| Introduction :: Puerto Rico |
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
country comparison to the world: 169
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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| 3,971,020 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 19.9% (male 404,635/female 386,733)
15-64 years:
66% (male 1,260,114/female 1,361,193)
65 years and over:
14.1% (male 240,318/female 318,027) (2009 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 36.2 years
male:
34.5 years
female:
37.9 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.34% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
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Birth rate:
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12.12 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
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Death rate:
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7.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
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Net migration rate:
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-0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 98% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.76 male(s)/female
total population:
0.92 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 8.42 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 162
male:
9.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 78.53 years
country comparison to the world: 42
male:
74.85 years
female:
82.39 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.71 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
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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)
country comparison to the world: 115
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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) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%, Amerindian 0.2%, mixed 4.4%, other 12% (2007)
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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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Education expenditures:
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NA |
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