Puerto Rico

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

76 (2000)

Internet country code

.pr

Internet users

600,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 72, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

2.7 million (1997)

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: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; submarine cable to US

Telephones - main lines in use

1.322 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

169,265 (1996)

Television broadcast stations

18 (plus three stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service) (1997)

Televisions

1.021 million (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $6.7 billion expenditures: $9.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00)

Currency

US dollar (USD)

Currency code

USD

Debt - external

$NA

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

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, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million tourists in 1999. Growth fell off in 2001, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy.

Electricity - consumption

19.062 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

20.497 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 99% hydro: 1% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$38.5 billion f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 88% (2000)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP

purchasing power parity - $43.9 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1% industry: 45% services: 54% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $11,200 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.2% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$27 billion c.i.f. (2000)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 60% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.7% (2000 est.)

Labor force

1.3 million (2000) (2000)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

9.5% (2000) (2000)

Area

total: 9,104 sq km water: 145 sq km land: 8,959 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

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

400 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 3.72% permanent crops: 5.07% other: 91.21% (1998 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 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 (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

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

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 George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001) election results: Sila M. CALDERON (PPD) elected governor; percent of vote - 48.6% note: residents of Puerto Rico do not vote for US president and vice president elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004) head of government: Governor Sila M. CALDERON (since 2 January 2001) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature

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

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)

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)

Legal system

based on Spanish civil code and adapted US state laws

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 (51 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPD 19, PNP 8, PIP 1, other 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPD 30, PNP 20, 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 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004); results - percent of vote by party - PPD 49.3%; seats by party - PPD 1; Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA elected resident commissioner elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004)

National holiday

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Political parties and leaders

National Democratic Party [Celeste BENITEZ]; National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Luis FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP (pro-US statehood) [Carlos PESQUERA]; Popular Democratic Party or PPD (pro-commonwealth) [Sila M. CALDERON]; Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP (pro-independence) [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN; Armed Forces of Popular Resistance; Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution

Suffrage

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

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 and 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 to retain commonwealth status.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Military branches

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.5% (male 476,726; female 453,782) 15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,249,850; female 1,353,438) 65 years and over: 10.7% (male 180,053; female 244,139) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

15.04 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

7.82 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

7,397 (1997)

Infant mortality rate

9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

Spanish, English

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.96 years female: 80.66 years (2002 est.) male: 71.5 years

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

-2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

3,957,988 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

0.51% (2002 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

30 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 19 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 5 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (2002)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,046 GRT/22,582 DWT ships by type: container 1 (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, note: rural, narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger service (2001)

Waterways

none