Puerto Rico

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

commonwealthIndependence none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Puerto Rico as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 91 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

Position18 15 N, 66 30 W

Area9,104 sq km

LocationCaribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North

Populationas each edition published it

3.86 million July 1998 est. · 3.29m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.68% 1998 est. · 0.13% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 33.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

74.2 years 1998 est. · 73.84 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.03 children per woman 1998 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

12.09 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 17 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$8,600 1997 est. · $6,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3% 1997 est. · 2.2% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 9,104 sq km

arable land 4%permanent crops 5%permanent pastures 26%forests and woodland 16%other 49% (1993 est.)irrigated 390 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

9,104sq km

land: 8,959 sq kmwater: 145 sq kmslightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Coastline

501km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

1,338m

Cerro de Puntalowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

Location

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

Climate

tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

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

Natural resources

some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil

Environment-current issues

occasional drought has caused water levels in reservoirs to drop and has prompted water rationing

Environment-international agreements

party to:: NA
signed, but not ratified:: NA

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

People

15 fields

Population

3,857,070

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 0.68% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

16.7Death

8.08Net migration

-1.83

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)74.2

69.58 · 79.11

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1980 est.)89%

90% · 88%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 24% (male 483,268; female 461,632)
15-64 years:: 65% (male 1,206,385; female 1,310,406)
65 years and over:: 11% (male 171,889; female 223,490) (July 1998 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.77 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

12.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective:: Puerto Rican

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%

Government

Commonwealth; President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January 1993)

20 fields

Legislature, 54 seatsone dot, one seat

PNP 37PPD 16PIP 1

Country name

conventional long form:: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form:: Puerto Rico

Administrative divisions

none (commonwealth associated with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities

Independence

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Constitution

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

Suffrage

18 years of age;
universal;
indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch

chief of state:: President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
head of government:: Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January 1993)
cabinet:: NA
elections:: governor of Puerto Rico elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results:: Pedro ROSSELLO reelected governor of Puerto Rico; percent of vote - NA

bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (28 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (54 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:: Senate-last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000); House of Representatives-last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000)
election results:: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA;
seats by party-PNP 19, PPD 8, PIP 1;
House of Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA;
seats by party-PNP 37, PPD 16, PIP 1

note: Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000);

results - percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate;
Superior Courts, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate;
Municipal Courts, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate

Political parties and leaders

National Republican Party of Puerto Rico, Luis FERRE;
Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Hector ACEVEDO;
New Progressive Party (PNP), Pedro ROSSELLO;
Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez;
Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

International organization participation

Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WToO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

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 based on the US flag

Economy

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

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$32.9billion

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$8,600

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: 5% (1994 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

5.5%

(1997 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$5.1 billionExpenditures

$5.1 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95)

Fixed lines

1.315 million

(1994 est.)

Economy-overview

Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has 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 for the island, with estimated arrivals of nearly 4 million tourists in 1993. The construction sector has been a key factor in recent economic growth.

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture:: NA%
industry:: NA%
services:: NA%

Labor force

total:: 1.3 million (1996)
by occupation:: government 19%, manufacturing 13%, trade 17%, construction 5%, other 32%, unemployed 14% (1996)

Unemployment rate

13% (FY96/97 est.)

Industries

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism

Electricity-capacity

4.465 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production

17.34 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

4,548 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

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

Exports

total value:: $22.9 billion (f.o.b. 1996)
commodities:: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
partners:: US 88% (1995 est.)

Imports

total value:: $19.1 billion (c.i.f. 1996)
commodities:: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
partners:: US 62% (1995 est.)

Debt-external

$NA

Economic aid

none

Currency

1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Fiscal year

1 July-30 June Communications

Telephone system

modern system, integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability

domestic:: digital telephone system with about 1 million lines (1990 est.); cellular telephone service
international:: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat; submarine cable to US

Radio broadcast stations

AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0 note: there were 118 radio stations in 1995

Radios

2.6 million (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations

15 (1995) note: cable television available with US programs (1990 est.)

Televisions

973,000 (1994 est.)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2

Networkskm

Highways

14,400Railways

Highways: paved: 14,400 km · unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.) · Railways: narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger service