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

top of page


Background: Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher 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 with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood. Economic recession on the island has led to a net population loss since about 2005, as large numbers of residents moved to the US mainland. The trend has accelerated since 2010; in 2014, Puerto Rico experienced a net population loss to the mainland of 64,000, more than double the net loss of 26,000 in 2010. Hurricane Maria struck the island on 20 September 2017 causing catastrophic damage, including destruction of the electrical grid that had been cripled by Hurricane Irma just two weeks before. It was the worst storm to hit the island in eight decades, and damage is estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.


top of page


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: 9,104 km²
Land: 8,959 km²
Water: 145 km²
Rank: 170
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 in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas

Elevation
Mean elevation: 261 m
Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil

Land use
Agricultural land: 22% (2011 est.)
Forest: 63.2% (2011 est.)
Other: 14.8% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 220 km² (2012)

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


top of page


Population
Distribution: population clusters tend to be found along the coast, the largest of these is found in and around San Juan; an exception to this is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low: 3,189,068 (July 2020 est.)
Rank: 134
Growth rate: -1.59% (2020 est.)
Growth rate rank: 234
Below poverty line note: NA

Nationality
Noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
Adjective: Puerto Rican

Ethnic groups: white 75.8%, Black/African American 12.4%, other 8.5% (includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and others), mixed 3.3% (2010 est.)
Note: 99% of the population is Latino

Languages: Spanish, English

Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 14.22% (male 231,406/female 222,061)
15-24 years: 12.78% (male 207,169/female 200,373)
25-54 years: 37.73% (male 573,114/female 630,276)
55-64 years: 13.5% (male 197,438/female 232,931)
65 years and over: 21.77% (male 297,749/female 396,551) (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 57.7
Youth dependency ratio: 24.8
Elderly dependency ratio: 32.8
Potential support ratio: 3 (2020 est.)

Median age
Total: 43.6 years
Male: 41.6 years
Female: 45.3 years (2020 est.)
Rank: 25

Population growth rate: -1.59% (2020 est.)
Rank: 234

Birth rate: 8 births/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 221

Death rate: 9.5 deaths/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 46

Net migration rate: -14.1 migrant(s)/1000 population (2020 est.)
Rank: 221

Population distribution: population clusters tend to be found along the coast, the largest of these is found in and around San Juan; an exception to this is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low

Urbanization
Urban population: 93.6% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: -0.14% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 2.448 million SAN JUAN (capital) (2020)

Environment
Current issues: soil erosion; occasional droughts cause water shortages; industrial pollution

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 6 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 6.6 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 5.4 deaths/1000 live births (2020 est.)
Rank: 165

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 81.3 years
Male: 78 years
Female: 84.7 years (2020 est.)
Rank: 34

Total fertility rate: 1.24 children born/woman (2020 est.)
Rank: 223

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Total:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 3.06 physicians/1000 population (2018)

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Total:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: NA

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 6.1% of GDP (2014)
Rank: 26

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 92.4%
Male: 92.4%
Female: 92.4% (2017)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 16 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 18 years (2018)

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Abbreviation: PR
Etymology: Christopher COLUMBUS named the island San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) and the capital city and main port Cuidad de Puerto Rico (Rich Port City); over time, however, the names were shortened and transposed and the island came to be called Puerto Rico and its capital San Juan

Government type:

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): etymology: the name dates to 1521 and the founding of the city under the name 'Ciudad de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico' (City of Saint John the Baptist of Puerto Rico)

Administrative divisions: none (territory of 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 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
History: previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified by referendum 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952
Amendments: proposed by a concurrent resolution of at least two-thirds majority by the total Legislative Assembly membership; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and approval by a majority of voters in a special referendum; if passed by at least three-fourths Assembly vote, the referendum can be held concurrently with the next general election; constitutional articles such as the republican form of government or the bill of rights cannot be amended; amended 1952

Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code and within the framework of the US federal system

