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This page was last updated on 17 May, 2005


Map of Puerto Rico



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Puerto Rico
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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.
   Geography    Puerto Rico
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 9,104 sq km
land: 8,959 sq km
water: 145 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
501 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 3.95%
permanent crops: 5.52%
other: 90.53% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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
   People    Puerto Rico
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,916,632 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 34.23 years
male: 32.5 years
female: 35.87 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.47% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
13.93 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 77.62 years
male: 73.67 years
female: 81.77 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.91 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7,397 (1997)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Spanish, English
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.7%
female: 94.4% (2002)
   Government    Puerto Rico
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
commonwealth associated with the US
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
commonwealth
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
San Juan
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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%
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 FORTUNA elected resident commissioner
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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    Puerto Rico
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $68.95 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.7% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.3 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12% (2002)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (FY99/00)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas, livestock products, chickens
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
22.09 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20.54 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
190,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
630 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
630 million cu m (2001 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2002 est.)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2002 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
NA (2001)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
USD
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 July - 30 June
   Communications    Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,329,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,211,111 (2001)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 72, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
6 (19 relay stations) (2004)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.pr
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
600,000 (2002)
   Transportation    Puerto Rico
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 25,328 km
paved: 23,665 km (including 426 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,363 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Aguadilla, Arecibo, Fajardo, Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Mayaguez, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
30 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 13
1,524 to 2, 437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)
   Military    Puerto Rico
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the US
   Transnational Issues    Puerto Rico
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work

This page was last updated on 17 May, 2005


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