Page last updated on January 31, 2014
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher 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 not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood.
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Central America and the Caribbean
total: 13,790 sq km
country comparison to the world: 163
land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 sq km
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
arable land: 6.76%
permanent crops: 4.51%
other: 88.73% (2011)
periodic droughts; hurricanes
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
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
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
white (mostly Spanish origin) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%, Amerindian 0.2%, mixed 4.4%, other 12% (2007)
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
3,645,648 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
0-14 years: 18.4% (male 346,794/female 330,221)
15-24 years: 14.6% (male 272,689/female 264,761)
25-54 years: 38.6% (male 675,854/female 743,449)
55-64 years: 11.9% (male 198,952/female 239,538)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 261,345/female 340,606) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 50.1 %
youth dependency ratio: 29.3 %
elderly dependency ratio: 20.9 %
potential support ratio: 4.8 (2013)
total: 38.2 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 40 years (2013 est.)
-0.47% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 224
11.28 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
-7.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
urban population: 99% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
SAN JUAN (capital) 2.73 million (2009)
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
20 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 141
total: 8 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 158
male: 8.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 79.07 years
country comparison to the world: 45
male: 75.56 years
female: 82.79 years (2013 est.)
1.64 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
84.1%
note: percent of women aged 18-44 (2002)
7,397 (1997)
country comparison to the world: 110
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.3%
male: 89.7%
female: 90.9% (2011 est.)
total: 26.6%
country comparison to the world: 35
male: 28.9%
female: 23.1% (2012)
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); 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
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952; note - constitutional amendments introduced in 2012 were rejected in a referendum (2013)
civil law system based on the Spanish civil code and within the framework of the US federal system
18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla (since 2 January 2013)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016)
election results: Alejandro GARCIA Padilla elected governor with 48.2% of the vote
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 18, PNP 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 28, PNP 23
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 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 6 associate judges)
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; judges serve until compulsory retirement at age 75
subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts
National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]
Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros)
note: the following radical groups are considered dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU
none (territory of the US)
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
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; the white star symbolizes Puerto Rico; the three sides of the triangle signify the executive, legislative and judicial parts of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red symbolizes the blood shed by warriors, while white represents liberty, victory, and peace
note: design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
Puerto Rican spindalis (bird); coqui (frog)
name: "La Borinquena" (The Puerto Rican)
lyrics/music: Manuel Fernandez JUNCOS/Felix Astol ARTES
note: music adopted 1952, lyrics adopted 1977; the local anthem's name is a reference to the indigenous name of the island, Borinquen; the music was originally composed as a dance in 1867 and gained popularity in the early 20th century; there is some evidence that the music was written by Francisco RAMIREZ; as a commonwealth of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region, however, growth has been negative for the past four years, and unemployment rose to nearly 16% in 2011. The industrial sector has surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Mainland 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 more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government.
$64.84 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
$93.52 billion (2010 est.)
-5.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 217
$16,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
household consumption: 87.8%
government consumption: 15.4%
investment in fixed capital: 14.6%
investment in inventories: 0.3%
exports of goods and services: 106.4%
imports of goods and services: -124.4%
agriculture: 0.8%
industry: 48.9%
services: 50.3% (2012 est.)
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
1.286 million (March 2012)
country comparison to the world: 138
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 19%
services: 79% (2005 est.)
16% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00 est.)
7.2% of GDP (FY99/00)
country comparison to the world: 212
-3.1% of GDP (FY99/00)
country comparison to the world: 123
93.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
2.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$67.3 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
$49 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
$56.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
20.02 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
19.43 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
5.571 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
97.2% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
2.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
673.7 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 177
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
151,600 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
176,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
770 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
750 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 186
28.53 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
780,200 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 87
3.06 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 130
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; mobile-cellular services
international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2011)
more than 30 TV stations operating; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations (2007)
469 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 184
1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
29 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 119
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m:
total: 26,862 km (includes 454 km of expressways) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 99
major seaport(s): Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
container port(s) (TEUs): San Juan (1,484,595)
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
males age 16-49: 700,443
females age 16-49: 786,035 (2010 est.)
male: 30,517
female: 29,010 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the US
