Geography

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

total area: 1,285,220 sq km
land area: 1.28 million sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Alaska
Coastline:
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west
Terrain:
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Natural resources:
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash
Land use:

arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 21%
forest and woodland: 55%
other: 21%
Irrigated land:
12,500 sq km (1989 est.)



People

Population:
24,087,372 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.8% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
24.88 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
6.84 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.07 years
male: 63.86 years
female: 68.38 years (1995 est.)
Ethnic divisions:
Indian 45%, mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 82%
male: 92%
female: 74%
Labor force:
8 million (1992)
by occupation: government and other services 44%, agriculture 37%, industry 19% (1988 est.)



Goverment

Type:
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)
Executive branch:

chief of state and head of government: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); election last held 9 April 1995
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Congress: elections last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); results ; seats - (120 total, when installed on 28 July 1995)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)



Economy

National product:
GDP - purchasing power parity - $73.6 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate:
8.6% (1994 est.)
National product per capita:
$3,110 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15%; extensive underemployment (1992 est.)
Budget:
$1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $300 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
$4.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton
partners: US 19%, Japan 9%, Italy, Germany
Imports:
$5.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
partners: US 21%, Colombia, Argentina, Japan, Germany, Brazil
External debt:
> $22.4 billion (1994 est.)
Currency:
1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1 - 2.20 (February 1995),
£1=....... pesos