ARCHIVE // PR // 1996

Puerto Rico

1996 Edition — territory

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
View Intelligence Dossier Back to 1996 CSV Excel Print All Years
Communications
Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]
paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Military - note (Defense note) [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0
Radios [time series]
2.565 million (1992 est.)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]
1,166,231 (1992 est.)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
9 note: cable television available with US programs (1990 est.)
Televisions [time series]
952,000 (1992 est.) Defense
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; cattle, chickens
Budget [time series]
revenues: $5.1 billion expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Economic aid [time series]
none
Economic overview [time series]
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector 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. Important industries include pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and processed foods. 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 3.9 million tourists in 1993.
Electricity [time series]
capacity: 4.230,000 kW production: 15.6 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,819 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates [time series]
US currency is used
Exports [time series]
$21.8 billion (1994) commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment, instruments partners: US 86.2% (1993)
Debt - external (External debt) [time series]
$NA
Fiscal year [time series]
1 July - 30 June
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $29.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]
$7,800 (1995 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]
3.3% (1995 est.)
Imports [time series]
$16.7 billion (1994) commodities: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products partners: US 69.2% (1993)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
5% (1994 est.)
Industries [time series]
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, instruments, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
2.9% (1994)
Labor force [time series]
1.2 million (1993) by occupation: government 22%, manufacturing 17%, trade 20%, construction 6%, communications and transportation 5%, other 30% (1993)
Unemployment rate [time series]
16% (1994)
Geography
Area [time series]
total area: 9,104 sq km land area: 8,959 sq km comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Climate [time series]
tropical marine, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline [time series]
501 km
Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]
current issues: the recent drought has caused water levels in reservoirs to drop and prompted water rationing for more than one-half of the population natural hazards: periodic droughts international agreements: NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
18 15 N, 66 30 W
Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]
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
Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]
none
Irrigated land [time series]
390 sq km (1989 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 8% permanent crops: 9% meadows and pastures: 41% forest and woodland: 20% other: 22%
Location [time series]
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Map references [time series]
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims [time series]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources [time series]
some copper and nickel, potential for onshore and offshore oil
Terrain [time series]
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (commonwealth associated with the US); note - there are 78 municipalities
Capital [time series]
San Juan
Constitution [time series]
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Data code [time series]
RQ
Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Executive branch [time series]
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) was elected for a four-year term by direct suffrage; election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - Pedro ROSSELLO (PNP) 50%, Victoria MUNOZ (PPD) 46%, Fernando MARTIN (PIP) 4%
Flag [time series]
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
Legislative branch (House of Representatives) [time series]
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (53 total) PNP 36, PPD 16, PIP 1
Independence [time series]
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
International organization participation [time series]
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WToO (associate)
Judicial branch [time series]
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 [time series]
based on Spanish civil code
Legislative branch [time series]
bicameral Legislative Assembly
Country name (Name of country) [time series]
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico
National holiday [time series]
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]
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
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
National Republican Party of Puerto Rico, Luis FERRE; Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Hector ACEVEDO; New Progressive Party (PNP), Pedro ROSSELLO; Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP) has been disbanded (1994); Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown
Legislative branch (Senate) [time series]
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (29 total) PNP 20, PPD 8, PIP 1
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Government type (Type of government) [time series]
commonwealth associated with the US
Legislative branch (US House of Representatives) [time series]
elections last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO); note - Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US House of Representatives
Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 25% (male 484,038; female 461,175) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,201,841; female 1,279,707) 65 years and over: 10% (male 174,274; female 217,988) (July 1996 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
15.56 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate [time series]
7.46 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]
Hispanic
Infant mortality rate [time series]
12.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Languages [time series]
Spanish, English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 75.38 years male: 71.13 years female: 79.89 years (1996 est.)
Literacy [time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88%
Nationality [time series]
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican
Net migration rate [time series]
-6.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Population [time series]
3,819,023 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.18% (1996 est.)
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.94 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
total: 23 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 8 with paved runways under 914 m: 7 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: NA km paved: 13,762 km (1982 est.) unpaved: NA km
Merchant marine [time series]
none
Ports [time series]
Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Railways [time series]
total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger service