Page last updated on January 31, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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. Peruvian independence was declared 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 ouster in 2000. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001, which installed Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique as the new head of government - Peru's first democratically elected president of indigenous Quechuan 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. In June 2011, former army officer Ollanta HUMALA Tasso was elected president, defeating Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi, the daughter of Alberto FUJIMORI. Since his election, HUMALA has carried on the sound, market-oriented economic policies of the three preceding administrations.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
South America
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,285,216 sq km
country comparison to the world: 20
land: 1,279,996 sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 7,461 km
border countries: Bolivia 1,075 km, Brazil 2,995 km, Chile 171 km, Colombia 1,800 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,414 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 2.84%
permanent crops: 0.66%
other: 96.5% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11,960 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,913 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 19.34 cu km/yr (8%/10%/82%)
per capita: 727.6 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
volcanism: volcanic activity in the Andes Mountains; Ubinas (elev. 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
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 0.2% (2007 Census)
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Roman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified or none 2.9% (2007 Census)
Demographic profile:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29,849,303 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 27.6% (male 4,197,698/female 4,053,852)
15-24 years: 19.4% (male 2,894,420/female 2,891,714)
25-54 years: 39.2% (male 5,633,249/female 6,056,017)
55-64 years: 7.1% (male 1,039,975/female 1,086,428)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 947,349/female 1,048,601) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 54.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 44.4 %
elderly dependency ratio: 9.9 %
potential support ratio: 10.1 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 26.7 years
male: 26 years
female: 27.4 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18.85 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.97 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-2.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 77% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
LIMA (capital) 8.769 million; Arequipa 778,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
22.3
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2012 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
67 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 91
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 20.85 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 89
male: 23.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 72.98 years
country comparison to the world: 128
male: 71.01 years
female: 75.05 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.25 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
68.9% (2011)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.8% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 145
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.92 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
75,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, and Bartonellosis (Oroya fever) (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 117
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 93
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 155
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.6%
male: 94.9%
female: 84.6% (2007 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2010)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 2,545,855
percentage: 34 %
note: data represents children ages 5-17 (2007 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 9.5%
country comparison to the world: 111
male: 9.4%
female: 9.7% (2011)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
constitutional republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Lima
geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
note: Callao, the largest port in Peru, is also referred to as a constitutional province, the only province of the the Callao region
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest promulgated 29 December 1993, enacted 31 December 1993; amended several times, last in 2009 (2009)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
civil law system
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President Ollanta HUMALA Tasso (since 28 July 2011); First Vice President Marisol ESPINOZA Cruz (since 28 July 2011); Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ollanta HUMALA Tasso (since 28 July 2011); First Vice President Marisol ESPINOZA Cruz (since 28 July 2011); Second Vice President (vacant)
note: Prime Minister Juan Federico JIMENEZ Mayor (since 23 July 2012) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for nonconsecutive reelection); presidential and congressional elections last held on 10 April 2011 with runoff election held on 6 June 2011 (next to be held in April 2016)
election results: Ollanta HUMALA Tasso elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Ollanta HUMALA Tasso 51.5%, Keiko FUJIMORI Higuchi 48.5%
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de la Republica del Peru (130 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 10 April 2011 (next to be held in April 2016)
election results: percent of vote by party - Gana Peru 25.3%, Fuerza 2011 23%, PP 14.8%, Alliance for Great Change 14.4%, National Solidarity 10.2%, Peruvian Aprista Party 6.4%, other 5.9%; seats by party - Gana Peru 47, Fuerza 2011 37, PP 21, Alliance for Great Change 12, National Solidarity 9, Peruvian Aprista Party 4; note - defections by members of National Assembly are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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; two types of peace courts in which professional judges and selected members of the local communities preside
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Alliance for Great Change (Alianza por el Gran Cambio) (a coalition of the Alliance for Progress, Humanist Party, National Restoration Party, and Popular Christian Party) [Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
General Workers Confederation of Peru (Confederacion General de Trabajadores del Peru) or CGTP [Mario HUAMAN]
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
APEC, BIS, CAN, CD, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador Harold Winston FORSYTH Mejia (since 29 August 2011)
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hartford (CT), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (NJ), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael J. Fitzpatrick (since 20 September 2013)
embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17 s/n, Surco, Lima 33
mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031-5000
telephone: [51] (1) 618-2000
FAX: [51] (1) 618-2397
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
vicuna (a camelid related to the llama)
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Himno Nacional del Peru" (National Anthem of Peru)
lyrics/music: Jose DE LA TORRE Ugarte/Jose Bernardo ALZEDO
note: adopted 1822; the song won a national contest for an anthem
