Map of Puerto Rico | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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.


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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 reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 13,790 km²
Rank: 162
Land: 8,870 km²
Water: 4,921 km²
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: 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
Extremes highest point: Cerro de Punta 1339 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 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes

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


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Population: 3,971,020 (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 128
Growth rate: 0.34% (2009 est.)
Growth rate rank: 171
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Puerto Rican
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)

Languages: Spanish English

Religions: Roman Catholic 85% Protestant and other 15%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 19.9%
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,260,114/female 1,361,193)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male 240,318/female 318,027) (2009 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 36.2 years
Male: 34.5 years
Female: 37.9 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.34% (2009 est.)
Rank: 171

Birth rate: 12.12 births/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 167

Death rate: 7.75 deaths/1000 population (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 115

Net migration rate: -0.96 migrant(s)/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 122

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 98% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 8.42 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 162
Male: 9.69 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 7.1 deaths/1000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.53 years
Rank: 42
Male: 74.85 years
Female: 82.39 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Rank: 171

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: 7,397 (1997)
People living with hivaids rank: 115
Deaths: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 94.1%
Male: 93.9%
Female: 94.4% (2002 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Conventional short form: Puerto Rico

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

Dependent areas

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

International law organization participation

Citizenship

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 ; 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
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 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 are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held November 2012); House of Representatives - last held 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)

International organization participation: Caricom (observer) Interpol (subbureau) IOC ITUC UNWTO (associate) UPU WCL WFTU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
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; design initially influenced by the US flag but similar to the Cuban flag with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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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 nearly 5 million tourists in 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03 largely due to the slowdown in the US economy recovered in 2004-05 but declined again in 2006-07.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 80
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 212

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 70
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1%
Industry: 45%
Services: 54% (2005 est.)

Agriculture products: sugarcane coffee pineapples plantains bananas; livestock products chickens

Industries: pharmaceuticals electronics apparel food products tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 1.479 million (2007)
Rank: 130
By occupation agriculture: 2.1%
By occupation industry: 19%
By occupation services: 79% (2005)

Unemployment rate: 12% (2002)
Rank: 137

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $6.7 billion
Expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 6.5% (2003 est.)
Rank: 111

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: $NA

Current account balance

Exports: $46.9 billion (2001)
Rank: 58
Commodities: chemicals electronics apparel canned tuna rum beverage concentrates medical equipment

Imports: $29.1 billion c.i.f.
Commodities: chemicals machinery and equipment clothing food fish petroleum products

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used


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Electricity
Production: 23.72 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 67
Consumption: 22.06 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 65
Exports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 139
Consumption: 806.6 million m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 90
Exports: 0 m³ (2008)
Exports rank: 126
Imports: 806.6 million m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 56
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2009 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 143

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 1.038 million (2008)
Main lines in use rank: 78
Mobile cellular: 3.354 million (2005)
Mobile cellular rank: 102

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; cellular telephone service
International: country code - 1-787 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US Caribbean Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .pr
Hosts: 700 (2009)
Hosts rank: 167
Users: 1 million (2008)
Users rank: 89

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 29 (2009)
Rank: 117
With paved runways total: 17
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With paved runways under 914 m: 5 (2009)
With unpaved runways total: 12
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 10 (2009)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 26,186 km
Rank: 102
Paved: 24,877 km (includes 427 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 1309 km (2007)

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 3
Rank: 140
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


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Disputes international: increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs