2017 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. Hurricane Maria struck the island on 20 September 2017 causing catastrophic damage including destruction of the electrical grid that had been cripled by Hurricane Irma just two weeks before. It was the worst storm to hit the island in eight decades and damage is estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.

Area

9,104 sq km 8,959 sq km 145 sq km

land

8,959 sq km

total

9,104 sq km

water

145 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

261 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m

highest point

Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

mean elevation

261 m

Environment - current issues

soil 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 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

22% arable land 6.6%; permanent crops 5.6%; permanent pasture 9.8% 63.2% 14.8% (2011 est.)

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

12 nm 200 nm

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

Population - distribution

population clusters tend to be found along the coast, the largest of these is found in and around San Juan; an exception to this is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low

Terrain

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

Age structure

15.77% (male 270,656/female 258,073) 13.71% (male 233,667/female 225,812) 38.1% (male 607,954/female 669,149) 12.93% (male 198,720/female 234,713) 19.48% (male 281,413/female 371,670) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

15.77% (male 270,656/female 258,073)

15-24 years

13.71% (male 233,667/female 225,812)

25-54 years

38.1% (male 607,954/female 669,149)

55-64 years

12.93% (male 198,720/female 234,713)

65 years and over

19.48% (male 281,413/female 371,670) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

8.1 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Death rate

8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

49.6 27.9 21.7 4.6 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

21.7

potential support ratio

4.6 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

49.6

youth dependency ratio

27.9

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.)

rural

6.4% of population

total

6.4% of population (2001 est.)

urban

6.4% of population

Education expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2013)

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

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

6.4 deaths/1,000 live births 7 deaths/1,000 live births 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish, English

Life expectancy at birth

80.9 years 77.6 years 84.4 years (2017 est.)

female

84.4 years (2017 est.)

male

77.6 years

total population

80.9 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 93.3% 92.8% 93.8% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93.8% (2015 est.)

male

92.8%

total population

93.3%

Major infectious diseases

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

note

active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)

Major urban areas - population

SAN JUAN (capital) 2.463 million (2015)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

41.5 years 39.5 years 43.2 years (2017 est.)

female

43.2 years (2017 est.)

male

39.5 years

total

41.5 years

Nationality

Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) Puerto Rican

adjective

Puerto Rican

noun

Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)

Net migration rate

-16.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Population

3,351,827 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

population clusters tend to be found along the coast, the largest of these is found in and around San Juan; an exception to this is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low

Population growth rate

-1.74% (2017 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.)

rural

0.7% of population

total

0.7% of population (2015 est.)

urban

0.7% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 13 years 15 years (2014)

female

15 years (2014)

male

13 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.02 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.83 male(s)/female 0.76 male(s)/female 0.91 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.04 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

0.91 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.22 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

26.6% 28.9% 23.1% (2012 est.)

female

23.1% (2012 est.)

male

28.9%

total

26.6%

Urbanization

93.5% of total population (2017) -0.03% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

-0.03% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

93.5% of total population (2017)

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

San Juan 18 28 N, 66 07 W UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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 (2016)

Country name

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Christopher COLUMBUS named the island San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) and the capital city and main port Cuidad de Puerto Rico (Rich Port City); over time, however, the names were shortened and transposed and the island came to be called Puerto Rico and its capital San Juan

conventional long form

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

conventional short form

Puerto Rico

etymology

Christopher COLUMBUS named the island San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) and the capital city and main port Cuidad de Puerto Rico (Rich Port City); over time, however, the names were shortened and transposed and the island came to be called Puerto Rico and its capital San Juan

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

President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2017); Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017) Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO (since 2 January 2017) Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly 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 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020) Ricardo ROSSELLO elected governor; percent of vote - Ricardo ROSSELLO (PNP) 41.8%, David BERNIER (PPD) 38.9%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 11.1%, Manuel CIDRE (independent) 5.7%

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly

chief of state

President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2017); Vice President Michael R. PENCE (since 20 January 2017)

election results

Ricardo ROSSELLO elected governor; percent of vote - Ricardo ROSSELLO (PNP) 41.8%, David BERNIER (PPD) 38.9%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 11.1%, Manuel CIDRE (independent) 5.7%

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 8 November 2016 (next to be held in November 2020)

head of government

Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO (since 2 January 2017)

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 design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

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

presidential democracy; a self-governing commonwealth in political association with the US

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

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 8 associate justices) justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by majority Senate vote; judges serve until compulsory retirement at age 70 Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts

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

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

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) Senate - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 3 November 2020); House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 3 November 2020) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 21, PPD 7, PIP 1, Independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 34, PPD 16, PIP 1 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 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 6 November 2018)

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 - PNP 21, PPD 7, PIP 1, Independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 34, PPD 16, PIP 1

elections

Senate - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 3 November 2020); House of Representatives - last held on 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 3 November 2020)

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 8 November 2016 (next to be held on 6 November 2018)

National anthem

"La Borinquena" (The Puerto Rican) Manuel Fernandez JUNCOS/Felix Astol ARTES 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 US, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)

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 US, "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

Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog); national colors

red, white, blue

Political parties and leaders

National Democratic Party [Charlie RODRIGUEZ] National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Jenniffer GONZALEZ] New Progressive Party or PNP [Ricardo ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood) Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Alejandro GARCIA Padillo] (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

$9.086 billion $9.684 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$9.684 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$9.086 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.6% of GDP (2016 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4% (31 December 2016 est.) 3.3% (31 December 2015 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 11 years. The downturn coincided with the phaseout 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 two-thirds 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 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 amounted to 0.6% of GDP in 2016, 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. Public debt declined to 92.5% of GDP in 2016, about $17,000 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

$73.2 billion (2016 est.) $70.9 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

87.2% 12.3% 11.8% 0.5% 115.8% -127.6% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

115.8%

government consumption

12.3%

household consumption

87.2%

imports of goods and services

-127.6% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

11.8%

investment in inventories

0.5%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

0.8% 50.2% 48.5% (2016 est.)

agriculture

0.8%

industry

50.2%

services

48.5% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,700 (2016 est.) $38,100 (2015 est.) $37,800 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-2.6% (2016 est.) -1.1% (2015 est.) -1.2% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$105 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$128.7 billion (2016 est.) $130.5 billion (2015 est.) $130.6 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$48.86 billion (2016 est.) $48.8 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Industrial production growth rate

-1.4% (2016 est.)

Industries

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.3% (2016 est.) -0.3% (2015 est.)

Labor force

1.139 million (December 2014 est)

Labor force - by occupation

2.1% 19% 79% (2005)

agriculture

2.1%

industry

19%

services

79% (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

91.6% of GDP (2016 est.) 95.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.8% (2016 est.) 15% (December 2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

19 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

18.88 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

94.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

1.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

4.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

6.118 million kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

20.3 billion kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

357,805 91% 91% 80% (2012)

electrification - rural areas

80% (2012)

electrification - total population

91%

electrification - urban areas

91%

population without electricity

357,805

Natural gas - consumption

2.24 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - imports

1.48 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

155,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

6,274 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

158,800 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 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

2,873,895 80.3% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

80.3% (July 2016 est.)

total

2,873,895

Telephone system

modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability digital telephone system; mobile-cellular services country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2016)

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 (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

813,546 23 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

23 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

813,546

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,227,281 90 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

90 (July 2016 est.)

total

3,227,281

Airports

29 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

5 (2017)

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 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

10 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

12

under 914 m

10 (2013)

Ports and terminals

Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan San Juan (1,484,595) Guayanilla Bay

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

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

total

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

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