Peru

Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadores 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 caused him to resign 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.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

border countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador

related countries: Spain

Official Name:
República del Perú
short form: Perú
int'l long form: Republic of Peru
int'l short form: Peru

ISO Country Code: pe

Time:
Local Time = UTC -5h

Country Calling Code: +51

Capital City: Lima; The Lima/Callao metropolitan area has a population of 8.27 million. (2000)

Other Cities: Arequipa, Trujillo.

Government:
Type: Constitutional republic.
Independence: 28 July 1821.
Constitution: 31 December 1993.

Geography:
Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador.
Area: 1.28 million sq. km. (496,225 sq. mi.);
third-largest country in South America.
Terrain: Varies widely between western coastal plains, central Andean highlands, and eastern tropical lowlands in Amazon Basin.

Climate: Arid and mild in coastal area, temperate to frigid in the Andes, and warm and humid in jungle lowlands.

People:
Nationality: Peruvian(s).
Population: 28 million.
Ethnic groups: Indigenous (45%), mestizo (37%), European (15%), African, Japanese, Chinese, and other (3%).
Religion: Roman Catholic (90%).
Languages: Spanish is the principal language. Quechua, Aymara and other indigenous languages also have official status.
Literacy: 95% in urban areas, 77% in rural areas.

Natural resources: Copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas.

Agriculture products: Coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish.

Industries: Mining and refining of minerals and metals, petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas, fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food processing, steel, metal fabrication.

Currency: Nuevo Sol (PEN)

Peru in numbers
Key statistic figures Peru.