2017 Edition

Background

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.

Area

1,285,216 sq km 1,279,996 sq km 5,220 sq km

land

1,279,996 sq km

total

1,285,216 sq km

water

5,220 sq km

Area - comparative

almost twice the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska

Climate

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

Coastline

2,414 km

Elevation

1,555 m lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,746 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point

Nevado Huascaran 6,746 m

mean elevation

1,555 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

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 none of the selected 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

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

Irrigated land

25,800 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

7,062 km Bolivia 1,212 km, Brazil 2,659 km, Chile 168 km, Colombia 1,494 km, Ecuador 1,529 km

border countries (5)

Bolivia 1,212 km, Brazil 2,659 km, Chile 168 km, Colombia 1,494 km, Ecuador 1,529 km

total

7,062 km

Land use

18.8% arable land 3.1%; permanent crops 1.1%; permanent pasture 14.6% 53% 28.2% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

18.8%

forest

53%

other

28.2% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

200 nm 200 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

territorial sea

200 nm

Natural hazards

earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Ubinas (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

volcanism

volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Ubinas (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

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

Population - distribution

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

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

Age structure

26.31% (male 4,155,672/female 4,009,888) 18.31% (male 2,847,460/female 2,835,727) 40.19% (male 5,985,354/female 6,487,232) 7.78% (male 1,168,533/female 1,247,299) 7.41% (male 1,086,790/female 1,212,701) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

26.31% (male 4,155,672/female 4,009,888)

15-24 years

18.31% (male 2,847,460/female 2,835,727)

25-54 years

40.19% (male 5,985,354/female 6,487,232)

55-64 years

7.78% (male 1,168,533/female 1,247,299)

65 years and over

7.41% (male 1,086,790/female 1,212,701) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

17.8 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.1% (2014)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

74.6% (2014)

Death rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Demographic profile

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

53.2 42.7 10.5 9.6 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

10.5

potential support ratio

9.6 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

53.2

youth dependency ratio

42.7

Drinking water source

urban: 91.4% of population rural: 69.2% of population total: 86.7% of population urban: 8.6% of population rural: 30.8% of population total: 13.3% of population (2015 est.)

rural

30.8% of population

total

13.3% of population (2015 est.)

urban

8.6% of population

Education expenditures

3.9% of GDP (2015)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,200 (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

70,000 (2016 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

18.4 deaths/1,000 live births 20.5 deaths/1,000 live births 16.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

16.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

20.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

18.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

74 years 71.9 years 76.1 years (2017 est.)

female

76.1 years (2017 est.)

male

71.9 years

total population

74 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 94.2% 97.2% 94.3% (2016 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.3% (2016 est.)

male

97.2%

total population

94.2%

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever dengue fever, malaria, and Bartonellosis (Oroya fever) 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)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid 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)

vectorborne disease

dengue fever, malaria, and Bartonellosis (Oroya fever)

Major urban areas - population

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

Maternal mortality rate

68 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

28 years 27.2 years 28.8 years (2017 est.)

female

28.8 years (2017 est.)

male

27.2 years

total

28 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

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

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2013 est.)

Nationality

Peruvian(s) Peruvian

adjective

Peruvian

noun

Peruvian(s)

Net migration rate

-2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.7% (2016)

Physicians density

1.12 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

31,036,656 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

0.95% (2017 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 82.5% of population rural: 53.2% of population total: 76.2% of population urban: 17.5% of population rural: 46.8% of population total: 23.8% of population (2015 est.)

rural

46.8% of population

total

23.8% of population (2015 est.)

urban

17.5% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

13 years 13 years 14 years (2010)

female

14 years (2010)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

1.05 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.92 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.9 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.12 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

14.7% 8.6% 8.2% (2015 est.)

female

8.2% (2015 est.)

male

8.6%

total

14.7%

Urbanization

79.2% of total population (2017) 1.57% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.57% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

79.2% of total population (2017)

Administrative divisions

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

note

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

Capital

Lima 12 03 S, 77 03 W UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

12 03 S, 77 03 W

name

Lima

time difference

UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

yes yes yes 2 years

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent

yes

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

2 years

Constitution

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

Country name

Republic of Peru Peru Republica del Peru Peru exact meaning is obscure, but the name may derive from a native word "biru" meaning "river"

conventional long form

Republic of Peru

conventional short form

Peru

etymology

exact meaning is obscure, but the name may derive from a native word "biru" meaning "river"

local long form

Republica del Peru

local short form

Peru

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mark WELLS (since 13 October 2017) Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17 s/n, Surco, Lima 33 P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031-5000 [51] (1) 618-2000 [51] (1) 618-2397

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Mark WELLS (since 13 October 2017)

embassy

Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17 s/n, Surco, Lima 33

FAX

[51] (1) 618-2397

mailing address

P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031-5000

telephone

[51] (1) 618-2000

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

chancery

1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Carlos Jose PAREJA Rios (since 16 September 2016)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (NJ), San Francisco, Washington DC

