| Location: |
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador |
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Total Area: | 1,285,220 square km (land: 1.28 million sq km, water: 5220 sq km), slightly smaller than Alaska. |
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Border countries: | Bolivia (900 km), Brazil (1560 km), Chile (160 km), (Colombia 2900 km), Ecuador (1420 km) |
| Climate: | Varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west |
Lowest point:
Highest point: | Pacific Ocean 0 m
Nevado Huascarán 6768 m |
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Population: | 26,624,582 (July 1999 est.) |
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Age structure: |
0-14 years: 35% (male 4,786,048; female 4,637,280)
15-64 years: 60% (male 8,045,747; female 7,939,760)
|
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Population growth rate: | 1.93% (1999 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
Total population: 70.38 years
Male: 68.08 years
Female: 72.78 years (1999 est.) |
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Religions: | Roman Catholic |
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Languages: | Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara |
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Capital: | Lima |
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Independence: | 28 July 1821 (from Spain) |
| GDP—composition by sector: |
Agriculture: 7°
Industry: 37°
Services: 56° (1997) |
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Industries: | Mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication |
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Agriculture—products: | Coffee, cotton, sugar cane, rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products, wool; fish |
| Currency: | 1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos |
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Land use: |
Arable land:%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 21%
Forests and woodland: 66%
Other: 10% (1993 est.) |
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Natural hazards: | Earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity |
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Environment—current issues: | Deforestation; overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution
of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes |
