2015 Edition

Background

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. Economic recession on the island has led to a net population loss since about 2005, as large numbers of residents moved to the US mainland. The trend has accelerated since 2010; in 2014, Puerto Rico experienced a net population loss to the mainland of 64,000, more than double the net loss of 26,000 in 2010.

Area

land

8,870 sq km

total

13,791 sq km

water

4,921 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Climate

tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

501 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

Geographic coordinates

18 15 N, 66 30 W

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

Irrigated land

220.4 sq km (2005)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 6.6%; permanent crops 5.6%; permanent pasture 9.8%

agricultural land

22%

forest

63.2%

other

14.8% (2011 est.)

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 hazards

periodic droughts; hurricanes

Natural resources

some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

17.72% (male 325,944/female 311,520)

15-24 years

14.3% (male 263,337/female 251,215)

25-54 years

38.39% (male 661,124/female 720,160)

55-64 years

12.1% (male 197,073/female 238,351)

65 years and over

17.5% (male 271,633/female 358,000) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

10.86 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

21.7%

potential support ratio

4.6% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

50%

youth dependency ratio

28.3%

Drinking water source

urban: 93.6% of population

rural: 93.6% of population

total: 93.6% of population

urban: 6.4% of population

rural: 6.4% of population

total: 6.4% of population (2001 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

white 75.8%, black/African American 12.4%, other 8.5% (includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and others), mixed 3.3%

note

99% of the population is Latino (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

6.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

8.38 deaths/1,000 live births

total

7.57 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish, English

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.94 years (2015 est.)

male

75.62 years

total population

79.25 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93.8% (2015 est.)

male

92.8%

total population

93.3%

Major urban areas - population

SAN JUAN (capital) 2.463 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

14 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

41 years (2015 est.)

male

37.1 years

total

39.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Puerto Rican

noun

Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)

Net migration rate

-8.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Population

3,598,357 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.6% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99.3% of population

rural: 99.3% of population

total: 99.3% of population

urban: 0.7% of population

rural: 0.7% of population

total: 0.7% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2013)

male

14 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.92 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.83 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.02 male(s)/female

total population

0.92 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.64 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

23.1% (2012 est.)

male

28.9%

total

26.6%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-0.21% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

93.6% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

18 28 N, 66 07 W

name

San Juan

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

see United States

Constitution

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 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

conventional short form

Puerto Rico

Dependency status

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly

chief of state

President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)

election results

Alejandro GARCIA Padilla elected governor; percent of vote - Alejandro GARCIA Padilla (Democratic Party) 48.2%, Luis FORTUNO (PNP) 47.1%, other 4.7%

elections/appointments

president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of 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 directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016)

head of government

Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla (since 2 January 2013)

Flag description

five equal horizontal bands of red (top, center, 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

Government type

commonwealth

Independence

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

International organization participation

AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WFTU (NGOs)

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 8 associate justices)

judge selection and term of office

justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by majority Senate vote; judges serve until compulsory retirement at age 70

note

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Judiciary Act of 2003 reformed the judicial system

subordinate courts

Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts

Legal system

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code and within the framework of the US federal system

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa consists of the Senate or Senado (27 seats; 16 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 11 at-large members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (51 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)

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

elections

Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 8 November 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 8 November 2016)

note

Puerto Rico directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 4-year term as a commissioner to the US House of Representatives; the commissioner can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of commissioner last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 8 November 2016)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Manuel Fernandez JUNCOS/Felix Astol ARTES

name

"La Borinquena" (The Puerto Rican)

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)

National holiday

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)

National symbol(s)

Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog); national colors: red, white, blue

Political parties and leaders

National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]

National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Carlos MENDEZ]

New Progressive Party or PNP [Pedro PIERLUISI] (pro-US statehood)

Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Alejandro Garcia PADILLA] (pro-commonwealth)

Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$9.128 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$8.733 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.3% (31 December 2014 est.)

3.3% (31 December 2013 est.)

Debt - external

$56.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$52.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Economy - overview

Puerto Rico had one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region until 2006, however, growth has been negative for each of the last nine years. The down-turn coincided with the phase-out of tax preferences that had led US firms to invest heavily in the Commonwealth since the 1950s, and a steep rise in the price of oil, which generates most of the island's electricity. Diminished job opportunities prompted a sharp rise in outmigration, as many Puerto Ricans sought jobs on the US mainland. Unemployment reached 16% in 2011, but declined to 13.7% in December 2014. US minimum wage laws apply in Puerto Rico, hampering job expansion. Per capita income is about half that of the US mainland. The industrial sector greatly exceeds agriculture as the locus of economic activity and income. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Puerto Rico's merchandise trade surplus is exceptionally strong, with exports nearly 50% greater than imports, and its current account surplus amounts to about 10% of GDP. Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government. The gap between revenues and expenditures narrowed to 0.2% of GDP in 2014, although analysts believe that not all expenditures have been accounted for in the budget and a better accounting of costs would yield an overall deficit of roughly 5% of GDP in 2014. Public debt rose to nearly 94% of GDP in 2014, the equivalent of $15,600 per person, or nearly three times the per capita debt of the State of Connecticut, the highest in the US. Much of that debt was issued by state-run schools and public corporations, including water and electric utilities. In June 2015, Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla announced that the island could not pay back at least $73 billion in debt and that it would seek a deal with its creditors.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$68.2 billion (2014 est.)

$68.01 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

108.4%

government consumption

15.8%

household consumption

90.1%

imports of goods and services

-127.4%

investment in fixed capital

12.9%

investment in inventories

0.2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.8%

industry

50.7%

services

48.3% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$28,500 (2013 est.)

$28,700 (2012 est.)

$29,500 (2011 est.)

note

data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-0.6% (2013 est.)

-2.8% (2012 est.)

-1.9% (2011 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$61.46 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$61.46 billion (2013 est.)

$61.83 billion (2012 est.)

$63.61 billion (2011 est.)

note

data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$47.92 billion (2014 est.)

$49 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2014 est.)

Industries

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.9% (2014 est.)

0.9% (2013 est.)

Labor force

1.139 million (December 2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2.1%

industry

19%

services

79% (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

97.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

94.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

14.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

13.7% (December 2014 est.)

15% (December 2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

26.81 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

18.62 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

96.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

1.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

5.616 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

20.03 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1.663 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.663 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

133,700 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

2,520 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

149,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

more than 30 TV stations operating; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations (2007)

Internet country code

.pr

Internet users

percent of population

55.0% (2014 est.)

total

2 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2008)

Telephone system

domestic

digital telephone system; mobile-cellular services

general assessment

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

international

country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

23 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

820,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

89 (2014 est.)

total

3.2 million

Television broadcast stations

34 (2008)

Airports

29 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

7

over 3,047 m

2

total

17

under 914 m

5 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

10 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

12

Ports and terminals

container port(s) (TEUs)

San Juan (1,484,595)

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Guayanilla Bay

major seaport(s)

Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan

Roadways

total

26,862 km (includes 454 km of expressways) (2012)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

786,035 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

700,443

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

29,010 (2010 est.)

male

30,517

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Military branches

no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force

Disputes - international

increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work