Peru: Facts and Figures - Facts and Figures

Official name

Republic of Peru

Capital

Lima

Area

1,285,216 sq km

496,225 sq mi

Administrative divisions (population)

Amazonas

406,904 (2005 estimate)

Ancash

1,086,604 (2005 estimate)

Apurímac

437,128 (2005 estimate)

Arequipa

1,172,959 (2005 estimate)

Ayacucho

650,817 (2005 estimate)

Cajamarca

1,412,262 (2005 estimate)

Callao

840,813 (2005 estimate)

Cuzco

1,208,821 (2005 estimate)

Huancavelica

463,250 (2005 estimate)

Huánuco

761,216 (2005 estimate)

Ica

695,489 (2005 estimate)

Junín

1,182,649 (2005 estimate)

La Libertad

1,596,930 (2005 estimate)

Lambayeque

1,122,421 (2005 estimate)

Liberec

8,153,618 (2005 estimate)

Loreto

915,138 (2005 estimate)

Madre de Dios

101,644 (2005 estimate)

Moquegua

164,105 (2005 estimate)

Pasco

274,568 (2005 estimate)

Piura

1,679,899 (2005 estimate)

Puno

1,290,052 (2005 estimate)

San Martín

695,106 (2005 estimate)

Tacna

286,810 (2005 estimate)

Tumbes

201,336 (2005 estimate)

Ucayali

418,725 (2005 estimate)

Largest cities (population)

Lima

8,153,618 (2005 estimate)

Arequipa

710,103 (1998 estimate)

Callao

389,579 (2005 estimate)

Pucallpa

311,793 (2005 estimate)

Trujillo

276,921 (2005 estimate)

Chiclayo

251,407 (2005 estimate)

Piura

247,943 (2005 estimate)

Iquitos

157,529 (2005 estimate)

Sullana

149,261 (2005 estimate)

Ica

117,839 (2005 estimate)

Huancayo

104,117 (2005 estimate)

Cuzco

103,836 (2005 estimate)

Tacna

97,247 (2005 estimate)

Population

28,674,757 (2007 estimate)

Population growth rate

1.29 per cent (2007 estimate)

Population density

22 persons per sq km (2007 estimate)

58 persons per sq mi (2007 estimate)

Urbanization

Per cent urban

75 per cent (2005 estimate)

Per cent rural

25 per cent (2005 estimate)

Life expectancy

Total

70.1 years (2007 estimate)

Female

72 years (2007 estimate)

Male

68.3 years (2007 estimate)

Infant mortality rate

30 deaths per 1,000 live births (2007 estimate)

Literacy rate

Total

91.6 per cent (2005 estimate)

Female

87.7 per cent (2005 estimate)

Male

95.6 per cent (2005 estimate)

Ethnic divisions

Native American

45 per cent

Mestizo

37 per cent

White

15 per cent

Black, Japanese, Chinese, and other

3 per cent

Languages

Spanish (official), Quechua (regional official language, along with many other indigenous languages), Aymara (regional official language), Aguaruna (regional official language), and many other Native American languages

Religions

Roman Catholic (majority of population), Protestant, other

Type of government

Republic

Independence

July 28, 1821 (from Spain)

Constitution

December 29, 1993

Voting rights

Universal at age 18

Gross domestic product (GDP) (US$)

79,379 million (2005)

GDP per capita (US$)

2,838.20 (2005)

GDP by economic sector

GDP, agriculture

7.2 per cent (2005)

GDP, industry

34.8 per cent (2005)

GDP, services

58 per cent (2005)

National budget (US$)

Total revenue

13,710 million (2005)

Total expenditure

13,994 million (2005)

Monetary unit

1 nuevo sol (S/.), consisting of 100 céntimos

Exports

Copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and by-products, lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton

Imports

Machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Major trading partners for exports

United States, Japan, United Kingdom, China, Germany

Major trading partners for imports

United States, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, United Kingdom

Industries

Mining, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement, car assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication

Agriculture

Commercial crops: coffee, cotton, sugar cane; other crops: rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains; animal products: poultry, red meat, dairy, wool

Natural resources

Copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, lead, zinc

Basic Facts and People sections

Area data are from the statistical bureaus of individual countries. Population, population growth rate, and population projections are from the United States Census Bureau, International Programs Center, International Data Base (IDB) (www.census.gov). Urban and rural population data are from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN), FAOSTAT database (www.fao.org). Largest cities population data and political divisions data are from the statistical bureaus of individual countries. Ethnic divisions and religion data are largely from the latest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook and from various country censuses and reports. Language data are largely from the Ethnologue, Languages of the World, Summer Institute of Linguistics International (www.sil.org).

Health and Education section

Life expectancy and infant mortality data are from the United States Census Bureau, International Programs Center, International database (IDB) (www.census.gov). Population per physician and population per hospital bed data are from the World Health Organization (WHO) (www.who.int). Education data are from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) database (www.unesco.org).

Government section

Government, independence, legislature, constitution, highest court, and voting qualifications data are largely from various government Web sites, the latest Europa World Yearbook, and the latest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Factbook. The armed forces data are from Military Balance.

Economy section

Gross domestic product (GDP), GDP per capita, GDP by economic sectors, employment, and national budget data are from the World Bank database (www.worldbank.org). Monetary unit, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, exports, imports, and major trade partner information is from the latest Europa World Yearbook and various International Monetary Fund (IMF) publications.

Energy, Communication, and Transportation section

Electricity information is from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) database (www.eia.doe.gov). Radio, telephone, television, and newspaper information is from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) database (www.unesco.org). Internet hosts, motor vehicles, and road data are from the World Bank database (www.worldbank.org).

Note

Figures may not total 100 per cent due to rounding.