|
|
Link to this Site For Free. Information in
this Page is Free!
|
Background:
|
Populated for
centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by
the Spanish Crown in 1493 following 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. |
|
Location:
|
Caribbean,
island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
18 15 N, 66
30 W |
|
Map references:
|
Central
America and the Caribbean |
|
Area:
|
total:
13,790 sq km
land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly less
than three times the size of Rhode Island |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
|
501 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
|
Climate:
|
tropical
marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation |
|
Terrain:
|
mostly
mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains
precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most
coastal areas |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest
point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
some copper
and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil |
|
Land use:
|
arable
land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72% (2005) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
400 sq km
(2003) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
periodic
droughts; hurricanes |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
erosion;
occasional drought causing water shortages |
|
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 |
|
Population:
|
3,944,259
(July 2007 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14
years: 21% (male 422,635/female 403,887)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,247,314/female 1,352,139)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 223,508/female
294,776) (2007 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total:
35.1 years
male: 33.4 years
female: 36.8 years (2007 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
0.393% (2007
est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
12.79
births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
7.78
deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
-1.09
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.046 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.922 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.758 male(s)/female
total population: 0.923 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
total:
7.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
|
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total
population: 78.54 years
male: 74.6 years
female: 82.67 years (2007 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.77 children
born/woman (2007 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
NA |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
7,397 (1997)
|
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
NA |
|
Nationality:
|
noun:
Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
white (mostly
Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian
0.2%, mixed and other 10.9% |
|
Religions:
|
Roman
Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15% |
|
Languages:
|
Spanish,
English |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.) |
|
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 |
|
Government type:
|
commonwealth
|
|
Capital:
|
name:
San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time) |
|
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 |
|
Independence:
|
none
(territory of the US with commonwealth status) |
|
National holiday:
|
US
Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution
Day, 25 July (1952) |
|
Constitution:
|
ratified 3
March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective
25 July 1952 |
|
Legal system:
|
based on
Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of
justice |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years of
age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not
vote in US presidential elections |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief of
state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20
January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20
January 2001)
head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA
(since 2 January 2005)
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; governor
elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term
limits); election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held
in November 2008)
election results: Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA elected
governor; percent of vote - 48.4% |
|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral
Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27
seats - currently 29; members are directly elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of
Representatives (51 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next
to be held November 2008); House of Representatives - last
held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party -
PNP 43.4%, PPD 40.3%, PIP 9.4%; seats by party - PNP 17, PPD
9, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - PNP 46.3%, PPD 43.1%, PIP 9.7%; seats by party - PNP
32, PPD 18, PIP 1
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 2 November 2004
(next to be held in November 2008); results - percent of
vote by party - PNP 48.6%, other 51.4%; seats by party - PNP
1 |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Supreme
Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of
two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court
(justices for all these courts appointed by the governor
with the consent of the Senate) |
|
Political parties and leaders:
|
National
Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican Party
of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or
PNP [Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood); Popular Democratic
Party or PPD [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA] (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); 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 |
|
International organization participation:
|
Caricom
(observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO
(associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
none
(territory of the US with commonwealth status) |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US:
|
none
(territory of the US with commonwealth status) |
|
Flag 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 initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to
the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle
reversed |
|
Economy - overview:
|
Puerto Rico
has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean
region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed
agriculture as the primary locus 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. 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
nearly 5 million tourists in 2004. Growth fell off in
2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy,
recovered in 2004-05, but declined again in 2006. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
$75.82
billion (2006 est.) |
|
GDP (official exchange rate):
|
NA (2006
est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate:
|
0.5% (2006
est.) |
|
GDP - per capita (PPP):
|
$19,300 (2006
est.) |
|
GDP - composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2002 est.) |
|
Labor force:
|
1.3 million
(2000) |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture: 3%
industry: 20%
services: 77% (2000 est.) |
|
Unemployment rate:
|
12% (2002)
|
|
Population below poverty line:
|
NA% |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
|
lowest
10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
|
6.5% (2003
est.) |
|
Budget:
|
revenues:
$6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY99/00) |
|
Agriculture - products:
|
sugarcane,
coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products,
chickens |
|
Industries:
|
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products,
tourism |
|
Industrial production growth rate:
|
NA% |
|
Electricity - production:
|
24.14 billion
kWh (2004) |
|
Electricity - production by source:
|
fossil
fuel: 99.2%
hydro: 0.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
|
Electricity - consumption:
|
22.45 billion
kWh (2004) |
|
Electricity - exports:
|
0 kWh (2004)
|
|
Electricity - imports:
|
0 kWh (2004)
|
|
Oil - production:
|
721.8 bbl/day
(2004 est.) |
|
Oil - consumption:
|
234,000
bbl/day (2004 est.) |
|
Oil - exports:
|
NA bbl/day
|
|
Oil - imports:
|
NA bbl/day
|
|
Natural gas - production:
|
0 cu m (2004
est.) |
|
Natural gas - consumption:
|
680 million
cu m (2004 est.) |
|
Natural gas - exports:
|
0 cu m (2004
est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports:
|
680 million
cu m (2004 est.) |
|
Exports:
|
$46.9 billion
f.o.b. (2001) |
|
Exports - commodities:
|
chemicals,
electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage
concentrates, medical equipment |
|
Exports - partners:
|
US 90.3%, UK
1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2006) |
|
Imports:
|
$29.1 billion
c.i.f. (2001) |
|
Imports - commodities:
|
chemicals,
machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum
products |
|
Imports - partners:
|
US 55.0%,
Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2006) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$NA |
|
Economic aid - recipient:
|
$NA |
|
Currency (code):
|
US dollar (USD)
|
|
Currency code:
|
USD |
|
Exchange rates:
|
the US dollar
is used |
|
Fiscal year:
|
1 July - 30
June |
|
Communications |
Puerto Rico |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
|
1.112 million
(2004) |
|
Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
2.682 million
(2004) |
|
Telephone system:
|
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; cellular
telephone service
international: country code - 1-787, 939; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat; submarine cable to US |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM 74, FM 53,
shortwave 0 (2005) |
|
Radios:
|
2.7 million
(1997) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
32 (2006)
|
|
Televisions:
|
1.021 million
(1997) |
|
Internet country code:
|
.pr |
|
Internet hosts:
|
404 (2006)
|
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
|
76 (2000)
|
|
Internet users:
|
1 million
(2005) |
|
Transportation |
Puerto Rico |
|
Airports:
|
30 (2006)
|
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total:
17
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (2006) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total:
13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (2006) |
|
Railways:
|
total:
96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2005) |
|
Roadways:
|
total:
25,735 km
paved: 24,353 km (includes 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,382 km (2005) |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total:
3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 77,177 GRT/50,138 DWT
by type: roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines 1) (2006) |
|
Ports and terminals:
|
Las Mareas,
Mayaguez, San Juan |
|
Military branches:
|
no regular
indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard,
Police Force |
|
Military - note:
|
defense is
the responsibility of the US |
|
Transnational Issues |
Puerto Rico |
|
Disputes - international:
|
increasing
numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic
cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for
work |
Information gathered from the Central Intelligence Agency
|
|
