ARCHIVE // PR // 1999

Puerto Rico

1999 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0 note: there were 118 radio stations in 1995
Radios [time series]
2.6 million (1994 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]
1.389 million (1996 est.)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
18 (in addition, there are three stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service) (1997)
Televisions [time series]
973,000 (1994 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Budget [time series]
revenues: $6.7 billion expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY 1999/2000
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]
$NA
Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]
$NA
Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]
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. Construction and tourism were the leading sectors in economic growth in 1998.
Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]
18.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]
18.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]
fossil fuel: 98.36% hydro: 1.64% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates [time series]
US currency is used
Exports [time series]
$30.3 billion (f.o.b. 1998)
Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]
US 88% (1997 est.)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 July--30 June
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity--$34.7 billion (1998 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]
purchasing power parity?$9,000 (1998 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]
3.1% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$21.8 billion (c.i.f. 1996)
Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]
US 62% (1997 est.)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
5% (1994 est.)
Industries [time series]
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
5.7% (1998 est.)
Labor force [time series]
1.3 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]
government 19%, manufacturing 13%, trade 17%, construction 5%, other 32%, unemployed 14% (1996)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
13% (FY96/97 est.)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 9,104 sq km land: 8,959 sq km water: 145 sq km
Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]
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
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
18 15 N, 66 30 W
Geography - note (Geography--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
Irrigated land [time series]
390 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 4% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 16% other: 49% (1993 est.)
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 hazards [time series]
periodic droughts; hurricanes
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
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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 [time series]
San Juan
Constitution [time series]
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Data code [time series]
RQ
Dependency status [time series]
commonwealth associated with the US
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (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: 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 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: Pedro ROSSELLO reelected governor; percent of vote--51.1%
Flag (Flag description) [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
Government type [time series]
commonwealth
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)
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 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 nonvoting 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 holiday [time series]
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
National Republican Party of
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN; Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution; Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces of Popular Resistance
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Military
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Military - note (Military--note) [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the US
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 24% (male 482,111; female 459,940) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,220,682; female 1,323,787) 65 years and over: 11% (male 173,133; female 227,999) (1999 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
15.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate [time series]
7.87 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Hispanic
Infant mortality rate [time series]
10.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages [time series]
Spanish, English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 75.06 years male: 70.95 years female: 79.41 years (1999 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88% (1980 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican
Net migration rate [time series]
-2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population [time series]
3,887,652 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.59% (1999 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: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.94 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
30 (1998 est.)
Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]
total: 21 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]
total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 14,400 km paved: 14,400 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine [time series]
none
Ports (Ports and harbors) [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