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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.pr

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

404 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

1 million (2007)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2005)

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: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat

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

1.038 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3.354 million (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

32 (2006)

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 (FY99/00)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

US dollar (USD)

Debt - external [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 far 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 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again in 2006-07.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

22.17 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

23.84 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

the US dollar is used

Exports [time series]

$46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2006)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$NA (2007 est.)

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

$72.61 billion (2007 est.)

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

agriculture: 1% industry: 45% services: 54% (2002 est.)

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

$18,400 (2007 est.)

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

-1.2% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.5% (2003 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.3 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

736.2 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

736.2 million cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

215,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

10,610 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

230,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

1,354 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

12% (2002)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 13,790 sq km land: 8,870 sq km water: 4,921 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 1,339 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 (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3.69% permanent crops: 5.59% other: 90.72% (2005)

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]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 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 (territory of the US with commonwealth status); 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]

name: San Juan geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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]

unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

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) head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January 2005) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) election results: Luis FORTUNO elected governor with 52.8% of the vote, he will take office on 2 January 2009

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 (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

International organization participation [time series]

Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU

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 within the US Federal system of justice

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held November 2012); House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 22, PPD 5; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA 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 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1

National holiday [time series]

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)

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

National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP [Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood); Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA] (pro-commonwealth); Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)

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

Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal; island residents 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. 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 not to alter the existing political status.

Military

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 30,760 female: 29,469 (2008 est.)

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: 20.5% (male 415,141/female 396,782) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,254,416/female 1,358,229) 65 years and over: 13.5% (male 229,727/female 303,833) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

12.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.88 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed 4.2%, other 6.7% (2000 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

7,397 (1997)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 8.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 9.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish, English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.58 years male: 74.64 years female: 82.73 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.1% male: 93.9% female: 94.4% (2002 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 35.6 years male: 33.8 years female: 37.3 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

3,958,128 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.369% (2008 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: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.76 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work

Transportation

Airports [time series]

29 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 10 (2007)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 by type: roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: 3 (US 3) registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Guayanilla, Mayaguez, San Juan

Railways [time series]

total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 26,186 km paved: 24,877 km (includes 427 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,309 km (2007)