2019 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

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

Highest Point

Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

Lowest Point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Mean Elevation

261 m

Environment Current Issues

soil erosion; occasional droughts cause water shortages; industrial pollution

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

Agricultural Land

22% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

6.6% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

5.6% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

9.8% (2011 est.)

Forest

63.2% (2011 est.)

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

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

0 14 Years

15.25% (male 256,866 /female 245,518)

15 24 Years

13.39% (male 224,434 /female 216,664)

25 54 Years

37.99% (male 595,818 /female 655,890)

55 64 Years

13.14% (male 198,577 /female 234,490)

65 Years And Over

20.23% (male 286,630 /female 379,739) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

8 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Death Rate

8.9 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

21.7 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

4.6 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

49.6 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

27.9 (2015 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved Rural

93.6% of population

Improved Total

93.6% of population

Improved Urban

93.6% of population

Unimproved Rural

6.4% of population

Unimproved Total

6.4% of population (2001 est.)

Unimproved Urban

6.4% of population

Education Expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2014)

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% (2010 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

5.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Spanish, English

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

84.5 years

Male

77.7 years

Total Population

81 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

93.8% (2015)

Male

92.8%

Total Population

93.3%

Major Infectious Diseases

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

Major Urban Areas Population

2.451 million SAN JUAN (capital) (2019)

Maternal Mortality Rate

21 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

43.9 years

Male

40.2 years

Total

42.2 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Puerto Rican

Noun

Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)

Net Migration Rate

-16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Physicians Density

2.89 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

3,294,626 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

-1.7% (2018 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved Rural

99.3% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Total

99.3% of population (2015 est.)

Improved Urban

99.3% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Rural

0.7% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Total

0.7% of population (2015 est.)

Unimproved Urban

0.7% of population (2015 est.)

School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education

Female

17 years (2015)

Male

15 years

Total

16 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.05 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

1.04 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.91 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

0.85 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.75 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.9 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.21 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

23.1% (2012 est.)

Male

28.9%

Total

26.6%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

-0.14% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

93.6% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

none (territory of 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

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

Amendments

proposed by a concurrent resolution of at least two-thirds majority by the total Legislative Assembly membership; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and approval by a majority of voters in a special referendum; if passed by at least three-fourths Assembly vote, the referendum can be held concurrently with the next general election; constitutional articles such as the republican form of government or the bill of rights cannot be amended; amended 1952 (2018)

History

previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified by referendum 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952

Country Name

Abbreviation

PR

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; 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 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 Wanda VAZQUEZ (since 7 August 2019)

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

Government Type

republican form of government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government

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 Courts

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

Description

bicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa consists of: Senate or Senado (30 seats; 16 members directly elected in 8 2-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 14 at-large members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) 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; composition - men 23, women 7, percent of women 23.3% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 34, PPD 16, PIP 1; composition - men 11, women 4, percent of women 26.7%; total Legislative Assembly percent of women 16% 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 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)

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)

National Anthem

Lyrics Music

Manuel Fernandez JUNCOS/Felix Astol ARTES

Name

"La Borinquena" (The Puerto Rican)

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 [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)

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

9.974 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

9.268 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-0.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

4%

31 December 2017

5%

Current Account Balance

2016

$0

2017

$0

Debt External

31 December 2009

$52.98 billion

31 December 2010

$56.82 billion

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 11.5% in December 2017. 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 remained steady at 92.5% of GDP in 2017, 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.Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico square on in September 2017, causing electrical power outages to 90% of the territory, as well as extensive loss of housing and infrastructure and contamination of potable water. Despite massive efforts, more than 40% of the territory remained without electricity as of yearend 2017. As a result of the destruction, many Puerto Ricans have emigrated to the US mainland.

Exchange Rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

2016

$73.2 billion

2017

$73.17 billion

Exports Commodities

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

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

117.8% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

12.2% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

87.7% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-129.8% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

11.7% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

0.5% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

0.8% (2017 est.)

Industry

50.1% (2017 est.)

Services

49.1% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$104.2 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$38,800

2016

$39,000

2017

$39,400

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$134.9 billion

2016

$133.1 billion

2017

$130 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

-1%

2016

-1.3%

2017

-2.4%

Imports

2016

$48.86 billion

2017

$49.01 billion

Imports Commodities

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

Industrial Production Growth Rate

-2.1% (2017 est.)

Industries

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

-0.3%

2017

1.8%

Labor Force

1.139 million (December 2014 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

2.1%

Industry

19%

Services

79% (2005 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Public Debt

2016

50.1% of GDP

2017

51.6% of GDP

Taxes And Other Revenues

8.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

11.8%

2017

10.8%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

19.85 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

19.48 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

94% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

6.294 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

20.95 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

1.303 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

1.303 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

98,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

18,420 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

127,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

20 (2017 est.)

Total

660,100

Broadcast Media

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

Internet Country Code

.pr

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

80.3% (July 2016 est.)

Total

2,873,895

Telephone System

Domestic

digital telephone system; mobile-cellular services; fixed-line 23 per 100 and mobile-cullular 101 per 100 persons (2018)

General Assessment

modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability; havoc caused by the hurricane in 2017 has left the island lagging behind the mainland US both economically and technologically; competition among network operators helps with growth; availability of LTE coverage increasing to 90% (2018)

International

country code - 1-787, 939; landing points for the GTMO-PR, AMX-1, BRUSA, GCN, PCCS, SAm-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Americas-II, Antillas, ARCOS, SMPR-1, and Taino-Carib submarine cables providing connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

23 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

783,739

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

101 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

3,389,402

Airports

29 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

2 (2017)

2 438 To 3 047 M

1 (2017)

914 To 1 523 M

7 (2017)

Over 3 047 M

2 (2017)

Total

17 (2017)

Under 914 M

5 (2017)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

1 524 To 2 437 M

1 (2013)

914 To 1 523 M

1 (2013)

Total

12 (2013)

Under 914 M

10 (2013)

Ports And Terminals

Container Port's Teus

San Juan (1,210,503) (2015)

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)

Military And Security Forces

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

Military Note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes International

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