General background: 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.
Area comparative: Slightly
smaller than Alaska.
Climate: Varies
from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate
to frigid in Andes.
Terrain: Western
coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in centre
(sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Population: 27,949,639 (July 2002 est.)
Ethnic groups: Amerindian 45%, Mestizo (mixed
Amerindian and White) 37%, White 15%, Black, Japanese,
Chinese, and other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%
Language: Spanish (official), Quechua (official),
Aymara
Government type: Constitutional republic
Capital: Lima
Legal system: Based on civil law system; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Economic overview: Thanks to strong foreign
investment and the cooperation between the government
and the IMF and World Bank, growth was strong in 1994-97
and inflation was brought under control. In 1998,
El Nino's impact on agriculture, the financial crisis
in Asia, and instability in Brazilian markets undercut
growth. And 1999 was another lean year for Peru, with
the aftermath of El Nino and the Asian financial crisis
working its way through the economy. Political instability
resulting from the presidential election and FUJIMORI's
subsequent departure from office limited growth in
2000. The downturn in the global economy further depressed
growth in 2001. President TOLEDO, who assumed the
presidency in July 2001, is working to reinvigorate
the economy and reduce unemployment. Economic growth
in 2002 is projected to be 3 to 3.5%.
Communication/Telephone system: Adequate for
most requirements.
Places of interest: The verdant Amazon Basin,
which occupies half of Peru, is one of the world's
top 10 biodiversity 'hot spots' - a species-rich area
of tropical rain forest. And the coastal deserts,
with their huge rolling dunes, farmland oases and
fishing villages are all worth experiencing.
Travel tips: The US and UK governments have
issued alerts on the potential for further terrorism
in the region.
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