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.

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: 171
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
Elevation extremes: 0 m
Note: lowest point: Caribbean Sea

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)

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
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: 3,294,626 (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 134
Growth rate: -1.7% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 232
Below poverty line note: NA

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

Ethnic groups:

Languages: Spanish, English

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 15.25% (male 256,866 /female 245,518)
15-24 years: 13.39% (male 224,434 /female 216,664)
25-54 years: 37.99% (male 595,818 /female 655,890)
55-64 years: 13.14% (male 198,577 /female 234,490)
65 years and over: 20.23% (male 286,630 /female 379,739) (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 49.6 (2015 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 27.9 (2015 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 21.7 (2015 est.)
Potential support ratio: 4.6 (2015 est.)

Median age
Total: 42.2 years
Male: 40.2 years
Female: 43.9 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 34

Population growth rate: -1.7% (2018 est.)
Rank: 232

Birth rate: 8 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 222

Death rate: 8.9 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 65

Net migration rate: -16.9 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 217

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: 2.454 million SAN JUAN (capital) (2018)

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 6.3 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 6.9 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Female: 5.6 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Rank: 165

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 81 years (2018 est.)
Male: 77.7 years (2018 est.)
Female: 84.5 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 36

Total fertility rate: 1.21 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 220

Drinking water source
Urban: 6.4% of population
Rural: 6.4% of population
Total: 6.4% of population (2001 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0.7% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 0.7% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 0.7% of population (2015 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: NA

Major infectious diseases: note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Education expenditures: 6% of GDP (2014)
Rank: 36

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
Total population: 93.3% (2015 est.)
Male: 92.8% (2015 est.)
Female: 93.8% (2015 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 14 years (2014)
Male: 13 years (2014)
Female: 15 years (2014)

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: presidential democracy; a self-governing commonwealth in political association with the US

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
History: previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified by referendum 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952 (2018)
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 (2018)

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

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 Ricardo ROSSELLO (since 2 January 2017)
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 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020)
Election results: Ricardo ROSSELLO elected governor; percent of vote - Ricardo ROSSELLO (PNP) 41.8%, David BERNIER (PPD) 38.9%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 11.1%, Manuel CIDRE (independent) 5.7%

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:

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)

Economy overview: Puerto Rico had one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region until 2006; however, growth has been negative for each of the last 11 years. The downturn coincided with the phaseout of tax preferences that had led US firms to invest heavily in the Commonwealth since the 1950s, and a steep rise in the price of oil, which generates most of the island's electricity.Diminished job opportunities prompted a sharp rise in outmigration, as many Puerto Ricans sought jobs on the US mainland. Unemployment reached 16% in 2011, but declined to 11.5% in December 2017. US minimum wage laws apply in Puerto Rico, hampering job expansion. Per capita income is about two-thirds that of the US mainland.The industrial sector greatly exceeds agriculture as the locus of economic activity and income. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Puerto Rico's merchandise trade surplus is exceptionally strong, with exports nearly 50% greater than imports, and its current account surplus about 10% of GDP.Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government. The gap between revenues and expenditures amounted to 0.6% of GDP in 2016, although analysts believe that not all expenditures have been accounted for in the budget and a better accounting of costs would yield an overall deficit of roughly 5% of GDP. Public debt remained steady at 92.5% of GDP in 2017, about $17,000 per person, or nearly three times the per capita debt of the State of Connecticut, the highest in the US. Much of that debt was issued by state-run schools and public corporations, including water and electric utilities. In June 2015, Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla announced that the island could not pay back at least $73 billion in debt and that it would seek a deal with its creditors.Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico square on in September 2017, causing electrical power outages to 90% of the territory, as well as extensive loss of housing and infrastructure and contamination of potable water. Despite massive efforts, more than 40% of the territory remained without electricity as of yearend 2017. As a result of the destruction, many Puerto Ricans have emigrated to the US mainland.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 81

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 207

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 47

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: 142
By occupation agriculture: 2.1%
By occupation industry: 19%
By occupation services: 79% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 146

Population below poverty line
Note: NA

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

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 95

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 151

Market value of publicly traded shares: NA

Current account balance:
Rank: 66

Exports:
Rank: 41
Commodities: chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment

Imports:
Rank: 54
Commodities: chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products

Debt external:
Rank: 61

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity
Access population without electricity: 357,805 (2012)
Access electrification total population: 91% (2012)
Access electrification urban areas: 91% (2012)
Access electrification rural areas: 80% (2012)
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: 47
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

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 187
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

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

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 783,739 (2017 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2017 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 81
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 3,389,402 (2017 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 101 (2017 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 137

Telephone system
General assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability (2016)
Domestic: digital telephone system; mobile-cellular services (2016)
International: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2016)

Broadcast media: more than 30 TV stations operating; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations (2007)

Internet
Country code: .pr
Users total: 2,873,895 (July 2016 est.)
Users percent of population: 80.3% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 98

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 660,100 (2017 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2017 est.)
Rank: 76

Airports: 29 (2013)
Rank: 119
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)

Roadways
Total: 26,862 km
Note: (includes 454 km of expressways) (2012)
Rank: 100

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

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