Puerto Rico

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

Puerto Rico as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 70 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

3.78 million July 1992 · 3.29m in 1990

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

2.1 children per woman 1992 · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

14 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 17 in 1990

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

13 fields

Total area

9,104km2

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Coastline

501km

land boundaries: noneContiguous zone: 12 nmContinental shelf: 200 m (depth)Exclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial 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

Land use

arable land 8%;
permanent crops 9%;
meadows and pastures 41%;
forest and woodland 20%;
other 22%

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

3,776,654

(July 1992), growth rate 1.0% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

17Death

8Net migration

Literacy

89%

(male 90%, female 88%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)

Nationality

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%

Languages

Spanish (official); English is widely understood

Labor force

1,068,000; government 28%, manufacturing 15%, trade 14%, agriculture 3%, other 40% (1990)

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

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

48.7%

Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon (PPD) 48.7%Baltasar CORRADA Del Rio (PNP) 45.8%Ruben BERRIOS Martinez (PIP) 5.5%

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

Leaders

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

National Republican Party of Puerto Rico, Freddy VALENTIN;
Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon;
New Progressive Party (PNP), Carlos ROMERO Barcelo;
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;
Puerto Rican Renewal Party (PRP, breakaway group from PNP), leader (vacant);
Puerto Rico Democratic Party, Richard MACHADO

Suffrage

universal at age 18; citizens of Puerto Rico are also US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections

Elections

Governor:: last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992);
results - Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon (PPD) 48.7%, Baltasar CORRADA Del Rio (PNP) 45.8%, Ruben BERRIOS Martinez (PIP) 5.5%
Senate:: last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (27 total) PPD 18, PNP 8, PIP 1
US House of Representatives:: last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 November 1992);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (1 total) seats by party NA;
note - Puerto Rico elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives, Jaime B. FUSTER
House of Representatives:: last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held 3 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

Member of

CARICOM (observer), ECLAC, ICFTU, IOC, WCL, WFTU, WTO (associate)

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. | Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector of economic | activity and income.

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

1.3%

(October 1990-91)

Unemployment rate

15.5%

(October 1991)

Budget

Revenues

$5.8 billionExpenditures

$5.8 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $258 million (FY89)

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 1950s.

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.

The economy has largely recovered from the disruptions caused by Hurricane Hugo in September 1989. The tourism infrastructure has been especially hard hit.

GNP

purchasing power equivalent - $21.6 billion, per capita $6,600; real growth rate 2.2% (FY90)

Exports

commodities:: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment, instruments
partners:: US 87% (FY90)

Imports

commodities:: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
partners:: US 68% (FY90)

accounts for 3% of labor force;
crops - sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas;
livestock - cattle, chickens;
imports a large share of food needs

Communications

5 fields

30 total;
24 usable;
19 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m;
3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
5 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications

900,000 or 99% of total households have TV;
1,067,787 telephones (1988);
broadcast stations - 50 AM, 63 FM, 9 TV (1990)

Defense Forces

Paramilitary National Guard, Police Force

3 fields

How to cite ← 1991 edition 1993 edition →

Geography

People

Government

Economy

Communications

Defense Forces

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