Puerto Rico

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

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

Currency

1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents

Debt-external

$NA

Economic aid

none

Economy-overview

Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has 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 for the island, with estimated arrivals of nearly 4 million tourists in 1993. The construction sector has been a key factor in recent economic growth.

Electricity-capacity

4.465 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

4,548 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

17.34 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

US currency is used

Exports

total value: $22.9 billion (f.o.b. 1996) commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment partners: US 88% (1995 est.)

Fiscal year

1 July-30 June Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$32.9 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$8,600 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

3% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $19.1 billion (c.i.f. 1996) commodities: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products partners: US 62% (1995 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (1994 est.)

Industries

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism

Inflation rate-consumer price index

5.5% (1997 est.)

Labor force

total: 1.3 million (1996) by occupation: government 19%, manufacturing 13%, trade 17%, construction 5%, other 32%, unemployed 14% (1996)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0 note: there were 118 radio stations in 1995

Radios

2.6 million (1994 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

1.315 million (1994 est.)

Television broadcast stations

15 (1995) note: cable television available with US programs (1990 est.)

Televisions

973,000 (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

13% (FY96/97 est.)

Area

total: 9,104 sq km land: 8,959 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 extremes

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

Environment-current issues

occasional drought has caused water levels in reservoirs to drop and has prompted water rationing

Environment-international agreements

party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA

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

390 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 4% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 16% other: 49% (1993 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

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

Administrative divisions

none (commonwealth associated with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities

Constitution

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

Country name

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico

Data code

RQ

Dependency status

commonwealth associated with the US

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Diplomatic representation in the 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) cabinet: NA elections: governor of Puerto Rico elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: Pedro ROSSELLO reelected governor of Puerto Rico; percent of vote - NA

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 based on the US flag

Government type

commonwealth

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 consists of the Senate (28 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (54 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000); House of Representatives-last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PNP 19, PPD 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PNP 37, PPD 16, PIP 1 note: Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000); results - percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO)

National capital

San Juan

National holiday

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

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 Independence Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Suffrage

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

Military branches

paramilitary National Guard, Police Force

Military-note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Age structure

0-14 years: 24% (male 483,268; female 461,632) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,206,385; female 1,310,406) 65 years and over: 11% (male 171,889; female 223,490) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

16.7 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

8.08 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Hispanic

Infant mortality rate

12.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Spanish, English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.2 years male: 69.58 years female: 79.11 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88% (1980 est.)

Nationality

noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican

Net migration rate

-1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

3,857,070 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

0.68% (1998 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.03 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

none QATAR

Airports

30 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways

total: 21 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 6 (1997 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways

total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 7 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 14,400 km paved: 14,400 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

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