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.
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 references
Central America and the Caribbean
Area
total
13,790 sq km
land
8,870 sq km
water
4,921 sq km
Area - 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
highest point
Cerro de Punta 1,339 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 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
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
3,944,259 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
21% (male 422,635/female 403,887)
15-64 years
65.9% (male 1,247,314/female 1,352,139)
65 years and over
13.1% (male 223,508/female 294,776) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
35.1 years
male
33.4 years
female
36.8 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0.393% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
12.79 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
-1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.046 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.922 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.758 male(s)/female
total population
0.923 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
7.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male
8.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female
6.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
78.54 years
male
74.6 years
female
82.67 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.77 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
7,397 (1997)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective
Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups
white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Religions
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages
Spanish, English
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
94.1%
male
93.9%
female
94.4% (2002 est.)
Country name
conventional long form
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form
Puerto Rico
Dependency status
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
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
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice
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 George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government
Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January 2005)
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; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)
election results
Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA elected governor; percent of vote - 48.4%
Legislative branch
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats - currently 29; 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 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 43.4%, PPD 40.3%, PIP 9.4%; seats by party - PNP 17, PPD 9, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PNP 46.3%, PPD 43.1%, PIP 9.7%; seats by party - PNP 32, PPD 18, PIP 1
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 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008); results - percent of vote by party - PNP 48.6%, other 51.4%; 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)
Political pressure groups and leaders
Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Diplomatic representation 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
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$75.82 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
NA (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
0.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$19,300 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
1%
industry
45%
services
54% (2002 est.)
Labor force
1.3 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
3%
industry
20%
services
77% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate
12% (2002)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6.5% (2003 est.)
Budget
revenues
$6.7 billion
expenditures
$9.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00)
