| Economy - overview | Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal region, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering Colombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the mountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent fishing grounds. However, overdependence on minerals and metals subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack of infrastructure deters trade and investment. After several years of inconsistent economic performance, the Peruvian economy grew by more than 4% per year during the period 2002-06, with a stable exchange rate and low inflation. Risk premiums on Peruvian bonds on secondary markets reached historically low levels in late 2004, reflecting investor optimism regarding the government's prudent fiscal policies and openness to trade and investment. Despite the strong macroeconomic performance, underemployment and poverty have stayed persistently high. Economic growth continues to be driven by exports of minerals, textiles, and agricultural products, and by expectations for the Camisea natural gas megaproject and for other promising energy projects. Upon taking office, President GARCIA announced Sierra Exportadora, a program aimed at promoting economic growth in Peru's southern and central highlands. |
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| GDP | 1.5% (2006) |
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| GDP - real growth rate | 8% (2006 est.) |
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| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 26.4%
services: 65% (2006 est.) |
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| Population below poverty line | 54% (2003 est.) |
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Household income or consumption
by percentage share | lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000) |
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Distribution of family income
- Gini index | 49.8 (2000) |
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| Labor force | 9.21 million (2006 est.) |
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| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 9%
industry: 18%
services: 73% (2001) |
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| Unemployment rate | 7.2% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2006 est.) |
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| Budget | revenues: $25.5 billion
expenditures: $25.18 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion for general government, but excluding private enterprises (2006 est.) |
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| Industries | mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food processing |
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| Industrial production growth rate | 7% (2006 est.) |
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Electricity -
production | 23.99 billion kWh (2004 est.) |
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Electricity -
production by source | fossil fuel: 14.5%
hydro: 84.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.8% (2001) |
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Electricity -
consumption | 22.31 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
exports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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Electricity -
imports | 0 kWh (2004) |
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| Oil - production | 120,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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| Oil - consumption | 156,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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| Oil - exports | 49,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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| Oil - imports | NA bbl/day |
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| Oil - proved reserves | 370 million bbl (2006 est.) |
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| Agriculture - products | asparagus, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish, guinea pigs |
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| Exports | $22.69 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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| Exports - commodities | copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee, potatoes, asparagus, textiles, guinea pigs |
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| Exports - partners | US 31.1%, China 10.8%, Chile 6.6%, Canada 5.9%, Switzerland 4.6% (2005) |
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| Imports | $15.38 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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| Imports - commodities | petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel, wheat, paper |
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| Imports - partners | US 18.2%, China 8.5%, Brazil 8%, Ecuador 7.4%, Colombia 6.1%, Argentina 5.1%, Chile 5.1%, Venezuela 4.1% (2005) |
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| Debt - external | $27.93 billion (30 June 2006 est.) |
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| Economic aid - recipient | $491 million (2002) |
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| Currency code | PEN |
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| Exchange rates | nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.2742 (2006), 3.2958 (2005), 3.4132 (2004), 3.4785 (2003), 3.5165 (2002) |
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| Fiscal year | calendar year |
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