Puerto Rico

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

commonwealthIndependence none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Puerto Rico as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 102 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 Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

Populationas each edition published it

3.92 million July 2000 est. · 3.29m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.56% 2000 est. · 0.13% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 33.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

75.55 years 2000 est. · 73.84 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.9 children per woman 2000 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

9.71 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 17 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$9,800 1999 est. · $6,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.2% 1999 est. · 2.2% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Discovered by Columbus in 1493, the island was ceded by Spain to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. A popularly elected governor has served since 1948. In plebiscites held in 1967 and 1993, voters chose to retain commonwealth status.

Geography

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

17 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

Geographic coordinates

18 15 N, 66 30 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

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

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; hurricanes

Environment - current issues

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

People

15 fields

Population

3,915,798

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 0.56% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

15.47Death

7.74Net migration

-2.14

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)75.55

71.05 · 80.3

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1980 est.)89%

90% · 88%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 24% (male 480,100; female 457,684)
15-64 years:: 66% (male 1,234,065; female 1,336,848)
65 years and over:: 10% (male 174,383; female 232,718) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.93 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

9.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Languages

Spanish, English

Government

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

20 fields

Senate, 54 seats, elected 5 November 1996one dot, one seat

PNP 37PPD 16PIP 1

Country name

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

Data code

Dependency status

commonwealth associated with the US

Government type

commonwealth

Capital

San Juan

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 (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 (commonwealth associated with the US)

National holiday

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Constitution

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

Legal system

based on Spanish civil code

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 William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (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:: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms;
governor 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; percent of vote - 51.1%

Legislative branch

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 nonvoting 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 Democratic Party [William MIRANDA];
National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Luis FERRE];
New Progressive Party or PNP [Pedro ROSSELLO];
Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Anibal ACEVIDA Vila];
Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN;
Armed Forces of Popular Resistance;
Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros);
Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution

International organization participation

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

31 fields

Real growth rate

4.2%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

5.2%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

13%

(FY97/98 est.)

Labor force

1.3million

(1996)

GDP - composition by sector(1999 est.)

agriculture 1%industry 45%services 54% (1999 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$6.7 billionExpenditures

$9.6 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00)

Electricity

fossil fuel 98.06%hydro 1.94%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

17.765 billion (1998)Electricity consumption

16.521 billion (1998)

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 5 million tourists in 1999. Prospects for 2000 are good, assuming continued strength in the tourism and construction sectors and continuation of the US boom.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $38.1 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $9,800 (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (1999 est.)

Industries

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$34.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 88% (1999)

Imports

$25.3 billion (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 60% (1999)

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Currency

1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

171,000

(1995)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

1.196 million

(1995)

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; cellular telephone service
international:: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; submarine cable to US

Radio broadcast stations

AM 72, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

2.7 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

18 (plus three stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service) (1997)

Televisions

1.021 million (1997)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 21Unpaved 9

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