 Country Profile [CIA, 2005]
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. FUJIMORI won reelection to a third term in the spring of 2000, but international pressure and corruption scandals led to his ouster by Congress in November of that year. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government; his presidency has been hampered by allegations of corruption.. |
| Location |
South America |
| Coordinates |
10° 0' S 76° 0' W |
| Capital
| Lima (Pop: 5.7) |
| Main Cities |
Arequipa, Cuzco, Trujillo |
| Area |
1285220 km2 |
| Boundaries (km) |
5,536 - Bolivia 900, Brazil 1,560, Chile 160, Colombia 1,496 (est.), Ecuador 1,420 |
| Coastline (km) |
2,414 |
| Timezone (GMT) |
-5 |
| Population |
27.926 million |
| Public Holidays |
Independence Day, 28 July (1821) |
| Currency |
New Sol (Pes) |
| GDP |
$US 155.3 billion |
| Main Exports |
copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee |
| Climate |
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes |
| Natural Hazards |
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity |
| Physical Features |
Lake Titicaca (8,300 km2), Amazon river (6,570 km), Andes Mountains, western coastal plain |
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