1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 9,104 sq km land: 8,959 sq km water: 145 sq km
Area-comparative
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Climate
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline
501 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Environment-current issues
occasional drought has caused water levels in reservoirs to drop and has prompted water rationing
Environment-international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
18 15 N, 66 30 W
Geography-note
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
390 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 4% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 16% other: 49% (1993 est.)
Location
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
periodic droughts
Natural resources
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Terrain
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 24% (male 483,268; female 461,632) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,206,385; female 1,310,406) 65 years and over: 11% (male 171,889; female 223,490) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
16.7 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
8.08 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Hispanic
Infant mortality rate
12.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Spanish, English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 74.2 years male: 69.58 years female: 79.11 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88% (1980 est.)
Nationality
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican
Net migration rate
-1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
3,857,070 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
0.68% (1998 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.03 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (commonwealth associated with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities
Constitution
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Country name
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Data code
RQ
Dependency status
commonwealth associated with the US
Executive branch
chief of state: President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (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: governor of Puerto Rico 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 of Puerto Rico; percent of vote - NA
Flag description
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
commonwealth
Independence
none (commonwealth associated with the US)
International organization participation
Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WToO (associate) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (commonwealth associated with the US) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Judicial branch
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 Political parties and leaders: National Republican Party of Puerto Rico, Luis FERRE; Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Hector ACEVEDO; New Progressive Party (PNP), Pedro ROSSELLO; Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown Political pressure groups and leaders: Armed Forces for National Liberation (FALN); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution; Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces of Popular Resistance
Legal system
based on Spanish civil code
Legislative branch
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 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 capital
San Juan
National holiday
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Economy
Agriculture-products
livestock products, chickens; sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas
Budget
revenues: $5.1 billion expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95)
Currency
1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Debt-external
$NA
Economic aid
none
Economy-overview
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. The construction sector has been a key factor in recent economic growth.
Electricity-capacity
4.465 million kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
4,548 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
17.34 billion kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
US currency is used
Exports
total value: $22.9 billion (f.o.b. 1996) commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment partners: US 88% (1995 est.)
Fiscal year
1 July-30 June Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$32.9 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$8,600 (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
3% (1997 est.)
Imports
total value: $19.1 billion (c.i.f. 1996) commodities: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products partners: US 62% (1995 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
5% (1994 est.)
Industries
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism
Inflation rate-consumer price index
5.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force
total: 1.3 million (1996) by occupation: government 19%, manufacturing 13%, trade 17%, construction 5%, other 32%, unemployed 14% (1996)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0 note: there were 118 radio stations in 1995
Radios
2.6 million (1994 est.)
Telephone system
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
Telephones
1.315 million (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations
15 (1995) note: cable television available with US programs (1990 est.)
Televisions
973,000 (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
13% (FY96/97 est.)
Transportation
Airports
30 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 6 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 7 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 14,400 km paved: 14,400 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Merchant marine
none
Railways
total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger service
Military and Security
Military branches
paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none