Puerto Rico Population: 3,674,209
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| 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. |
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| Geography | |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| Area: | total: 13,790 sq km land: 8,870 sq km water: 4,921 sq km Size comparison: 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 1,338 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 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | periodic droughts; hurricanes |
| Current Environment Issues: | erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages |
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| People | |
| Population: | 3,674,209 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 18.4% (male 346,794/female 330,221) 15-24 years: 14.6% (male 272,689/female 264,761) 25-54 years: 38.6% (male 675,854/female 743,449) 55-64 years: 11.9% (male 198,952/female 239,538) 65 years and over: 16.4% (male 261,345/female 340,606) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 37.8 years male: 36 years female: 39.5 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | -0.44% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 11.3 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 79.07 years male: 75.47 years female: 82.84 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.64 children born/woman (2013 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) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%, Amerindian 0.2%, mixed 4.4%, other 12% (2007) |
| 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.) |
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| Government | |
| 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; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) head of government: Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla (since 2 January 2013) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016) election results: Alejandro GARCIA Padilla elected governor with 48.2% 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) |
| 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 |
| International organization participation: | Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none (territory of the US) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | none (territory of the US with commonwealth status) |
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| Economy | |
| Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region, however, growth has been negative for the past four years, and unemployment rose to nearly 16% in 2011. The industrial sector has surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Mainland 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. Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $64.84 billion (2010 est.) $68.84 billion (2009 est.) $71.51 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $93.52 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -5.8% (2010 est.) -3.7% (2009 est.) -2.8% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $16,300 (2010 est.) $17,400 (2009 est.) $18,100 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 0.5% industry: 47.8% services: 51.6% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 1.286 million (March 2012) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 2.1% industry: 19% services: 79% (2005) |
| Unemployment rate: | 16% (2011 est.) 12% (2002 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.2% (2012 est.) 2.9% (2011 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $6.7 billion expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens |
| Industries: | pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism |
| Industrial production growth rate: | NA% |
| Electricity - production: | 20.71 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 19.26 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 768.9 million cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 768.9 million cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Exports: | $58.91 billion (2012 est.) $64.88 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment |
| Imports: | $46.58 billion (2012 est.) $44.67 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products |
| Debt - external: | $56.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $52.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Exchange rates: | the US dollar is used |
| Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 826,100 (2011) country comparison to the world: 87 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 3.108 million (2011) |
| 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 (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .pr |
| Internet hosts: | 469 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 1 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 29 (2012) country comparison to the world: 119 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 5 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 10 (2012) |
| Roadways: | total: 26,670 km paved: 25,337 km (includes 427 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,333 km (2008) |
| Ports and terminals: | Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan |
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| Military | |
| Defense is the responsibility of the US | |
| Military branches: | no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 700,443 females age 16-49: 786,035 (2010 est.) |
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