Statistical information Puerto Rico 1992
Puerto Rico in the World
Puerto Rico - Introduction 1992
top of pageBackground: Discovered by Columbus in 1493 the island was ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. A popularly elected governor has served since 1948. In a plebiscite held in 1967 voters chose to retain commonwealth status.
Puerto Rico - Geography 1992
top of pageLocation
Geographic coordinates
Map reference
Area
Total: 9,104 km²
Land: 8,959 km²
Comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 501 km
Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 m (depth)
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast
Elevation
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore crude oil
Land use
Land use: arable land: 8%; permanent crops: 9%; meadows and pastures 41%; forest and woodland 20%; other 22%
Irrigated land
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards
Geography
Puerto Rico - People 1992
top of pagePopulation: 3,776,654 (July 1992), growth rate 1.0% (1992)
Nationality: noun - Puerto Rican(s; adjective - Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups: almost entirely Hispanic
Languages: Spanish (official; English is widely understood
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
Dependency ratios
Median age
Population growth rate
Birth rate: 17 births/1000 population (1992)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1992)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1992)
Population distribution
Urbanization
Major urban areas
Environment
Current issues: many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
Current issues note:
important location between the Dominican Republic and the Virgin
Islands group 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
Islands group 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
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 78 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1992)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Drinking water source
Current health expenditure
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Hiv/Aids
Major infectious diseases
Obesity adult prevalence rate
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures
Literacy: 89% (male 90%, female 88%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Puerto Rico - Government 1992
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Government type: commonwealth associated with the US
Capital: San Juan
Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Dependent areas
Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday: 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
International law organization participation
Citizenship
Suffrage: universal at age 18; citizens of Puerto Rico are also US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections
Governor: last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results - Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon (PPD) 48.7%, Baltasar CORRADA Del Rio (PNP) 45.8%, Ruben BERRIOS Martinez (PIP) 5.5%
Senate: last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) PPD 18, PNP 8, PIP 1
US House of Representatives: last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) seats by party NA; note - Puerto Rico elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives, Jaime B. FUSTER
House of Representatives:
last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3
November 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (53 total)
PPD 36, PNP 15, PIP 2
November 1992); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (53 total)
PPD 36, PNP 15, PIP 2
Executive branch: US president, US vice president, governor
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders
International organization participation: CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, ICFTU, IOC, WCL, WFTU, WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Diplomatic representation
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; design based on the US flagNational symbols
National anthem
National heritage
Puerto Rico - Economy 1992
top of pageEconomy overview:
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the
Caribbean region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector 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. Important new industries include pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and processed foods. 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 for the island. The economy has largely recovered from the disruptions caused by Hurricane Hugo in September 1989. The tourism infrastructure has been especially hard hit.
Caribbean region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector 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. Important new industries include pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and processed foods. 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 for the island. The economy has largely recovered from the disruptions caused by Hurricane Hugo in September 1989. The tourism infrastructure has been especially hard hit.
GNP: purchasing power equivalent - $21.6 billion, per capita $6,600; real growth rate 2.2% (FY90)
Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real gdp growth rate
Real gdp per capita
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture products: accounts for 3% of labor force; crops - sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock - cattle, chickens; imports a large share of food needs
Industries: manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, instruments; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate 3.8% (FY90)
Labor force: 1,068,000; government 28%, manufacturing 15%, trade 14%, agriculture 3%, other 40% (1990)
Organized labor:
115,000 members in 4 unions; the largest is the General
Confederation of Puerto Rican Workers with 35,000 members (1983)
Confederation of Puerto Rican Workers with 35,000 members (1983)
Labor force
Unemployment rate: 15.5% (October 1991)
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget: revenues $5.8 billion; expenditures $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $258 million (FY89)
Taxes and other revenues
Public debt
Revenue
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate consumer prices
Central bank discount rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
Stock of narrow money
Stock of broad money
Stock of domestic credit
Market value of publicly traded shares
Current account balance
Exports: NA
Commodoties: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment, instruments
Partners: US 87% (FY90)
Imports: NA
Commodoties: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Partners: US 68% (FY90)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Puerto Rico - Energy 1992
top of pageElectricity
Production: 4,149,000 kW capacity; 14,844 million kWh produced, 4,510 kWh per capita (1990)
Coal
Petroleum
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Carbon dioxide emissions
Energy consumption per capita
Puerto Rico - Communication 1992
top of pageTelephones
Telephone system
Broadcast media
Internet
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Puerto Rico - Military 1992
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
Puerto Rico - Transportation 1992
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports:
30 total; 24 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways; none
with runways over 3,659 m; 3
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
with runways over 3,659 m; 3
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Waterways
Merchant marine
Ports and terminals
Puerto Rico - Transnational issues 1992
top of pageDisputes international
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs
