Background: 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.

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 501 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 m
Extended 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

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

Land use: 8% arable land; 9% permanent crops; 51% meadows and pastures; 25% forest and woodland; 7% other

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US; paramilitary National Guard; police force of 10,050 men and women (1984)

Population: 3,291,207 (July 1990), growth rate 0.1% (1990)

Nationality: noun--Puerto Rican(s; adjective--Puerto Rican

Ethnic groups: almost entirely Hispanic

Languages: Spanish (official; English is widely understood

Religions: mostly Christian, 85% Roman Catholic, 15% Protestant denominations and other

Birth rate: 19 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: - 11 migrants/1000 population (1990)

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

Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 76 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1990)

Literacy: 89%

Country 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)

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 English common law

Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch: Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989; Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989; Head of Government Governor Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon (since 2 January 1989)

Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Diplomatic representation
In 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

Economy 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 1970s. 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.

Agriculture products: accounts for 4% of labor force; crops--sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, tobacco, bananas; livestock--cattle, chickens; imports a large share of food needs

Industries: tourism, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining

Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (FY87)

Labor force: 1,062,000; 23% government, 20% trade, 18% manufacturing, 4% agriculture, 35% other (1988)

Unemployment rate: 12.8% (December 1988)

Budget: revenues $4.9 million; expenditures $4.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

Exports: $13.2 billion (f.o.b., FY88)
Commodities: sugar, coffee, petroleum products, chemical, metal products, textiles, electronic equipment
Partners: US 87%

Imports: $11.8 billion (c.i.f., FY88)
Commodities: chemicals, clothing, food, fish products, crude oil
Partners: US 60%

Debt external: $NA

Exchange rates: US currency is used

Electricity
Capacity: 4,149,000 kW capacity; 14,050 million kWh produced, 4,260 kWh per capita (1989)

Airports: 33 total; 23 usable; 19 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m