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 percent per year during the period 2002-2006, 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 the Camisea natural gas megaproject and by exports of minerals, textiles, and agricultural products. Upon taking office, President GARCIA announced the formation of Sierria Exportadora, a program aimed at promoting economic growth in Southern Peru and the highlands.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$181.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
$76.09 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
6.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 26.4%
services: 53.1% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
9.21 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 18%
services: 73% (2001)

Unemployment rate:
7.2% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:
54% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
49.8 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
20.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

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.)

Public debt:
33.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
asparagus, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish, guinea pigs

Industries:
mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:
7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
23.99 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - consumption:
22.31 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
120,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
156,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
49,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:
370 million bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:
860 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
860 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
246.8 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:
$1.515 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$22.69 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee, potatoes, asparagus, textiles, guinea pigs

Exports - partners:
US 31.1%, China 10.8%, Chile 6.6%, Canada 5.9%, Switzerland 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
$15.38 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel, wheat, paper

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)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$17.04 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$27.93 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
$491 million (2002)

Currency (code):
nuevo sol (PEN)

Exchange rates:
nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.28069 (2006), 3.2958 (2005), 3.4132 (2004), 3.4785 (2003), 3.5165 (2002)