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.

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas

some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil

periodic droughts; hurricanes

erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

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

white (mostly Spanish origin) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%, Amerindian 0.2%, mixed 4.4%, other 12% (2007)

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

3,690,923 (July 2012 est.)

11.3 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

SAN JUAN (capital) 2.73 million (2009)

20 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

1.64 children born/woman (2012 est.)

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

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

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)

ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952

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

18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

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)

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)

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)

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

Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU

none (territory of the US)

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

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; the white star symbolizes Puerto Rico; the three sides of the triangle signify the executive, legislative and judicial parts of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red symbolizes the blood shed by warriors, while white represents liberty, victory, and peace

Puerto Rican spindalis (bird); coqui (frog)

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.

$64.84 billion (2010 est.)

$68.84 billion (2009 est.)

$71.51 billion (2008 est.)

$93.52 billion (2010 est.)

1.286 million (March 2012)

7.2% of GDP (FY99/00)

-3.1% of GDP (FY99/00)

sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens

$58.91 billion (2012 est.)

$64.88 billion (2011 est.)

chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment

$46.58 billion (2012 est.)

$44.67 billion (2011 est.)

chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products

$56.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$52.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

the US dollar is used, 1 (2012 est.)

20.71 billion kWh (2009 est.)

19.26 billion kWh (2009 est.)

5.515 million kW (2009 est.)

97.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

2.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

40,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

37,450 bbl/day (2008 est.)

151,600 bbl/day (2011 est.)

8,440 bbl/day (2008 est.)

149,100 bbl/day (2008 est.)

768.9 million cu m (2010 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

30.86 million Mt (2010 est.)

3.108 million (2011)

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

Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan

no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force

defense is the responsibility of the US

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