Capital and largest city: Lima (1995 est. pop.. 7.5 million)
Elevations: highest--Iluascaran. 6.768 m (22.205 ft). lowest--sea
level. along the coast.
PEOPLE
Population (1 995 est.): 23.8 million.
Density (1995 est.): 19 persons per sq km (49.2 per sq mi).
Distribution (1995): 72% urban 27.8% rural.
Annual growth (1995): 1.9%.
Official languages: Spanish. Quechua.
Major religion: 95% Roman Catholicism.
ECONOMY
GDP (1994): $50.38 billion. $2069 per capita.
Labor distribution (1984): agriculture--38%.
manufacturing--11%.
commerce-- 15%. trade-- 14%. services--25%.
Foreign trade (1984): imports--$2.6 billion. exports--$3.3 billion.
principal trade partners--United States. Japan. Argentina. Germany. Currency. 1
nuevo sol (SI.) = 100 centimos.
GOVERNMENT
Type republic.
Government leader (1992): Alberto Fujimori--president.
Legislature: Congress.
Political subdivisions: 24 departments province of Callao.
EDUCATION AND HEALTH
Literacy (1985): 85% of adult population
Universities (1986): 35.
Hospital beds (1982): 29,99l
Physicians (1983): l5,500.
Life expectancy (1985):
women—62.2
men--58.3.
Infant mortality (1986): 94 per 1,000 live births.
COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads (1985): 3,506km (2,179 mi) total.
Roads (1984): 65,000 km (40,400 mi) total
Major ports: 7
Major airfields: 2.
The Republic of Peru extends 2,414 km (l,500 mi) along the western
coast of South America. The country is bounded on the north by Ecuador and
Colombia, on the east by Brazil and Bolivia on the south by Chile and on the
west by the Pacific Ocean. Peru declared its independence from Spain in 1821.
