none 2.9% (2007 Census)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number
of minor Amazonian languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.9%
male: 96.4%
female: 89.4% (2007 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 157
Government ::Peru
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
name: Lima
geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
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
Independence:
28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution:
29 December 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with
reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note
- for the first time in recent elections, members of the military
and national police were eligible to vote in the 2006 elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006);
First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas (since 28 July 2006);
Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July
2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July
2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas (since 28 July
2006); Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28
July 2006)
note: Prime Minister Javier VELASQUEZ Quesquen (since 12 July 2009)
does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the
president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a nonconsecutive reelection); presidential and
congressional elections held 9 April 2006 with runoff election held
4 June 2006; next to be held in April 2011
election results: Alan GARCIA Perez elected president in runoff
election; percent of vote - Alan GARCIA Perez 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA
Tasso 47.5%
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)
elections: last held 9 April 2006 (next to be held in April 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPP 21.2%, PAP 20.6%,
UN 15.3%, AF 13.1%, FC 7.1%, PP 4.1%, RN 4.0%, other 14.6%; seats by
party - UPP 45, PAP 36, UN 17, AF 13, FC 5, PP 2, RN 2
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:
Alliance For Progress (Alianza Para El Progreso) [Cesar ACUNA
Peralta]; Alliance For The Future (Alianza Por El Futuro) or AF (a
coalition of pro-FUJIMORI parties including Cambio 90, Nueva
Mayoria, and Si Cumple); Central Front (Frente Del Centro) or FC (a
coalition of Accion Popular, Somos Peru, and Coordinadora Nacional
de Independientes) [Victor Andres GARCIA Belaunde]; National
Renovation Party (Partido Renovacion Nacional) [Rafael REY];
National Restoration Party (Restauracion Nacional) or RN [Humberto
LAY Sun]; National Solidarity Party (Partido Solidaridad Nacional)
or SN [Luis CASTANEDA Lossio]; Peru Possible (Peru Posible) or PP
[Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique]; Peruvian Aprista Party (Partido Aprista
Peruano) or PAP [Alan GARCIA Perez] (also referred to by its
original name Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana or APRA);
Peruvian Nationalist Party (Partido Nacionalista Peruano) or PNP
[Ollanta HUMALA Tasso]; Popular Christian Party (Partido Popular
Cristiano) or PPC [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Union for Peru (Union por
el Peru) or UPP [Aldo ESTRADA Choque]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
General Workers Confederation of Peru (Confederacion General de
Trabajadores del Peru) or CGTP [Mario HUAMAN]; Shining Path (Sendero
Luminoso) or SL [Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned), Victor QUISPE
Palomino (top leader at-large)] (leftist guerrilla group)
International organization participation:
APEC, CAN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur
(associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Luis VALDIVIESO Montano
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, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New
Jersey), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador P. Michael MCKINLEY
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) 618-2397
Flag description:
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with
the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms
features a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source of
quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all
framed by a green wreath
Economy ::Peru
Economy - overview:
Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal
region, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering
Colombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the
mountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent
fishing grounds. The Peruvian economy grew by more than 4% per year
during the period 2002-06, with a stable exchange rate and low
inflation. Growth jumped to 9% per year in 2007 and 2008, driven by
higher world prices for minerals and metals and the government's
aggressive trade liberalization strategies. Peru's rapid expansion
has helped to reduce the national poverty rate by about 15% since
2002, though underemployment and inflation remain high. Despite
Peru's strong macroeconomic performance, overdependence on minerals
and metals subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and
poor infrastructure precludes the spread of growth to Peru's
non-coastal areas. Not all Peruvians therefore have shared in the
benefits of growth. President GARCIA's pursuit of sound trade and
macroeconomic policies has cost him political support since his
election. Nevertheless, he remains committed to Peru's free-trade
path. The United States and Peru completed negotiations on the
implementation of the US-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA), and
the agreement entered into force February 1, 2009, opening the way
to greater trade and investment between the two economies.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$247.9 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$225.8 billion (2007 est.)
$207.3 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$127.5 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
8.9% (2007 est.)
7.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,500 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$7,800 (2007 est.)
$7,300 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 21.2%
services: 70.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
10.2 million (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 23.8%
services: 75.5% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
8.1% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
6.9% (2007 est.)
