Peru
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Country overview
Peru is located in Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean between Chile and Ecuador. The terrain consists of a western coastal plain with the high and rugged Andes in the centre and the eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin.
Climate overview
The Costa has periods of humidity as high as 90 percent in the winter from June to September, when temperatures in Lima average about 16 degrees Celsius. Temperatures along the coast rise near the equator in the north, where the summer can be blazingly hot, and fall to cooler levels in the south. For the Peruvians, there are two basic Andean seasons, the rainy winter from October through April and the dry summer in the remaining months.
Population estimates
| Total population | |
| 1975 | 15 million |
| 2003 | 27 million |
| 2015 estimate | 32 million |
Ethnic groups
Amerindian 45%, Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, White 15%, Black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
(source: CIA)
Languages spoken
Spanish is the language of government and business. Traditional languages still spoken include Quechua, Aymara and numerous Amazon indigenous languages.
(source: CIA)
Religions
Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian 0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.)
(source: CIA)
Population age profile
| Population under age 15 (% of total) | |
| 2003 | 33 % |
| 2015 estimate | 27 % |
| Population over age 65 (% of total) | |
| 2003 | 4 % |
| 2015 estimate | 6 % |
Education facts
| School age population | 2004 | 2005 |
| Primary | 3,629,634 | 3,626,058 |
| Secondary | 2,904,505 | 2,904,505 |
(source: UNESCO, 2004/2005)
Standards of living
| Human development index rank | 79 |
| Human poverty rank | 26 |
| Life expectancy at birth female 2003 | 72 |
| Life expectancy at birth male 2003 | 67 |
| Probability at birth of surviving to age 65, female (% of cohort), 2000-2005 | 77 |
| Probability at birth of surviving to age 65, male (% of cohort), 2000-2005 | 68 |
(source: HDI, 2005 )
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