FAX

[1] (202) 659-8124

telephone

[1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869

Executive branch

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 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) Council of Ministers appointed by the president 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) Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi (Fuerza Popular) 39.9%, Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard (Peruanos Por el Kambio) 21.1%, Veronika MENDOZA (Broad Front) 18.7%, Alfredo BARNECHEA (Popular Action) 7%, Alan GARCIA (APRA) 5.8%, other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard 50.1%, Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi 49.9% Prime Minister Mercedes Rosalba ARAOZ Fernandez (since 17 September 2017) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the president

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

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

election results

Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi (Fuerza Popular) 39.9%, Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard (Peruanos Por el Kambio) 21.1%, Veronika MENDOZA (Broad Front) 18.7%, Alfredo BARNECHEA (Popular Action) 7%, Alan GARCIA (APRA) 5.8%, other 7.5%; percent of vote in second round - Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI Godard 50.1%, Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi 49.9%

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)

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)

note

Prime Minister Mercedes Rosalba ARAOZ Fernandez (since 17 September 2017) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the president

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 (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

presidential republic

Independence

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Supreme Court (consists of 16 judges and divided into civil, criminal, and constitutional-social sectors) 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 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

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

civil law system

Legislative branch

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) last held on 10 April 2016 with run-off election on 6 June 2016 (next to be held in April 2021) percent of vote by party/coalition - Fuerza Popular 36.3%, PPK 16.5%, Frente Amplio 13.9%, APP 9.2%; APRA 8.3%; AP 7.2%, other 8.6%; seats by party/coalition - Fuerza Popular 73, Frente Amplio 20, PPK 18, APP 9; APRA 5; AP 5

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)

election results

percent of vote by party/coalition - Fuerza Popular 36.3%, PPK 16.5%, Frente Amplio 13.9%, APP 9.2%; APRA 8.3%; AP 7.2%, other 8.6%; seats by party/coalition - Fuerza Popular 73, Frente Amplio 20, PPK 18, APP 9; APRA 5; AP 5

elections

last held on 10 April 2016 with run-off election on 6 June 2016 (next to be held in April 2021)

National anthem

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

lyrics/music

Jose DE LA TORRE Ugarte/Jose Bernardo ALZEDO

name

"Himno Nacional del Peru" (National Anthem of Peru)

note

adopted 1822; the song won a national anthem contest

National holiday

Independence Day, 28-29 July (1821)

National symbol(s)

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

vicuna (a camelid related to the llama); national colors

red, white

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Progress (Alianza para el Progreso) or APP [Cesar ACUNA Peralta] American Popular Revolutionary Alliance or APRA Broad Front (Frente Amplio; also known as El Frente Amplio por Justicia, Vida y Libertad) (coalition includes Nuevo Peru [Veronika Mendoza], Tierra y Libertad [Marco ARANA Zegarra], 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 (coalition includes Accion Popular and Somos Peru) [Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique] Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista Peruano) or PAP [Javier VELASQUEZ Quesquen] (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 pressure groups and leaders

General Workers Confederation of Peru (Confederacion General de Trabajadores del Peru) or CGTP [Geronimo LOPEZ] Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) or SL [Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso - imprisoned), Jorge and Victor QUISPE Palomino - indicted in US] (communist guerrilla group)

Suffrage

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

Agriculture - products

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, marigolds, onions, wheat, dry beans; poultry, beef, pork, dairy products; guinea pigs; fish

Budget

$52.44 billion $57.48 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$57.48 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$52.44 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2016 est.) 5.05% (31 December 2012)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

16.47% (31 December 2016 est.) 16.1% (31 December 2015 est.) domestic currency lending rate, 90 day maturity

note

domestic currency lending rate, 90 day maturity

Current account balance

$-5.305 billion (2016 est.) $-9.169 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$66.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $65.94 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

45.3 (2012) 51 (2005)

Economy - overview

Peru's economy reflects its varied topography - an arid lowland coastal region, the central high sierra of the Andes, and the dense forest of the Amazon. 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 copper. The Peruvian economy grew by an average of 5.6% per year 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 55% of the country's total exports. Growth slipped from 2014 to 2016, 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 over 35 percentage points since 2004, but inequality persists and continued to pose a challenge for the Ollanta HUMALA administration, which 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 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, Honduras, concluded negotiations with Guatemala and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and begun trade talks with El Salvador, India, 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. President Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI succeeded HUMALA in July 2016 and is focusing on economic reforms and free market policies aimed at boosting investment in Peru. Mining output increased significantly in 2016, which helped Peru attain one of the highest GDP growth rates in Latin America, and Peru should maintain strong growth in 2017. However, 2016 economic performance fell short of initial projections depressed by delays in infrastructure mega-projects and the start of a corruption scandal associated with a Brazilian firm, which have lowered 2017 growth estimates. Massive flooding in early 2017 may also be a drag on growth, offset somewhat by additional public spending aimed at recovery efforts.

Exchange rates

nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar - 3.3751 (2016 est.) 3.3751 (2015 est.) 3.185 (2014 est.) 2.8383 (2013 est.) 2.64 (2012 est.)

