ARCHIVE // PR // 2015

Puerto Rico

2015 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
more than 30 TV stations operating; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations (2007)
Internet country code [time series]
.pr
Internet users [time series]
total: 2 million | percent of population: 55.0% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2008)
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; mobile-cellular services | international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2011)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 820,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 3.2 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 89 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
34 (2008)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Budget [time series]
revenues: $8.733 billion | expenditures: $9.128 billion (2014 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-0.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
3.3% (31 December 2014 est.) | 3.3% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168
Debt - external [time series]
$56.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | $52.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Puerto Rico had one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region until 2006, however, growth has been negative for each of the last nine years. The down-turn coincided with the phase-out of tax preferences that had led US firms to invest heavily in the Commonwealth since the 1950s, and a steep rise in the price of oil, which generates most of the island's electricity. Diminished job opportunities prompted a sharp rise in outmigration, as many Puerto Ricans sought jobs on the US mainland. Unemployment reached 16% in 2011, but declined to 13.7% in December 2014. US minimum wage laws apply in Puerto Rico, hampering job expansion. Per capita income is about half that of the US mainland. The industrial sector greatly exceeds agriculture as the locus of economic activity and income. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Puerto Rico's merchandise trade surplus is exceptionally strong, with exports nearly 50% greater than imports, and its current account surplus amounts to about 10% of GDP. Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government. The gap between revenues and expenditures narrowed to 0.2% of GDP in 2014, although analysts believe that not all expenditures have been accounted for in the budget and a better accounting of costs would yield an overall deficit of roughly 5% of GDP in 2014. Public debt rose to nearly 94% of GDP in 2014, the equivalent of $15,600 per person, or nearly three times the per capita debt of the State of Connecticut, the highest in the US. Much of that debt was issued by state-run schools and public corporations, including water and electric utilities. In June 2015, Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla announced that the island could not pay back at least $73 billion in debt and that it would seek a deal with its creditors.
Exchange rates [time series]
the US dollar is used
Exports [time series]
$68.2 billion (2014 est.) | $68.01 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 50
Exports - commodities [time series]
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Fiscal year [time series]
1 July - 30 June
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$61.46 billion (2013 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$61.46 billion (2013 est.) | $61.83 billion (2012 est.) | $63.61 billion (2011 est.) | note: data are in 2010 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 101
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 90.1% | government consumption: 15.8% | investment in fixed capital: 12.9% | investment in inventories: 0.2% | exports of goods and services: 108.4% | imports of goods and services: -127.4% | (2014 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 0.8% | industry: 50.7% | services: 48.3% (2014 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$28,500 (2013 est.) | $28,700 (2012 est.) | $29,500 (2011 est.) | note: data are in 2010 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 62
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
-0.6% (2013 est.) | -2.8% (2012 est.) | -1.9% (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% | highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$47.92 billion (2014 est.) | $49 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 54
Imports - commodities [time series]
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
1.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123
Industries [time series]
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
0.9% (2014 est.) | 0.9% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55
Labor force [time series]
1.139 million (December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 141
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 2.1% | industry: 19% | services: 79% (2005)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Public debt [time series]
97.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | 94.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
14.2% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201
Unemployment rate [time series]
13.7% (December 2014 est.) | 15% (December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 145
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
26.81 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 181
Electricity - consumption [time series]
18.62 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
96.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
1.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
1.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 194
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
5.616 million kW (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - production [time series]
20.03 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
1.663 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169
Natural gas - imports [time series]
1.663 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 121
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
133,700 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 72
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
2,520 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
149,700 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 13,791 sq km | land: 8,870 sq km | water: 4,921 sq km | country comparison to the world: 163
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]
220.4 sq km (2005)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 22% | arable land 6.6%; permanent crops 5.6%; permanent pasture 9.8% | forest: 63.2% | other: 14.8% (2011 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]
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 in north; precipitous mountains to the 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)
Citizenship [time series]
see United States
Constitution [time series]
previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952; note - constitutional amendments introduced in 2012 were rejected in a referendum (2015)
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)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009) | head of government: Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla (since 2 January 2013) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly | elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of Puerto Rico do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held in November 2016) | election results: Alejandro GARCIA Padilla elected governor; percent of vote - Alejandro GARCIA Padilla (Democratic Party) 48.2%, Luis FORTUNO (PNP) 47.1%, other 4.7%
