Ib/99-1 International Brief - Population Trends: Peru - U.s. Department Of Commerce - Bureau Of The Census - 1999

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1
IB/99-1
International Brief
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
IB/99-1
by Thomas McDevitt
Issued March 1999
Peru, one of Latin America’s
Peruvian Demography
is 57 percent in urban areas and 16
largest nations, is home to over
Reflects Subnational Social
percent in rural areas.
26 million people.
and Economic Disparities
Lima differs markedly from the rest
Latin America’s fifth largest nation
of the country not only in terms of its
Peru’s demographic profile
has historically been, and continues
industry and labor market, its educa-
reflects dramatic declines in
to be, divided along linguistic and
tional offerings and the availability of
fertility and mortality since the
class lines. Lima, the national capi-
services, but also in terms of a se-
mid-1970s. The country’s crude
birth rate has been reduced by
tal, is the apex of the hierarchy and
ries of demographic and health indi-
over one-fourth of its 1975 level;
smaller settlements and rural areas
cators. For example, infant and child
its crude death rate, by half.
are at its base.
mortality rates are much lower in
Lima than in the rest of the country.
The 70 percent of the Peruvian
As a result, Peru’s population is
Child mortality in Lima is about one-
population living in urban areas have
increasingly concentrated in the
fourth the level in other urban areas
higher incomes, on average, and
labor force age range (ages 15 to
and one-eighth the level prevailing in
more access to resources,
64). During the coming 20 years,
rural areas (box).
government services, and other
the ratio of dependent-age
amenities than do rural residents.
One-fourth of Peruvian children
population
1
to working age
population will decrease by over
For example, according to the 1996
were malnourished in 1996, and
one-fifth of its 1998 level.
Demographic and Health Survey
again the problem varied with
(DHS) report (ENDES 1996), over
residence. In Lima, 10 percent of
Within the country, regional and
90 percent of urban households
children under age 5 were classi-
urban-rural variations in fertility
have electricity; less than one-fifth of
fied as malnourished. That figure
and mortality are pronounced.
rural households do (Table 2.9).
was 20 percent in other urban
For instance, infant mortality is
Similarly, only 6 percent of females
areas and 40 percent in rural areas
three times higher in rural areas
ages 6 and above living in urban
(ENDES 1996: Table 9.8).
2
than in Lima, the capital
; the
places have no education, but 24
total fertility rate (TFR), twice as
Urban residents also tend to enjoy
percent of rural females have no for-
high.
better health care coverage than
mal schooling (ENDES 1996: Table
rural residents. In 1996, over 80
2.6). The percentage of females
Demographic variations reflect
percent of urban women in need of
with at least a secondary education
disparities in wealth, resources,
prenatal care received such care
and availability of government
services. Access to maternal
health care and family planning
Demographic Differentials in Peru:
services, like other health care
Infant Mortality, Child Mortality, and Fertility
services, continues to be signifi-
Infant
Child
Total
cantly better for urban than for
Percent of
mortality
mortality
fertility
rural couples. Current govern-
population
rate
rate
1
rate
ment policy seeks to correct this
Area
1993
1986-96
1986-96
1993-96
situation.
Rural ..........................................
30
71
31
5.6
Urban
2
.......................................
70
35
12
2.8
Lima ..........................................
29
23
4
2.5
1
Dependent age groups are defined to include youth
1
Child mortality (ages 1 to 4) is the probability of dying between exact ages 1 and 5.
(ages 0 to 14) and the elderly (ages 65 and over).
2
2,000 or more inhabitants. Forty-one percent of Peru’s population lives in urban areas other than Lima.
2
Throughout this report, Lima refers to the Lima metro-
Sources: INEI 1993 and ENDES 1996.
politan area.
U.S. Census Bureau

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