Statistical information Puerto Rico 1999

Puerto Rico in the World
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 plebiscites held in 1967 and 1993 voters chose to retain commonwealth status.
top of pageLocation: 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 reference:
Central America and the CaribbeanAreaTotal: 9,104 km²
Land: 8,959 km²
Water: 145 km²
Comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 501 km
Maritime claimsExclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land useArable land: 4%
Permanent crops: 5%
Permanent pastures: 26%
Forests and woodland: 16%
Other: 49% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 390 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes
GeographyNote: 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
top of pagePopulation: 3,887,652 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 0.56% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityEthnic groups: NA
Languages: Spanish English
Religions: Roman Catholic 85% Protestant and other 15%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 24% (male 482,111; female 459,940)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,220,682; female 1,323,787)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.56% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.47 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.74 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.14 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 9.71 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracySchool life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameGovernment type: commonwealth
Capital: San Juan
Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the US); 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
Dependent areasIndependence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday: US Independence Day 4 July (1776)
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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branchLegislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (28 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (54 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate; Superior Courts justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate; Municipal Courts justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party [William MIRANDA]; National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Luis FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP [Pedro ROSSELLO]; Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Anibal ACEVIDA Vila]; Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez]
International organization participation: Caricom (observer) ECLAC (associate) FAO (associate) ICFTU Interpol (subbureau) IOC WCL WFTU WHO (associate)
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
From the us: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
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 flag
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has 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 for the island with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million tourists in 1999. Prospects for 1999 are good assuming continued strength in the tourism and construction sectors and continuation of the US boom.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4.2% (1999 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,800 (1999 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: sugarcane coffee pineapples plantains bananas; livestock products chickens
Industries: pharmaceuticals electronics apparel food products; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 1.3 million (1996)
By occupation agriculture: 3%
By occupation industry: 20%
By occupation services: 77% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 13% (FY97/98 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetTaxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate consumer prices: 5.2% (1999 est.)
Central bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $34.9 billion (f.o.b. 1999)
Commodities: pharmaceuticals electronics apparel canned tuna rum beverage concentrates medical equipment
Partners: US 88% (1999)
Imports: $25.3 billion (c.i.f. 1999)
Commodities: chemicals machinery and equipment clothing food fish petroleum products
Partners: US 60% (1999)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $N/A
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: US currency is used
top of pageElectricityProduction: 17.765 billion kWh (1998)
Consumption: 16.521 billion kWh (1998)
Exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Imports: 0 kWh (1998)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesMain lines in use: 1.196 million (1995)
Mobile cellular: 171,000 (1995)
Telephone system: modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability
Broadcast mediaInternetService providers isps: 18 (1999)
Broadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 30 (1999 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs