1996 Edition

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

Location

18 15 N, 66 30 W -- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

land area

8,959 sq km

total area

9,104 sq km

Climate

tropical marine, mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

501 km

Environment

current issues

the recent drought has caused water levels in reservoirs to drop and prompted water rationing for more than one-half of the population

international agreements

NA

natural hazards

periodic droughts

Geographic coordinates

18 15 N, 66 30 W

Geographic 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

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

390 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

8%

forest and woodland

20%

meadows and pastures

41%

other

22%

permanent crops

9%

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

some copper and nickel, potential for onshore and offshore oil

Terrain

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

highest point

Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 25% (male 484,038; female 461,175) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,201,841; female 1,279,707) 65 years and over: 10% (male 174,274; female 217,988) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

15.56 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

7.46 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Hispanic

Infant mortality rate

12.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Spanish, English

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.89 years (1996 est.)

male

71.13 years

total population

75.38 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)

female

88%

male

90%

total population

89%

Nationality

adjective

Puerto Rican

noun

Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)

Net migration rate

-6.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

3,819,023 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.18% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.94 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

none (commonwealth associated with the US); note - there are 78 municipalities

Capital

San Juan

Constitution

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

Data code

RQ

Diplomatic representation in US

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

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) was elected for a four-year term by direct suffrage; election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - Pedro ROSSELLO (PNP) 50%, Victoria MUNOZ (PPD) 46%, Fernando MARTIN (PIP) 4%

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

House of Representatives

elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (53 total) PNP 36, PPD 16, PIP 1

Independence

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

International organization participation

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

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

Legal system

based on Spanish civil code

Legislative branch

bicameral Legislative Assembly

Name of country

conventional long form

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

conventional short form

Puerto Rico

National holiday

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Other political or pressure groups

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

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 Socialist Party (PSP) has been disbanded (1994); Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown

Senate

elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (29 total) PNP 20, PPD 8, PIP 1

Suffrage

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

Type of government

commonwealth associated with the US

US diplomatic representation

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

US House of Representatives

elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO); note - Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US House of Representatives

Agriculture

sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; cattle, chickens

Budget

expenditures

$5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95)

revenues

$5.1 billion

Currency

1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

none

Economic 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. US minimum wage laws apply. Important 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, with estimated arrivals of nearly 3.9 million tourists in 1993.

Electricity

capacity

4.230,000 kW

consumption per capita

3,819 kWh (1993)

production

15.6 billion kWh

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

$21.8 billion (1994)

commodities

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

partners

US 86.2% (1993)

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $29.7 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$7,800 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

3.3% (1995 est.)

Imports

$16.7 billion (1994)

commodities

chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products

partners

US 69.2% (1993)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (1994 est.)

Industries

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, instruments, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.9% (1994)

Labor force

1.2 million (1993)

by occupation

government 22%, manufacturing 17%, trade 20%, construction 6%, communications and transportation 5%, other 30% (1993)

Unemployment rate

16% (1994)

Branches

paramilitary National Guard, Police Force

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Radio broadcast stations

AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0

Radios

2.565 million (1992 est.)

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

Telephones

1,166,231 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

9

note

cable television available with US programs (1990 est.)

Televisions

952,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

23

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

3

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

8

with paved runways over 3 047 m

3

with paved runways under 914 m

7

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

2 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

13,762 km (1982 est.)

total

NA km

unpaved

NA km

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce, San Juan

Railways

narrow gauge

96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger service

total

96 km