Geography ::Paraguay
Location:
Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 406,752 sq km country comparison to the world: 59 land: 397,302 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,995 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain:
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 7.47%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 92.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:
670 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
336 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%)
per capita: 80 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country
People ::Paraguay
Population:
6,995,655 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.7% (male 1,304,115/female 1,260,560)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 2,043,509/female 2,023,317)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 168,554/female 195,600) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.9 years
male: 21.6 years
female: 22.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.364% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37
Birth rate:
28.17 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Death rate:
4.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201
Net migration rate:
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Urbanization:
urban population: 60% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 24.68 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 89 male: 28.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.77 years country comparison to the world: 73 male: 73.19 years
female: 78.49 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.75 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
21,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 79
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
4% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 104
Government ::Paraguay
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)
Constitution:
promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system:
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 20 April 2008 (next to be held April 2013)
election results: Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president; percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8%, Blanca OVELAR 30.6%, Lino OVIEDO 21.9%, Pedro FADUL 2.4%, other 4.3%
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - ANR 15, PLRA 14, UNACE 9, PPQ 4, other 3;Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party- ANR 30, PLRA 27, UNACE 15, PPQ 3, APC 2, other 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:
Alianza Patriotica por el Cambio (Patriotic Alliance for Change) orAPC [Fernando LUGO]; Asociacion Nacional Republicana - ColoradoParty or ANR [Lilian SAMANIEGO]; Movimiento Union Nacional deCiudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva]; Patria Querida(Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADULNiella]; Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS; PartidoEncuentro Nacional or PEN [Emilio CAMACHO Paredes]; Partido LiberalRadical Autentico or PLRA [Gustavo CARDOZO]; Partido Pais Solidarioor PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board of CampesinoOrganizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federation ofCampesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central or CNT[Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan Workers Confederationor CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT [JorgeGuzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]
International organization participation:
CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA,MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), 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 James SPALDING Hellmers
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
consulate(s) general: Kansas City (Kansas), Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Ambassador Liliana AYALDE
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
Flag description:
three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
Economy ::Paraguay
Economy - overview:
Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector, featuring reexport of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. A large percentage of the population, especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure. The economy rebounded between 2003 and 2008, however, as growing world demand for commodities combined with high prices and favorable weather to support Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion. Paraguay is the sixth largest soy producer in the world.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$28.95 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $27.37 billion (2007 est.)
$25.62 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$16.01 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 6.8% (2007 est.)
4.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $4,100 (2007 est.)
$3,900 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.4%
industry: 18.4%
services: 58.2% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.839 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 31%
industry: 17%
services: 52% (2007)
Unemployment rate:
5.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 5.6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
32% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 42.3% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.8 (2008) country comparison to the world: 9 57.7 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Budget:
revenues: $2.856 billion
expenditures: $2.826 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
19.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 39.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 8.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
20% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 7 20% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
25.81% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 11 25.03% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$2.062 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 70 $1.943 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.599 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 89 $1.368 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.098 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 89 $2.457 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$409.1 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Industries:
sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power
Industrial production growth rate:
4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Electricity - production:
53.19 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Electricity - consumption:
5.337 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - exports:
45.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
26.97 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112
Oil - consumption:
28,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Oil - imports:
25,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 136
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147
Current account balance:
-$345 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $126.1 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$7.769 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $5.463 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather
Exports - partners:
Argentina 31.7%, Brazil 15.9%, Uruguay 11.7%, Chile 6.4%, Russia 5.7% (2008)
Imports:
$8.809 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $6.008 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery, tractors, chemicals, vehicle parts
Imports - partners:
Brazil 27.2%, US 22.1%, Argentina 14.9%, China 10.4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.863 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 $2.462 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.507 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 114 $3.096 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.057 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 96
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 4,337.7 (2008 est.), 5,031 (2007), 5,672.8 (2006), 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004)
Communications ::Paraguay
Telephones - main lines in use:
363,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 104
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.791 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 81
Telephone system:
general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching center is in Asuncion
domestic: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly; deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service have resulted in a rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple providers
international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 41, FM 121, shortwave 6 (2006)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (2007)
Internet country code:
.py
Internet hosts:
71,487 (2009) country comparison to the world: 78
Internet users:
894,200 (2008) country comparison to the world: 93
Transportation ::Paraguay
Airports:
798 (2009) country comparison to the world: 9
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 784
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 289
under 914 m: 470 (2009)
Railways:
total: 36 km country comparison to the world: 132 standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 29,500 km country comparison to the world: 98 paved: 14,986 km
unpaved: 14,514 km (2000)
Waterways:
3,100 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 33
Merchant marine:
total: 23 country comparison to the world: 94 by type: cargo 18, carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Military ::Paraguay
Military branches:
Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation,Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza AereaParaguay, FAP) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,589,873
females age 16-49: 1,585,573 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,363,746
females age 16-49: 1,390,799 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 73,660
female: 72,046 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
Transnational Issues ::Paraguay
Disputes - international:
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations
Illicit drugs:
major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and Europe; weak border controls, extensive corruption and money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement
page last updated on November 11, 2009
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@Peru (South America)
Introduction ::Peru
Background:
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his ouster in 2000. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique as the new head of government - Peru's first democratically elected president of Native American ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA Perez who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, has overseen a robust macroeconomic performance.
Geography ::Peru
Location:
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, betweenChile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
South America
Area:
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:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
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:
2,414 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
Terrain:
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources:
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Land use:
arable land: 2.88%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.65% (2005)
Irrigated land:
12,000 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
1,913 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 20.13 cu km/yr (8%/10%/82%)
per capita: 720 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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
People ::Peru
Population:
29,546,963 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.1% (male 4,370,923/female 4,216,364)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 9,695,270/female 9,574,018)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 796,631/female 893,757) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.1 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 26.4 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.229% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Birth rate:
19.38 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Death rate:
6.14 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Net migration rate:
-0.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
Urbanization:
urban population: 71% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 28.62 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 78 male: 31.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.74 years country comparison to the world: 138 male: 68.88 years
female: 72.69 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.37 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
76,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,300 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever, malaria, and yellow fever
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups:
Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 81.3%, Evangelical 12.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified or 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 deTrabajadores del Peru) or CGTP [Mario HUAMAN]; Shining Path (SenderoLuminoso) or SL [Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned), Victor QUISPEPalomino (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
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
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