Countries
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Disputes - international: increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work
Military branches: no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 700,443
females age 16-49: 786,035
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,517
female: 29,010
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Airports: 29
country comparison to the world: 119
Roadways: total: 26,670 km
country comparison to the world: 102
Ports and terminals: Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Telephones - main lines in use: 891,900
country comparison to the world: 84
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2.934 million
country comparison to the world: 124
Telephone system: 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; mobile-cellular services
Broadcast media: more than 30 TV stations operating; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations
Internet country code: .pr
Internet hosts: 458
country comparison to the world: 184
Internet users: 1 million
country comparison to the world: 101
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region, however, growth has been negative for the past four years, and unemployment has risen to nearly 16% in 2011. The industrial sector has surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Mainland 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 more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government.
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
Government type: commonwealth
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); 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
Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code and within the framework of the US federal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Ethnic groups: white (mostly Spanish origin) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%, Amerindian 0.2%, mixed 4.4%, other 12%
Languages: Spanish, English
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Population: 3,690,923
country comparison to the world: 129
Median age: total: 37.8 years
male: 36 years
female: 39.5 years
Population growth rate: 0.236%
country comparison to the world: 173
Net migration rate: -0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 147
Urbanization: urban population: 99% of total population
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change
Major cities - population: SAN JUAN (capital) 2.73 million
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.07 years
country comparison to the world: 44
male: 75.47 years
female: 82.84 years
Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born/woman
country comparison to the world: 175
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4%
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 25.5%
country comparison to the world: 26
male: 28.6%
female: 22%
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Land boundaries: 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 belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use:
arable land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72%
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues: erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
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
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following 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 providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US.
Puerto Rico
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