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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

76 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.pr

Internet users [time series]

600,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 72, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

2.7 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

1.322 million (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

169,265 (1996)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Televisions [time series]

1.021 million (1997)

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, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

US dollar (USD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

USD

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, 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 [time series]

19.062 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

20.497 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

the US dollar is used

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 88% (2000)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

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

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

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

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.2% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 60% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

5.7% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.3 million (2000) (2000)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

9.5% (2000) (2000)

Geography

Area [time series]

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

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 [time series]

erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

Geographic coordinates [time series]

18 15 N, 66 30 W

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]

400 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

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 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 (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 initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

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; 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 [time series]

based on Spanish civil code and adapted US state laws

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 (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 [time series]

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Introduction

Background [time series]

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

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the US

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

People

Age structure [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

7,397 (1997)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

Spanish, English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

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

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]

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

Population [time series]

3,957,988 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.51% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Sex ratio [time series]

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 [time series]

1.9 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

30 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

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

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, note: rural, narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger service (2001)

Waterways [time series]

none