Capital
Lima

Language
The official languages are Spanish, Aymara and Quechua.

Area size
1280000 sq. km
Source: NI World Guide

Area comparison
Slightly larger than Scandinavia

Population and future estimates

2002	26.8 million	UNFPA
2015 est	32.0 million	UNFPA

Ethnic groups
Mostly of mixed and Indian descent
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Christianity, mainly Roman Catholicism
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population
73.5 percent (2002)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Percentage of population under 15
33.6 percent
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

  

Time zone
GMT -5
Source: Greenwhich Mean Time website

Climate description
The Pacific coastal area has a dry desert climate which has relatively cold temperatures for a tropical lattitude with little difference from month to month, fog and drizzle in the northern coastal areas. There is a noticeable reduction in temperature in the Andean mountain and plateaux areas throughout the year with a single rainy season between November and March. Tropical climate with high temperatures and humidity all year round in the eastern lowlands of the Amazon basin.

Currency
New Sol
Source: NI World Guide

Telephone dialling code
(+) 51
Source: www.countrycalling codes.com
 

Percentage of malnourished children
7 percent
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Percentage of undernourished population
11 percent
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average
85.0 percent
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - male
91.3 percent
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - female
80.3 percent
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Human development index (HDI rank)
85
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Infant mortality
30 per 1,000 live births
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
39 per 1,000 live births
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Maternal mortality
410 per 100,000 live births (2000)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Life expectancy
69.8 years
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Corruption index (1=least corrupt, 145=most corrupt)
67
Source: Transparency International

Population with access to improved water
80 percent
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation
71 percent
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Landlines telephones
66 per 1,000 people
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Internet users
93.5 per 1,000 people
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

TVs
148 per 1,000 people
Source: NI World Guide

Radios
273 per 1,000 people
Source: NI World Guide
 
 

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
37.7 percent
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

GNI per capita, Atlas method
2140 current US$ (2003)
Source: World Bank Data Profile Tables

GDP/GNI
60.6 current US$ billions (2003)
Source: World Bank Data Profile Tables

GDP Economic growth (annual percentage)
3.8 percent (2003)
Source: World Bank Data Profile Tables

External aid
23635 US$'000 (2002)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004q

 

Physicians
103 per 100,000 people (1990-2003 average)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
0.5 percent
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Kind of malaria present
In some areas there is a risk of P. vivax malaria or fully chloroquine-sensitive P. falciparum only. In others there is a high risk of falciparum malaria plus drug resistance, or moderate/low risk falciparum malaria but high drug resistance. percent (2004-2005)
Source: WHO International Travel and Health

Kind of malaria present
In some areas there is a risk of P. vivax malaria or fully chloroquine-sensitive P. falciparum only. In others there is a high risk of falciparum malaria plus drug resistance, or moderate/low risk falciparum malaria but high drug resistance.
Source: WHO International Travel and Health

TB cases
246 per 100,000 people (2002)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2004