2002; 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
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