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Home ----
Caribbean
( P
) ----
Puerto Rico
(commonwealth associated with the US) |
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National Map
Of |
Puerto Rico |
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National Flag
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Puerto Rico |
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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
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National Emblem(Coat Of Arms)
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Puerto Rico |
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National Anthem
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Puerto Rico |
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Categories National Symbol Of |
Puerto Rico |
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Background:
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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 to retain
commonwealth status. |
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Location:
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Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
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Geographic coordinates:
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18 15 N,
66 30 W |
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Map references:
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Central
America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total:
9,104 sq km
land: 8,959 sq km
water: 145 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
less than three times the size of Rhode Island |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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501 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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tropical
marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation |
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Terrain:
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mostly
mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains
precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along
most coastal areas |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m |
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Natural resources:
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some
copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore
oil |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 3.95%
permanent crops: 5.52%
other: 90.53% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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400 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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periodic
droughts; hurricanes |
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Environment - current issues:
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erosion;
occasional drought causing water shortages |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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3,916,632
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 22% (male 441,594/female 421,986)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,228,583/female
1,337,066)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 211,283/female
276,120) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
34.23 years
male: 32.5 years
female: 35.87 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.47%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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13.93
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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7.86
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-1.38
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
8.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 78.29 years
male: 74.35 years
female: 82.43 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.91
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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7,397
(1997) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican |
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Ethnic groups:
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white
(mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian
0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9% |
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Religions:
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Roman
Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15% |
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Languages:
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Spanish,
English |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico |
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Dependency status:
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commonwealth associated with the US |
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Government type:
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commonwealth |
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Capital:
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San Juan
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Administrative divisions:
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none
(commonwealth associated with 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 |
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Independence:
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none
(commonwealth associated with the US) |
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National holiday:
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US
Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico
Constitution Day, 25 July (1952) |
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Constitution:
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ratified
3 March 1952, approved by US Congress 3 July 1952,
effective 25 July 1952 |
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Legal system:
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based on
Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of
justice |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but
do not vote in US presidential elections |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (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: US president and vice president
elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor
elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election
last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November
2008)
election results: Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (PPD)
elected governor; percent of vote - 48.4% |
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Legislative branch:
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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 directly 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 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
November 2008); results - percent of vote by party - PNP
48.6%; seats by party - PNP 1; Luis FORTUNO elected
resident commissioner |
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Judicial branch:
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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) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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National
Democratic Party [Celeste BENITEZ]; National Republican
Party of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive
Party or PNP (pro-US statehood) [Pedro ROSSELLO];
Popular Democratic Party or PPD (pro-commonwealth)
[Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA]; Puerto Rican Independence Party
or PIP (pro-independence) [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Armed
Forces for National Liberation or FALN; Armed Forces of
Popular Resistance; Boricua Popular Army (also known as
the Macheteros); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican
Revolution |
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International organization participation:
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ICFTU,
Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WToO
(associate) |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none
(commonwealth associated with the US) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none
(commonwealth associated with the US) |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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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 1999.
Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown
in the US economy, and has recovered in 2004. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$68.95
billion (2004 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.7%
(2004 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2004 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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1.3
million (2000) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (2000 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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12%
(2002) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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6.5%
(2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion, including capital
expenditures of NA (FY99/00) |
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Agriculture - products:
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sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas,
livestock products, chickens |
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Industries:
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pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products,
tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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22.09
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 99.2%
hydro: 0.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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20.54
billion kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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190,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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630
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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630
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Exports:
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$46.9
billion f.o.b. (2001) |
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Exports - commodities:
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chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum,
beverage concentrates, medical equipment |
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Exports - partners:
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US 90.3%,
UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2002
est.) |
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Imports:
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$29.1
billion c.i.f. (2001) |
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Imports - commodities:
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chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food,
fish, petroleum products |
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Imports - partners:
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US 55.0%,
Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2002 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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NA |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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NA (2001)
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Currency (code):
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US dollar
(USD) |
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Currency code:
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USD |
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Exchange rates:
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the US
dollar is used |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July -
30 June |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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1,329,500
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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1,211,111
(2001) |
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Telephone system:
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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; cellular
telephone service
international: country code - 1-787, 939;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; submarine cable to
US |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 72, FM
17, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Radios:
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2.7
million (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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6 (19
relay stations) (2004) |
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Televisions:
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1.021
million (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.pr |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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76 (2000)
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Internet users:
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600,000
(2002) |
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Railways:
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total:
96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) |
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Highways:
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total:
25,328 km
paved: 23,665 km (including 426 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 1,363 km (2004) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Las
Mareas, Mayaguez, San Juan |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 36,728 GRT/37,048 DWT
by type: roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 2 (United States 2)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005) |
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Airports:
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30 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
17
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.) |
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Military branches:
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no
regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary
National Guard, Police Force |
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Military - note:
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defense
is the responsibility of the US |
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Disputes - international:
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increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the
Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico
each year looking for work |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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