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.

Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N 66 30 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 13,790 km²
Rank: 163
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 1338 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: 220 km² (2008)

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

Population: 3,989,133 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 129
Growth rate: 0.254% (2011 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%

Age structure
0-14 years: 18.8%
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,270,557/female 1,366,417)
65 years and over: 15.1% (male 258,570/female 342,357) (2011 est.)

Median age
Total: 37.3 years
Male: 35.5 years
Female: 39 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.254% (2011 est.)
Rank: 171

Birth rate: 11.35 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 171

Death rate: 7.95 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 106

Net migration rate: -0.86 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 148

Urbanization
Urban population: 99% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Environment
Current issues: erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 8.07 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 161
Male: 8.83 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 7.26 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.92 years
Rank: 43
Male: 75.31 years
Female: 82.71 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 175

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: 7,397 (1997)
People living with hivaids rank: 110
Deaths: NA

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: NA

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

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

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

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; 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 anthem
Name: 'La Borinquena'
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 United States 'The Star-Spangled Banner' is official (see United States)

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 more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 84
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 213

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 69
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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: 132
By occupation agriculture: 2.1%
By occupation industry: 19%
By occupation services: 79% (2005)

Unemployment rate: 12% (2002)
Rank: 127

Population below poverty line: NA%

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

Budget
Revenues: $6.7 billion
Expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -3.1% of GDP (FY99/00)
Surplus or deficit rank: 99

Taxes and other revenues: 7.2% of GDP (FY99/00)
Rank: 208

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.3% (2009 est.)
Rank: 84

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 3.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 178

Market value of publicly traded shares: $NA

Current account balance:

Exports: $60.81 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 44
Commodities: chemicals electronics apparel canned tuna rum beverage concentrates medical equipment

Imports: $40.65 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 53
Commodities: chemicals machinery and equipment clothing food fish petroleum products

Debt external: $52.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 55

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Production: 20.92 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Production rank: 69
Consumption: 19.46 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 68
Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 116
Consumption: 756.7 million m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 91
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 167
Imports: 756.7 million m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 62
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 183

Telephones
Main lines in use: 891,900 (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 84
Mobile cellular: 2.934 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 124

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; mobile-cellular services
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: more than 30 television stations operating; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations operating (2007)

Internet
Country code: .pr
Hosts: 482 (2010)
Hosts rank: 182
Users: 1 million (2009)
Users rank: 101

Airports: 29 (2010)
Rank: 116
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 (2010)
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 (2010)

Roadways
Total: 26,670 km
Rank: 102
Paved: 25,337 km (includes 427 km of expressways)
Unpaved: 1333 km (2008)

Merchant marine
Total: 3
Rank: 139
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: Ensenada Honda Mayaguez Playa de Guayanilla Playa de Ponce San Juan

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