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid lowland coastal region, the central high sierra of the Andes, the dense forest of the Amazon, with tropical lands bordering Colombia and Brazil. A wide range of important mineral resources are found in the mountainous and coastal areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent fishing grounds. The Peruvian economy has been growing by an average of 6.4% per year since 2002 with a stable/slightly appreciating exchange rate and low inflation, which in 2013 is expected to be below the upper limit of the Central Bank target range of 1 to 3%. Growth has been in the 6-9% range for the last three years, due partly to a leap in private investment, especially in the extractive sector, which accounts for more than 60% of Peru's total exports. Despite Peru's strong macroeconomic performance, dependence on minerals and metals exports and imported foodstuffs subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices. Poor infrastructure hinders the spread of growth to Peru's non-coastal areas. Peru's rapid expansion coupled with cash transfers and other programs have helped to reduce the national poverty rate by 23 percentage points since 2002, but inequality persists and continues to pose a challenge for the new Ollanta HUMALA administration, which has championed a policy of social inclusion and a more equitable distribution of income. Peru's free trade policy has continued under the HUMALA administration; since 2006, Peru has signed trade deals with the US, Canada, Singapore, China, Korea, Mexico, Japan, the European Free Trade Association, Chile, and four other countries; concluded negotiations with Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Guatemala; and begun trade talks with two other Central American countries and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Peru also has signed a trade pact with Chile, Colombia, and Mexico called the Pacific Alliance that rivals Mercosur in combined population, GDP, and trade. The US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement entered into force 1 February 2009, opening the way to greater trade and investment between the two economies. Although Peru has continued to attract foreign investment, political activism and protests are hampering development of some projects related to natural resource extraction.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$322.9 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$196.2 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$10,600 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
23.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 61.9%
government consumption: 10.3%
investment in fixed capital: 26.6%
investment in inventories: 0.3%
exports of goods and services: 25.5%
imports of goods and services: -24.5%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 6.3%
industry: 37.6%
services: 56.1% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
asparagus, coffee, cocoa, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes, oranges, pineapples, guavas, bananas, apples, lemons, pears, coca, tomatoes, mangoes, barley, medicinal plants, palm oil, marigold, onion, wheat, dry beans; poultry, beef, pork, dairy products; guinea pigs; fish
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.02 million
country comparison to the world: 50
note: individuals older than 14 years of age (2012 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 23.8%
services: 75.5% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
note: data are for metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27.8% (2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 36.1% (2010 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
46 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 34
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $62.19 billion
expenditures: $57.9 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
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
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
note: data are for metropolitan Lima, annual average
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.05% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 68
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.23% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
note: domestic currency lending rate, 90 day maturity
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$32.61 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$73.97 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$36.76 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$153.4 billion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 38
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-7.137 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$45.64 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
China 19.9%, US 15.7%, Canada 9.5%, Japan 6.6%, Spain 5.2%, Chile 4.9% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$41.11 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, plastics, machinery, vehicles, color 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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
US 24.6%, China 14%, Brazil 6.4%, Argentina 5%, Chile 4.8%, Colombia 4.2%, Ecuador 4.1%, Mexico 4% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$64.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$50.47 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
note: public debt component of total: $20.6 billion (31 December 2009)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$63.51 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.041 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
38.4 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
34.25 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
112 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.613 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
60.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
39.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
160,400 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15,610 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
99,590 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
579.2 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 49
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
159,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
206,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
82,080 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
43,480 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
32.4 billion cu m (2012)
country comparison to the world: 28
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.49 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.73 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2012)
country comparison to the world: 115
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
359.6 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 38
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
37.71 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.42 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 45
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29.4 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 36
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: adequate for most requirements; nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is only about 12 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple providers, exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons
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) (2010)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.pe
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
234,102 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 70
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.158 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 31
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
191 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 30
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 59
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 132
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m:
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
extra heavy crude 786 km; gas 1,526 km; liquid petroleum gas 679 km; oil 1,033 km; refined products 15 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,907 km
country comparison to the world: 74
standard gauge: 1,772 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 135 km 0.914-m gauge (2012)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 140,672 km (of which 18,698 km are paved)
country comparison to the world: 35
note: includes 24,593 km of national roads (of which 14,748 km are paved), 24,235 km of departmental roads (2,340 km paved), and 91,844 km of local roads (1,611 km paved) (2012)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8,808 km (there are 8,600 km of navigable tributaries on the Amazon system and 208 km on Lago Titicaca) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 14
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 22
country comparison to the world: 92
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)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Callao, Matarani, Paita
river port(s): Iquitos, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas (Amazon)
oil terminals: Conchan oil terminal, La Pampilla oil terminal
container port(s) (TEUs): Callao (1,616,365)
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18-50 years of age for male and 18-45 years of age for female voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 7,385,588
females age 16-49: 7,727,623 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 5,788,629
females age 16-49: 6,565,097 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 304,094
female: 298,447 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.28% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 246
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
IDPs: 150,000 (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) (2011)