Exports

$37.02 billion (2016 est.) $34.41 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

China 23.5%, US 17.3%, Switzerland 7.1%, Canada 4.7% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

65.2% 12.1% 22.6% 0.2% 22.2% -22.2% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

22.2%

government consumption

12.1%

household consumption

65.2%

imports of goods and services

-22.2% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.6%

investment in inventories

0.2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

7.6% 34.7% 57.7% (2016 est.)

agriculture

7.6%

industry

34.7%

services

57.7% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$12,900 (2016 est.) $12,500 (2015 est.) $12,300 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4% (2016 est.) 3.3% (2015 est.) 2.4% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$195.3 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$406.5 billion (2016 est.) $386 billion (2015 est.) $369.6 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

20.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 19.7% of GDP (2015 est.) 20.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

1.4% 36.1% (2010 est.)

highest 10%

36.1% (2010 est.)

lowest 10%

1.4%

Imports

$35.13 billion (2016 est.) $37.33 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

China 22.8%, US 20.2%, Brazil 5.8%, Mexico 4.5% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

9.6% (2016 est.)

Industries

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)

3.6% (2016 est.) 3.5% (2015 est.) data are for metropolitan Lima, annual average

note

data are for metropolitan Lima, annual average

Labor force

16.8 million individuals older than 14 years of age (2016 est.)

note

individuals older than 14 years of age (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

25.8% 17.4% 56.8% (2011)

agriculture

25.8%

industry

17.4%

services

56.8% (2011)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$56.56 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $78.84 billion (31 December 2014 est.) $80.98 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

22.7% (2014 est.)

Public debt

23.8% of GDP (2016 est.) 23.3% of GDP (2015 est.) 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

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$61.81 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $61.59 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$84.84 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $74.02 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$4.255 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $2.815 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$91.48 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $84.62 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$52.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $49.47 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$31.08 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $29.59 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.7% (2016 est.) 6.5% (2015 est.) data are for metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment

note

data are for metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

41 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

15,560 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

83,660 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

40,270 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

473 million bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

40.93 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

55 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

62.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

33.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

4.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

12.26 million kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

46.31 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

2,900,000 91% 98% 73% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

73% (2013)

electrification - total population

91%

electrification - urban areas

98%

population without electricity

2,900,000

Natural gas - consumption

10.88 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - exports

4.83 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

12.62 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

399 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

240,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

66,650 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

52,880 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

187,200 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Broadcast media

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

.pe

Internet users

13,975,422 45.5% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

45.5% (July 2016 est.)

total

13,975,422

Telephone system

adequate for most requirements; nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations fixed-line teledensity is only about 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple providers, now 120 telephones per 100 persons 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) (2016)

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is only about 10 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple providers, now 120 telephones per 100 persons

general assessment

adequate for most requirements; nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations

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) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

3,074,464 10 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

10 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

3,074,464

Telephones - mobile cellular

36,933,161 120 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

120 (July 2016 est.)

total

36,933,161

Airports

191 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

5 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m

16

2,438 to 3,047 m

21

914 to 1,523 m

12

over 3,047 m

5

total

59

under 914 m

5 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

82 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

19

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

30

total

132

under 914 m

82 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OB (2016)

Heliports

5 (2013)

Merchant marine

cargo 2, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 13 8 (Chile 6, Ecuador 1, Spain 1) 9 (Panama 9) (2010)

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)

total

22

National air transport system

13,907,948 223,643,434 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

223,643,434 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

13,907,948

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

35

number of registered air carriers

7

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

Callao, Matarani, Paita Iquitos, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas (Amazon) Conchan oil terminal, La Pampilla oil terminal Callao (1,616,365)

container port(s) (TEUs)

Callao (1,616,365)

major seaport(s)

Callao, Matarani, Paita

oil terminal(s)

Conchan oil terminal, La Pampilla oil terminal

river port(s)

Iquitos, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas (Amazon)

Railways

1,854.4 km 1,730.4 km 1.435-m gauge (34 km electrified) 124 km 0.914-m gauge (2014)

narrow gauge

124 km 0.914-m gauge (2014)

standard gauge

1,730.4 km 1.435-m gauge (34 km electrified)

total

1,854.4 km

Roadways

140,672 km (18,699 km paved) 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)

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)

total

140,672 km (18,699 km paved)

Waterways

8,808 km (8,600 km of navigable tributaries on the Amazon River system and 208 km on Lago Titicaca) (2011)

Maritime threats

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Peru are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2016, 11 attacks against commercial vessels were reported up from none in 2015; most of these occured in the main port of Callao

Military branches

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

1.29% of GDP (2016) 1.69% of GDP (2015) 1.46% of GDP (2014) 1.47% of GDP (2013) 1.33% of GDP (2012)

Military service age and obligation

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

Disputes - international

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

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 53,000 hectares in 2015, an increase of 14 per cent over 2014; second largest producer of cocaine, estimated at 380 metric tons of potential pure cocaine in 2015; 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

62,000 (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) (2016)

IDPs

62,000 (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) (2016)