Project: PERU

Commissioned by the Sisters of St. Joesph of Carondelet, and with further support from generous sponsors, Project Aware will travel to Peru July 11, 2009 to conduct research for a new play that will take a look at poverty on an international level.  Go to the home page to read about the journey of a play in progress.   

Population of Peru

Population:	29,180,900 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:	0-14 years: 30.9% (male 4,456,195/female 4,300,233) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 9,078,123/female 8,961,981) 65 years and over: 5.3% (male 709,763/female 796,308)
Median age:	25.3 years
Growth rate:	1.32%
Infant mortality:	30.94 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:	total population: 69.84 years male: 68.05 years female: 71.71 years
Fertility rate:	2.51 children born/woman
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 90%
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: 90.9% male: 95.2% female: 86.8%

Government

Country name:	conventional long form: Republic of Peru local long form: Republica del Peru
Government type:	constitutional republic
Capital:	Lima
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:	31 December 1993
Legal system:	based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:	18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note – members of the military may not vote
Executive branch:	chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; 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; Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006) note: Prime Minister Yehude SIMON Munaro (since 14 October 2008) 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).
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)
Judicial branch:	Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary)

Economy

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. However, overdependence on minerals and metals subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack of infrastructure deters trade and investment. After several years of inconsistent economic performance, 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 7.5% in 2007, driven by higher world prices for minerals and metals. Risk premiums on Peruvian bonds on secondary markets reached historically low levels in late 2004, reflecting investor optimism regarding the government’s prudent fiscal policies and openness to trade and investment. Despite the strong macroeconomic performance, underemployment and poverty have stayed persistently high. Growth prospects depend on exports of minerals, textiles, and agricultural products, and by expectations for the Camisea natural gas megaproject and for other promising energy projects. Upon taking office, President GARCIA announced Sierra Exportadora, a program aimed at promoting economic growth in Peru’s southern and central highlands.

GDP:	$219.6 billion (2007 est.)
GDP growth rate:	6.7%
GDP per capita:	$7,600
GDP composition by sector:	agriculture: 8% industry: 27% services: 65%
Inflation rate:	1.6%
Labor force:	9.06 million
Labor force – by occupation:	agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, transport, services
Unemployment:	7.6% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment
Budget:	revenues: $21.87 billion expenditures: $22.47 billion
Electricity production by source:	fossil fuel: 14.5% hydro: 84.7% other: 0.8%  nuclear: 0%
Industries:	mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food processing
Agriculture:	coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish
Exports:	copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee
Export partners:	US 31.1%, China 10.8%, Chile 6.6%, Canada 5.9%, Switzerland 4.6%
Imports:	petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel, wheat, paper
Import partners:	US 18.2%, China 8.5%, Brazil 8%, Ecuador 7.4%, Colombia 6.1%, Argentina 5.1%, Chile 5.1%, Venezuela 4.1%
Currency:	nuevo sol (PEN)

SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress

From www.worldfacts.us