note: data are for metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment
Population below poverty line:
44.5% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 37.9% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.8 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 26
46.2 (1996)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.9% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Budget:
revenues: $38.01 billion
expenditures: $35.29 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
24% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
44.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
1.8% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
7.25% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 78
5.75% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
23.67% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 13
24.1% (December 2008)
Stock of money:
$15.42 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 37
$14.66 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$25.32 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 40
$19.95 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$21.98 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 58
$17.88 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$55.63 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 46
$106 billion (31 December 2007)
$59.66 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
asparagus, coffee, cocoa, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn,
plantains, grapes, oranges, pineapples, guavas, bananas, apples,
lemons, pears, coca, tomatoes, mango, barley, medicinal plants, palm
oil, marigold, onion, wheat, dry beans; poultry, beef, dairy
products; fish, guinea pigs
Industries:
mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum
extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing,
textiles, clothing, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
Electricity - production:
30.57 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Electricity - consumption:
28.97 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
120,200 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Oil - consumption:
160,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Oil - exports:
68,640 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Oil - imports:
133,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Oil - proved reserves:
415.8 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - production:
3.39 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Natural gas - consumption:
3.39 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008)
country comparison to the world: 135
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Natural gas - proved reserves:
335.3 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Current account balance:
-$4.18 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$1.22 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$31.53 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$27.88 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee,
potatoes, asparagus, textiles, fishmeal
Exports - partners:
US 20%, China 15.2%, Canada 8.3%, Japan 7%, Chile 5.8%, Brazil 4.2%
(2008)
Imports:
$28.44 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$19.6 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles,
iron and steel, wheat, paper
Imports - partners:
US 23.7%, China 10.6%, Brazil 7.5%, Ecuador 6.5%, Chile 5.1%,
Argentina 5%, Mexico 4.5% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$31.25 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
$27.78 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$34.59 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 59
$32.57 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$30.31 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$24.74 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.694 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$2.284 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
nuevo sol (PEN) per US dollar - 2.91 (2008 est.), 3.1731 (2007),
3.2742 (2006), 3.2958 (2005), 3.4132 (2004)
Communications ::Peru
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.878 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 52
Telephones - mobile cellular:
20.952 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 38
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate for most requirements
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is only about 10 per 100 persons;
mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple
providers, has increased to more than 70 telephones per 100 persons;
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) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
.pe
Internet hosts:
274,592 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 58
Internet users:
7.128 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 36
Transportation ::Peru
Airports:
201 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 30
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 57
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 144
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 79 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
extra heavy crude 533 km; gas 1,078 km; liquid petroleum gas 654 km;
oil 1,018 km; refined products 15 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 1,989 km
country comparison to the world: 73
standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 263 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 78,829 km
country comparison to the world: 61
paved: 11,351 km (includes 276 km of expressways)
unpaved: 67,478 km (2004)
Waterways:
8,808 km
country comparison to the world: 14
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km
of Lago Titicaca (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 123
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned: 1 (Bahamas 1)
registered in other countries: 17 (Belize 1, Panama 16) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Paita, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas; note -
Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the
Amazon and its tributaries
Military ::Peru
Military branches:
Army of Peru (Ejercito Peruano), Navy of Peru (Marina de Guerra del
Peru, MGP (includes naval air, naval infantry, and Coast Guard)),
Air Force of Peru (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18-30 years of age for voluntary male and female military service;
no conscription (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,653,898
females age 16-49: 7,531,329 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,920,716
females age 16-49: 6,359,803 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 310,575
female: 300,838 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 107
Transnational Issues ::Peru
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
IDPs: 60,000-150,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are
indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2007)
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 declined to 36,000
hectares in 2007; second largest producer of cocaine, estimated at
210 metric tons of potential pure cocaine in 2007; 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
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Philippines (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Philippines
Background:
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th
century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the
Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a
self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and
was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a
10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese
occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought
together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the
Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. The 20-year
rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power"
movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed
Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several
coup attempts, which prevented a return to full political stability
and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992
and his administration was marked by greater stability and progress
on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases
on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998, but
was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in
January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption
charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2")
demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year
term as president in May 2004. The Philippine Government faces
threats from three terrorist groups on the US Government's Foreign
Terrorist Organization list, but in 2006 and 2007 scored some major
successes in capturing or killing key wanted terrorists. Decades of
Muslim insurgency in the southern Philippines have led to a peace
accord with one group and on-again/off-again peace talks with
another.
Geography ::Philippines
Location:
Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the
South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 300,000 sq km
country comparison to the world: 72
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
36,289 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from
coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also
claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in
breadth
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest
monsoon (May to October)
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural resources:
timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use:
arable land: 19%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 64.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
15,500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
479 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 28.52 cu km/yr (17%/9%/74%)
per capita: 343 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to
six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes;
destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:
uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil
erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef
degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that
are important fish breeding grounds
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:
the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably
located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies:
the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and
Luzon Strait
People ::Philippines
Population:
97,976,603 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.2% (male 17,606,352/female 16,911,376)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 29,679,327/female 29,737,919)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,744,248/female 2,297,381) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 22.5 years
male: 22 years
female: 23 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.957% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Birth rate:
26.01 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
Death rate:
5.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Net migration rate:
-1.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Urbanization:
urban population: 65% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 20.56 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 104
male: 23.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.09 years
country comparison to the world: 133
male: 68.17 years
female: 74.15 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.27 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
8,300 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever