PERU
List of TERRAs
Country profile
Peru is the fourth largest country in Latin America. The Andes divide the country into three regions: the coast, the sierras and the jungle, which is located to the east of the Andes mountain range and is inhabited by more than 40 ethnic groups.
Given its orography, Peru has 28 different climates, although in general the climate is temperate, without heavy rains in summer. In the capital, Lima, the average temperature is 25º C, oscillating between 12º and 15º C in winter.
- Estimated population (in millions):
- 27,6
- Life expectancy (in years):
- 70,2
- Infant mortality rate (per every 1,000 live births):
- 24
- Female literacy rate (>14 years old):
- 82,1 %
- Male literacy rate (>14 years old):
- 93,5 %
- Children completing 5th grade of primary school:
- 90 %
- Population living below the poverty level (= $2 a day):
- 31,8 %
Problems
Peru has an alarming index of chronic malnutrition among children, whose diet is based almost exclusively on potatoes and grains.
At the same time, emigration from rural areas to urban centers provokes overcrowding in the marginal urban areas where basic services are extremely scarce.