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Introduction - Puerto Rico
Background:
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the
Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In
1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly
exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US
as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US
citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In
1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In
plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing
political status.
Geography - Puerto Rico
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east
of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 13,790 sq km
country comparison to the world: 162
land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
501 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea
on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m
Natural resources:
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use:
arable land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:
important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama
Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean;
many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south
coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
People - Puerto Rico
Population:
3,977,663 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.4% (male 393,582/female 376,652)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,266,086/female 1,364,918)
65 years and over: 14.5% (male 247,842/female 328,583) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.7 years
male: 34.9 years
female: 38.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.279% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Birth rate:
11.65 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Death rate:
7.96 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Net migration rate:
-0.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Urbanization:
urban population: 98% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.22 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 163
male: 9.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.57 years
country comparison to the world: 44
male: 74.91 years
female: 82.41 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.65 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,397 (1997)
country comparison to the world: 115
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:
white (mostly Spanish origin) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%, Amerindian 0.2%,
mixed 4.4%, other 12% (2007)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:
Spanish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government - Puerto Rico
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy
relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the
Office of the President
Government type:
commonwealth
Capital:
name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78
municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas,
Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,
Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano,
Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo,
Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros,
Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las
Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis,
Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon,
Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San
Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta,
Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
National holiday:
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Constitution:
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July
1952
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in
US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice
President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Luis FORTUNO (since 2 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories,
such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice
president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party
presidential primary elections; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year
term (no term limits); election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in
November 2012)
election results: Luis FORTUNO elected governor with 52.8% of the vote
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats;
members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House
of Representatives (51 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November
2012); House of Representatives - last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held
in November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 81.5%, PPD 18.5%;
seats by party - PNP 22, PPD 5; House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - PNP 72.5%, PPD 27.5%; seats by party - PNP 37, PPD 14
note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve a
four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of Representatives;
aside from not voting on the House floor, he enjoys all the rights of a member
of Congress; elections last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November
2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of two
sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for all these courts
appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican Party of Puerto
Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP [Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US
statehood); Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA]
(pro-commonwealth); Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS
Martinez] (pro-independence)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros);
note - the following radical groups are considered dormant by Federal law
enforcement: Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of
Popular Resistance, Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU,
WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a
blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white,
five-pointed star in the center; the white star symbolizes Puerto Rico; the
three sides of the triangle signify the executive, legislative and judicial
parts of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red
symbolizes the blood shed by warriors, while white represents liberty, victory,
and peace
note: design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag,
with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
Economy - Puerto Rico
Economy - overview:
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A
diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of
economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by
tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s.
US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production
and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural
sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with
estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Growth fell off in
2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05,
but declined again in 2006-09.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$68.14 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$70.91 billion (2008 est.)
$72.72 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$87.79 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-3.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
-2.5% (2008 est.)
-2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,200 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$17,900 (2008 est.)
$18,500 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
1.479 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 132
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 19%
services: 79% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 132
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Industries:
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
23.72 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - consumption:
22.06 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
1,783 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Oil - consumption:
164,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Oil - exports:
16,520 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
Oil - imports:
225,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - consumption:
806.6 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Natural gas - imports:
806.6 million cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Exports:
$46.9 billion (2001)
country comparison to the world: 47
Exports - commodities:
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates,
medical equipment
Imports:
$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)
country comparison to the world: 57
Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications - Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.038 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 78
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.354 million (2005)
country comparison to the world: 104
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by
high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability
domestic: digital telephone system; mobile-cellular services
international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity
to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
34 (2008)
Internet country code:
.pr
Internet hosts:
700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
Internet users:
1 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 88
Transportation - Puerto Rico
Airports:
29 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 117
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 10 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 26,186 km
country comparison to the world: 102
paved: 24,877 km (includes 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,309 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 3
country comparison to the world: 141
by type: roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Guayanilla, Mayaguez, San Juan
Military - Puerto Rico
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 704,833
females age 16-49: 788,234 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,616
female: 29,196 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues - Puerto Rico
Disputes - international:
increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the
Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work
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