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.
Geography
Puerto Rico
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
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
total: 35.6 years
male: 33.8 years female: 37.3 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.369% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
12.61 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Death rate:
7.88 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
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 (2008
est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.65 deaths/1,000
live births male: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.58
years male: 74.64 years female: 82.73 years (2008
est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.76 children born/woman (2008
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.)
Government
Puerto Rico
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
Puerto Rico
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 2006-07.
chemicals, electronics,
apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners:
US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands
1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2006)
Imports:
$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery and
equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
US 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan
5.4% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Debt - external:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications
Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.038 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.354 million (2005)
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; cellular telephone service
international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables
provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0
(2005)
Radios:
2.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
32 (2006)
Televisions:
1.021 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.pr
Internet hosts:
413 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
76 (2000)
Internet users:
915,600 (2005)
Transportation
Puerto Rico
Airports:
29 (2007)
Airports - with 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 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12 1,524
to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 10
(2007)
Railways:
total: 96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 25,735 km
paved: 24,353 km (includes 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,382 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1000 GRT
or over) 77,177 GRT/50,138 DWT by type: roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 3 (US 3) registered in other
countries: 1 (St Vincent and The Grenadines 1) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Guayanilla, Mayaguez, San Juan
Military
Puerto Rico
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military
forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility
of the US
Transnational Issues
Puerto Rico
Disputes - international:
increasing numbers of illegal
migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico
each year looking for work
