Puerto Rico

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

LOCATION

Background: Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, Puerto Rico was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 after 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 that provided 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. A referendum held in late 2020 showed a narrow preference for 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. In 2017, Hurricane Maria was the worst storm to hit the island in eight decades, and damage was estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
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
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 501 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Elevation: highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 261 m
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use: agricultural land: 19% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 50.3% (2023 est.)
other: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 220 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population clusters tend to be found along the coast, with the largest of these in and around San Juan; an exception is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes
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

Population: total: 2,984,841 (2025 est.)
male: 1,400,771
female: 1,584,070
Nationality: noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups: 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% (2010 est.)
Languages: Languages: Spanish, English
major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 56%, Protestant 33% (largely Pentecostal), other 2%, atheist 1%, none 7% (2014 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 12.5% (male 191,649/female 184,597)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 904,406/female 986,778)
65 years and over: 24.9% (2024 est.) (male 322,698/female 429,322)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 60.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 19.4 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 41.2 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 2.4 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 46.7 years (2025 est.)
male: 44.2 years
female: 47.8 years
Population growth rate: -1.1% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.78 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 10.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population clusters tend to be found along the coast, with the largest of these in and around San Juan; an exception is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low
Urbanization: urban population: 93.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.440 million SAN JUAN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 78.9 years
female: 85.5 years
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.62 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.06 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access: improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 40.9% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 16% national budget (2025 est.)
Literacy: total population: 92.4% (2017 est.)
male: 92.4% (2017 est.)
female: 92.4% (2017 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 17 years (2023 est.)
male: 16 years (2023 est.)
female: 18 years (2023 est.)

Environmental issues: soil erosion; occasional droughts cause water shortages; industrial pollution
Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Land use: agricultural land: 19% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.6% (2023 est.)
forest: 50.3% (2023 est.)
other: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 93.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 18.833 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.49 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 11.801 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 4.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.171 million tons (2024 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 796 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 2.365 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 113.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 7.1 billion cubic meters (2022)

Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
abbreviation: PR
etymology: Christopher COLUMBUS originally named the island San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) and the capital city and main port Cuidad de Puerto Rico (Rich Port City); over time, the names were shortened and transposed
Government type: unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; note - reference Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act, 2 March 1917, as amended by Public Law 600, 3 July 1950
Dependency status: 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
Capital: name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: Spanish explorer Juan PONCE de Leon named the city in 1511 both for himself and for his name saint, Saint John
Administrative divisions: no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) are considered 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
Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code, within the framework of the US federal system
Constitution: history: previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified by referendum 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952
amendment process: proposed by a concurrent resolution of at least two-thirds majority by the total Legislative Assembly membership; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and approval by a majority of voters in a special referendum; if passed by at least three-fourths Assembly vote, the referendum can be held concurrently with the next general election; constitutional articles such as the republican form of government or the bill of rights cannot be amended
Citizenship: see United States
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
head of government: Governor Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN (since 2 January 2025)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly
election/appointment process: 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, but they can 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)
most recent election date: 5 November 2024
election results: 2024: Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN elected governor; percent of vote - Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN (PNP) 39.4%, Juan DALMAU Ramírez (PIP) 32.7%, Jesús Manuel ORTIZ (PPD) 21.1%, Javier JIMÉNEZ (PD) 6.7%, other 0.1%2020: Pedro PIERLUISI elected governor; percent of vote - Pedro PIERLUISI (PNP) 32.9%, Carlos DELGADO (PPD) 31.6%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 14.2%, Juan DALMAU (PIP) 13.7%, other 7.6%
expected date of next election: 7 November 2028
Legislative branch: legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
legislative structure: bicameral
term in office: 4 years
Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name: House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes)
number of seats: 51 (directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 11/3/2020
parties elected and seats per party: PPD (26); PNP (21); MVC (2); PIP (1); PD (1)
percentage of women in chamber: 19.6%
expected date of next election: November 2024
Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name: Senate (Senado)
number of seats: 30 (directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 11/3/2020
parties elected and seats per party: PPD (12); NP (10); MVC (2); PD (1); PIP (1); independent (1)
percentage of women in chamber: 48.1%
expected date of next election: November 2024
Judicial branch: 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
Political parties: Citizens' Victory Movement (Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana) or MVCDemocratic Party of Puerto RicoNew Progressive Party or PNP (pro-US statehood)Popular Democratic Party or PPD (pro-commonwealth)Project Dignity (Projecto Dignidad) or PDPuerto Rican Independence Party or PIP (pro-independence)Republican Party of Puerto Rico
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
Independence: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
National holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Flag: description: five equal horizontal bands of red alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side has a large five-pointed white star in the centermeaning: the star stands for the country; the three sides of the triangle stand for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters, red for the blood shed by warriors, and white for liberty, victory, and peace
National symbol(s): Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog)
National color(s): red, white, blue
National anthem(s): title: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
history: official anthem, as a US commonwealth
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the US entry
selected World Heritage Site locales: La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site

Economic overview: US Caribbean island territorial economy; hit hard by COVID-19 and hurricanes; declining labor force and job growth after a decade of continuous recession; capital-based industry and tourism; high poverty; energy import-dependent
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $141.344 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $136.926 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $136.247 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $44,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $42,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $42,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $125.842 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.3% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 2.4% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: -0.5% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.7% (2024 est.)
industry: 48% (2024 est.)
services: 51.5% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 76% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 8.2% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 14.6% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 51.9% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -42.8% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, plantains, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, oranges, mangoes/guavas, pineapples, eggs, pumpkins/squash (2023)
Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Labor force: 1.152 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 12.5% (2024 est.)
male: 14% (2024 est.)
female: 9.8% (2024 est.)
Budget: revenues: $9.268 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: $9.974 billion (2017 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2016: 50.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $65.368 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $63.563 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $59.712 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 15%, Netherlands 15%, Belgium 9%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Austria 8%, Spain 7%, China 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, hormones, orthopedic and medical appliances, sulfur compounds (2019)
Imports: Imports 2024: $53.898 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $56.889 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $52.15 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Ireland 38%, Singapore 9%, Switzerland 8%, South Korea 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines, cars (2019)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 6.898 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 18.669 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.224 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 94.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 4.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: consumption: 1.124 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 1.124 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 80,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Natural gas: consumption: 2.315 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 15.627 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 2.331 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 86.286 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 758,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 4.1 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 126 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: more than 30 TV stations; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations
Internet country code: .pr
Internet users: percent of population: 87% (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 751,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

Airports: 20 (2025)
Heliports: 40 (2025)
Ports: total ports: 14 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 3
small: 4
very small: 7
ports with oil terminals: 7
key ports: Arroyo, Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guanica, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan

Military and security forces: Puerto Rico Police; Puerto Rico (US) National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico or GNPR) (2025)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 146 (2024 est.)