International law organization participation

Citizenship: see United States

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2017); Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017)
Head of government: Governor Wanda VAZQUEZ (since 7 August 2019)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly
Electionsappointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of 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 directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on November 2024)
Election results: Pedro PIERLUISI elected governor; percent of vote - Pedro PIERLUISI (PNP) 32.9%, Carlos DELGADO (PPD) 31.6%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 14.2%, Juan DALMAU (PIP) 13.7%
Note: on 24 July 2019, Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO announced his resignation effective 2 August 2019; as Secretary of State, Pedro PIERLUISI succeeded Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO; on 7 August 2019 the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico ruled Pedro PIERLUISI accession was unconstitutional and Wanda VAZQUEZ is sworn in as governor

Legislative branch
Description:
Elections:
Election results:

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 8 associate justices)
Judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by majority Senate vote; judges serve until compulsory retirement at age 70
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party [Charlie RODRIGUEZ]National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Jenniffer GONZALEZ]New Progressive Party or PNP [Ricardo ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood)Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Alejandro GARCIA Padillo] (pro-commonwealth)Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)

International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WFTU (NGOs)

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (territory of the US)
From the us: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of red (top, center, 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

National symbols: Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog); national colors: red, white, blue

National anthem
Name: La Borinquena (The Puerto Rican)
Lyricsmusic: Manuel Fernandez JUNCOS/Felix Astol ARTES
Note: music adopted 1952, lyrics adopted 1977; the local anthem's name is a reference to the indigenous name of the island, Borinquen; the music was originally composed as a dance in 1867 and gained popularity in the early 20th century; there is some evidence that the music was written by Francisco RAMIREZ; as a commonwealth of the US, 'The Star-Spangled Banner' is official (see United States)

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity
Real:
Real note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 207

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars
Rank: 42

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 87.7% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 12.2% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 11.7% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.5% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 117.8% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -129.8% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0.8% (2017 est.)
Industry: 50.1% (2017 est.)
Services: 49.1% (2017 est.)

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

Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: -2.1% (2017 est.)
Rank: 184

Labor force: 1.139 million (December 2014 est.)
Rank: 136
By occupation agriculture: 2.1%
By occupation industry: 19%
By occupation services: 79% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 154

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line
Note: NA

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: 9.268 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 9.974 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -0.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 68

Taxes and other revenues: 8.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Rank: 217

Public debt:
Rank: 97

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 102

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:
Rank: 65

Exports:
Rank: 55
Commodities: chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment

Imports:
Rank: 59
Commodities: chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external:
Rank: 61

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used


top of page


Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2020)
Production: 20.95 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 75
Consumption: 19.48 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 72
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 185
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 187
Installed generating capacity: 6.294 million kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 76
Generation sources fossil fuels: 94% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 46
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 168
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 142
Generation sources other renewable sources: 4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 117

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 188
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 181
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 182
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 183

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 190
Products consumption: 98,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 81
Products exports: 18,420 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 70
Products imports: 127,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 46

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 185
Consumption: 1.303 billion m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 86
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 170
Imports: 1.303 billion m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 57
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 183

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 19.85 million Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 87

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 758,869
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23.42 (2019 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 81
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 3,724,680
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114.95 (2019 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 133

Telephone system

Broadcast media: more than 30 TV stations operating; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations

Internet
Country code: .pr
Users total: 2,326,006
Users percent of population: 70.6% (July 2018 est.)
Users rank: 114

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 609,027
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2018 est.)
Rank: 80


top of page


Military expenditures

Military and security forces: no regular indigenous military forces; National Guard, State Guard, Police Force

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 29 (2013)
Rank: 118
With paved runways total: 17 (2017)
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2 (2017)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2 (2017)
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7 (2017)
With paved runways under 914 m: 5 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 12 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 10 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 26,862 km
Note: (includes 454 km of expressways) (2012)
Rank: 102

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Container port: San Juan (1,210,503) (2015)
LNG terminal: Guayanilla Bay


top of page


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