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PERU
The Republic of Peru
 Area:
1,285,220 sq km (496,225 sq miles)
Population: 27.148 million (July 2004 estimate)
Capital City: Lima (population: 8.27 million in metropolitan
area)
People: Indigenous (45%), Mestizo (37%), European/White
(15%), African, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Language(s): Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
and a number of minor Amazonian languages
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (90%)
Basic Economic Facts
Currency:
Nuevo sol
GDP:
US$ 68.4 billion (2004)
GDP per head: US$ 2,483 (2004)
Annual Growth:6.7% (2005)
Inflation:1.49% (2005)
Unemployment: 9.7% (2005)
Major Industries: Mining, hydrocarbons, fishing,
textiles, food processing, agriculture, tourism
Major trading partners: United States, Latin American
countries, European Union
Major political parties:
Unión por
el Perú (UPP), Partido Aprista Peruano (APRA), Unidad Nacional
(UN), Alianza Frente de Centro, Alianza para el Futuro,
Restauración Nacional, ,Peru Posible
Government: Constitutional system of Presidential
democracy. The 1993 constitution, approved by referendum,
provides for an executive for five years. The principal
executive body is the Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime
Minister, appointed by the President. A unicameral 120-member
Congress is elected at the same time as the President and also
sits for five years. It is the main legislative branch of
government with the President holding a veto. An 18 member
Supreme Court based in Lima heads the judicial branch.
Head of State: President Alan Garcia.
Foreign Minister:
Oscar Maurtua
Membership of international groupings/organizations: Peru
holds membership of the UN; WTO; G-11; G-15; G-19; G24; G77;
Organization of American States (OAS); APEC; Andean Community
(CAN); Rio Group; South American Community of Nations (SACN),
Inter-American Developmental Bank (IADB); IMF. Peru is a
non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period
2006/7.
DID YOU
KNOW?
- Did you know that the origin of the
name of Peru was because when the Spanish came to Peru and
asked them about the name of this place, they said that the
name was “Viru” (old pre inka culture of the Viru River in
the north of the country) and they understood “Peru”.
- Did you know that the highest train in
the world is in Ticlio, Peru (4,815 metres on the level of
the sea).
- Did you know that the finest cotton of
the world is Peruvian (Pima and Tanguis Cotton).
- Did you know that Peru has the greater
diversity of birds in the world with 1,701 varieties of
birds.
MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS:
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