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The World Factbook 2002

         
  Puerto Rico  
Flag of Puerto Rico
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2002
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2002.


This page was last updated on 1 January 2002


Map of Puerto Rico

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing
   Introduction    Puerto Rico
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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.
   Geography    Puerto Rico
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
Definition Field Listing
total: 9,104 sq km
water: 145 sq km
land: 8,959 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
501 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly mountains, with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 4%
permanent crops: 5%
other: 91% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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
   People    Puerto Rico
Population:
Definition Field Listing
3,957,988 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.51% (2002 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing
15.04 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing
7.82 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing
9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing
total population: 75.96 years
female: 80.66 years (2002 est.)
male: 71.5 years
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.9 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing
7,397 (1997)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Spanish, English
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 90%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
   Government    Puerto Rico
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
commonwealth associated with the US
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
commonwealth
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
San Juan
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on Spanish civil code and adapted US state laws
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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 pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Economy    Puerto Rico
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $43.9 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.2% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $11,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing
5.7% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing
1.3 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing
9.5% (2000)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY99/00)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing
20.497 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 99.22%
hydro: 0.78%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing
19.062 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Exports:
Definition Field Listing
$38.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 88% (2000)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing
$27 billion (c.i.f., 2000)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 60% (2000)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
US dollar (USD)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
USD
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 July - 30 June
   Communications    Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing
1.322 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing
169,265 (1996)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 72, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
Definition Field Listing
2.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
18 (plus three stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service) (1997)
Televisions:
Definition Field Listing
1.021 million (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.pr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
76 (2000)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing
200,000 (2000)
   Transportation    Puerto Rico
Railways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge,
note: rural, narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger service (2001)
Highways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 14,400 km
paved: 14,400 km
unpaved: 0 km (1996)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,046 GRT/22,582 DWT
ships by type: container 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
30 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 5 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 9 (2001)
   Military    Puerto Rico
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the US
   Transnational Issues    Puerto Rico
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002


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