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
five equal horizontal bands of red (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; the white star symbolizes Puerto Rico; the three sides of the triangle signify the executive, legislative and judicial parts of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red symbolizes the blood shed by warriors, while white represents liberty, victory, and peace | note: 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]
AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 8 associate justices) | judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by majority Senate vote; judges serve until compulsory retirement at age 70 | subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts | note: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Judiciary Act of 2003 reformed the judicial system
Legal system [time series]
civil law system based on the Spanish civil code and within the framework of the US federal system
Legislative branch [time series]
description: bicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa consists of the Senate or Senado (27 seats; 16 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 11 at-large members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (51 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) | elections: Senate - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 8 November 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 8 November 2016) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 18, PNP 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 28, PNP 23 | note: Puerto Rico directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 4-year term as a commissioner to the US House of Representatives; the commissioner can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote; election of commissioner last held on 6 November 2012 (next to be held on 8 November 2016)
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "La Borinquena" (The Puerto Rican) | lyrics/music: Manuel Fernandez JUNCOS/Felix Astol ARTES | note: music adopted 1952, lyrics adopted 1977; the local anthem's name is a reference to the indigenous name of the island, Borinquen; the music was originally composed as a dance in 1867 and gained popularity in the early 20th century; there is some evidence that the music was written by Francisco RAMIREZ; as a commonwealth of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)
National holiday [time series]
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
National symbol(s) [time series]
Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog); national colors: red, white, blue
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS] | National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Carlos MENDEZ] | New Progressive Party or PNP [Pedro PIERLUISI] (pro-US statehood) | Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Alejandro Garcia PADILLA] (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)
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal; note - 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 Christopher 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 with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood. Economic recession on the island has led to a net population loss since about 2005, as large numbers of residents moved to the US mainland. The trend has accelerated since 2010; in 2014, Puerto Rico experienced a net population loss to the mainland of 64,000, more than double the net loss of 26,000 in 2010.
Military
Manpower fit for military service [time series]
males age 16-49: 700,443 | females age 16-49: 786,035 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]
male: 30,517 | female: 29,010 (2010 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 and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 17.72% (male 325,944/female 311,520) | 15-24 years: 14.3% (male 263,337/female 251,215) | 25-54 years: 38.39% (male 661,124/female 720,160) | 55-64 years: 12.1% (male 197,073/female 238,351) | 65 years and over: 17.5% (male 271,633/female 358,000) (2015 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
10.86 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Death rate [time series]
8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 50% | youth dependency ratio: 28.3% | elderly dependency ratio: 21.7% | potential support ratio: 4.6% (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 93.6% of population | rural: 93.6% of population | total: 93.6% of population | urban: 6.4% of population | rural: 6.4% of population | total: 6.4% of population (2001 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
NA
Ethnic groups [time series]
white 75.8%, black/African American 12.4%, other 8.5% (includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and others), mixed 3.3% | note: 99% of the population is Latino (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 7.57 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 8.38 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 6.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157
Languages [time series]
Spanish, English
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 79.25 years | male: 75.62 years | female: 82.94 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 48
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 93.3% | male: 92.8% | female: 93.8% (2015 est.)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
SAN JUAN (capital) 2.463 million (2015)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
14 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140
Median age [time series]
total: 39.1 years | male: 37.1 years | female: 41 years (2015 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) | adjective: Puerto Rican
Net migration rate [time series]
-8.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208
Population [time series]
3,598,357 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131
Population growth rate [time series]
-0.6% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 227
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 99.3% of population | rural: 99.3% of population | total: 99.3% of population | urban: 0.7% of population | rural: 0.7% of population | total: 0.7% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 15 years | male: 14 years | female: 15 years (2013)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female | total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.64 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 26.6% | male: 28.9% | female: 23.1% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 93.6% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: -0.21% annual rate of change (2010-15 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 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 119
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 17 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 | 914 to 1,523 m: 7 | under 914 m: 5 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 12 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | 10 (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan | container port(s) (TEUs): San Juan (1,484,595) | LNG terminal(s) (import): Guayanilla Bay
Roadways [time series]
total: 26,862 km (includes 454 km of expressways) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 99