Puerto Rico

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

commonwealthIndependence none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Puerto Rico as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 111 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 2005 est. · 3.29m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.47% 2005 est. · 0.13% in 1993

Median ageyears

34.23 years 2005 est. · 33.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.29 years 2005 est. · 73.84 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.91 children per woman 2005 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

8.24 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 17 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$17,700 2004 est. · $6,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.7% 2004 est. · 2.2% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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 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 3.95%permanent crops 5.52%other 90.53% (2001)irrigated 400 sq km (1998 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 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 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

19 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)

211,283

65 and over12.4%

276,120

1,228,583

15-6465.5%

1,337,066

441,594

0-1422%

421,986

MaleFemale

Population

3,916,632

(July 2005 est.)growth rate: 0.47% (2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2005 est.)

Birth

13.93Death

7.86Net migration

-1.38

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2005 est.)78.29

74.35 · 82.43Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)8.24

9.52 · 6.9

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2002 est.)94.1%

93.9% · 94.4%Median age years (2005 est.)34.23

32.5 · 35.87

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%black 8%Amerindian 0.4%Asian 0.2%mixed and other 10.9%

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 (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.91 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

7,397 (1997)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

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

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Languages

Spanish, English

Government

Commonwealth; President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January 2005)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

43.4%

PNP 43.4%PPD 40.3%PIP 9.4%Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)

Senate, 51 seats, elected 2 November 2004one dot, one seat

PNP 32PPD 18PIP 1

Percent of vote

PNP 43.4%PPD 40.3%PIP 9.4%

Country name

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

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); 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)
head of government:: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January 2005)
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature
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 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results:: Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (PPD) 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 directly 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 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 November 2008); results - percent of vote by party - PNP 48.6%; seats by party - PNP 1; Luis FORTUNO elected resident commissioner

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 [Celeste BENITEZ];
National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE];
New Progressive Party or PNP (pro-US statehood) [Pedro ROSSELLO];
Popular Democratic Party or PPD (pro-commonwealth) [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA];
Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP (pro-independence) [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

ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, 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 initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

Economy

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

38 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$68.95billion

(2004 est.)

Real growth rate

2.7%

(2004 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

6.5%

(2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

12%

(2002)

GDP - composition by sector(2002 est.)

agriculture 1%industry 45%services 54% (2002 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

90.3%

55.0%

Ireland

23.7%

Japan

5.4%

1.6%

1.4%

Netherlands

1.4%

Dominican Republic

Exports $46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)Imports $29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)(2002 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$6.7 billionExpenditures

$9.6 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of NA (FY99/00)

Electricity

Electricity production

22.09 billion (2002)Electricity consumption

20.54 billion (2002)

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 1999. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, and has recovered in 2004.

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2004 est.)

Labor force

1.3 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

190,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

Oil - imports

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

630 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

630 million cu m (2001 est.)

Exports

$46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)

Imports - commodities

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

Debt - external

Economic aid - recipient

NA (2001)

Currency (code)

US dollar (USD)

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Communications

7 fields

Mobile cellular

1,211,111

(2001)

Internet users

600,000

(2002)

Fixed lines

1,329,500

(2002) · country code .pr

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;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat;
submarine cable to US