Puerto Rico

commonwealth associated with the USIndependence none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Puerto Rico as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 66 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalSan Juan

Area9,104 km2

Populationas each edition published it

3.29 million July 1990 · 2.98m in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 0.13% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 33.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 73.84 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.2 children per woman 1990 · 1.27 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

17 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 5.7 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $6,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.2% in 1993

Geography

14 fields

Land useshare of 9,104 km2

arable land 8%permanent crops 9%meadows and pastures 51%forest and woodland 25%other 7%

Total area

9,104km2

land area: 8,959 km2Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Coastline

501km

land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 12 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

Natural resources

some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore crude oil

Environment

many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered;
south coast relatively dry;
fertile coastal plain belt in north

Note

important location between the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands group 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

People

14 fields

Population

3,291,207

(July 1990), growth rate 0.1% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

19Death

Literacy

89%

Nationality

noun--Puerto Rican(s); adjective--Puerto Rican

Religion

mostly Christian, 85% Roman Catholic, 15% Protestant denominations and other

Language

Spanish (official); English is widely understood

Labor force

1,062,000; 23% government, 20% trade, 18% manufacturing, 4% agriculture, 35% other (1988)

Organized labor

115,000 members in 4 unions; the largest is the General Confederation of Puerto Rican Workers with 35,000 members (1983)

Government

Commonwealth associated with the US

16 fields

Senate, 27 seats, elected 8 November 1988one dot, one seat

PPD 18PNP 8PIP 1

Administrative divisions

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Independence

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Constitution

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

Executive branch

US president, US vice president, governor

Legislative branch

bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

Judicial branch

Supreme Court Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989);
Head of Government Governor Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon (since 2 January 1989)

Political parties and leaders

Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Rafael Hernandez Colon;
New Progressive Party (PNP), Baltasar Corrado del Rio;
Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP), Juan Mari Bras and Carlos Gallisa;
Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben Berrios Martinez;
Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown

Suffrage

universal at age 18;
indigenous inhabitants are US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections Governor--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992);
results--Rafael Hernandez Colon (PPD) 48.7%, Baltasar Corrada Del Rio (PNP) 45.8%, Ruben Barrios Martinez (PIP) 5.5%;
Senate--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(27 total) PPD 18, PNP 8, PIP 1;
House of Representatives--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held November 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(53 total) PPD 36, PNP 15, PIP 2

Other political or pressure groups

all have engaged in terrorist activities--Armed Forces for National Liberation (FALN), Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution, Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros), Armed Forces of Popular Resistance

Diplomatic representation

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Flag

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 based on the US flag

Economy

Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

33%

(December 1987-88)

Unemployment rate

12.8%

(December 1988)

Budget

Revenues

$4.9 millionExpenditures

$4.9 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88)

Overview

Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector 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 1970s.

Important new industries include pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and processed foods. 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 for the island.

GNP

$18.4 billion, per capita $5,574; real growth rate 4.9% (FY88)

Exports

$13.2 billion (f.o.b., FY88);
commodities--sugar, coffee, petroleum products, chemical, metal products, textiles, electronic equipment;
partners--US 87%