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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
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Geographic coordinates:
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18 15 N, 66 30 W
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Map references:
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Area:
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total: 13,790 sq km
land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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501 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m
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Natural resources:
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some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
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Land use:
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arable land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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400 sq km (2003)
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Natural hazards:
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periodic droughts; hurricanes
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Environment - current issues:
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erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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3,944,259 (July 2007 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 21% (male 422,635/female 403,887)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,247,314/female 1,352,139)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 223,508/female 294,776) (2007 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 35.1 years
male: 33.4 years
female: 36.8 years (2007 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.393% (2007 est.)
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Birth rate:
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12.79 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Death rate:
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7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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-1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.046 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.922 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.758 male(s)/female
total population: 0.923 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 78.54 years
male: 74.6 years
female: 82.67 years (2007 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.77 children born/woman (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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7,397 (1997)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
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Ethnic groups:
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white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
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Languages:
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Spanish, English
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
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This page was last updated on 24 January, 2008
- The Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook - |
