*Puerto Rico, Geography Location: in the North Atlantic Ocean, between the Dominican Republic and the Virgin Islands group Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 9,104 km2 land area: 8,959 km2 comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 501 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 m (depth) exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none 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 crude oil Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 9% meadows and pastures: 41% forest and woodland: 20% other: 22% Irrigated land: 390 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north 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 *Puerto Rico, People Population: 3,797,082 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 0.13% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 16.93 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 7.88 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: -7.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.84 years male: 70.25 years female: 77.61 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman (1993 est.) Nationality: noun: Puerto Rican(s) adjective: Puerto Rican Ethnic divisions: Hispanic Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15% Languages: Spanish (official), English widely understood Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980) total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88% Labor force: 1.17 million (1992) by occupation: government 20%, manufacturing 14%, trade 17%, construction 5%, communications and transportation 5%, other 39% (1992) *Puerto Rico, Government Names: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico Digraph: QR Type: commonwealth associated with the US Capital: San Juan Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the US), note: there are 78 municipalities Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US) Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952 Legal system: based on Spanish civil code National holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776) Political parties and leaders: National Republican Party of Puerto Rico, Freddy VALENTIN; Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Rafael HERNANDEZ Colon; New Progressive Party (PNP), Carlos ROMERO Barcelo; Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP), Juan MARI Bras and Carlos GALLISA; Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party (PCP), leader(s) unknown Other political or pressure groups: all have engaged in terrorist activities - 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 Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections Elections: Governor: last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - Pedro ROSSELLO (PND) 50%, Victoria MUNOZ (PPD) 46%, Fernando MARTIN (PIP) 4% Senate: last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (27 total) seats by party NA US House of Representatives: last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) seats by party NA; note - Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US House of Representatives, Carlos Romero BARCELO House of Representatives: last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (53 total) seats by party NA Executive branch: US president, US vice president, governor Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives Judicial branch: Supreme Court *Puerto Rico, Government Leaders: Chief of State: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) Head of Government: Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since NA January 1993) Member of: CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WTO (associate) Diplomatic representation in US: none (commonwealth associated with the US) Flag: 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 *Puerto Rico, Economy Overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. Industry has surpassed agriculture as the primary sector 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. Important industries include pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and processed foods. 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 3 million tourists in 1989. National product: GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $22.8 billion (1991) National product real growth rate: 2.2% (FY90) National product per capita: $6,200 (1991) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (October 1990-91) Unemployment rate: 17% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $5.8 billion; expenditures $5.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $258 million (FY89) Exports: 20.4 billion (1990) commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment, instruments partners: US 87.8% (1990) Imports: 16.2 billion (1990) commodities: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products partners: US 66.6% (1990) External debt: $NA Industrial production: growth rate 1.2% (FY92) Electricity: 5,040,000 kW capacity; 16,100 million kWh produced, 4,260 kWh per capita (1992) Industries: manufacturing accounts for 55.5 % of GDP: manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, instruments; tourism Agriculture: accounts for only 3% of labor force and less than 2% of GDP: crops - sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock - cattle, chickens; imports a large share of food needs (1992) Economic aid: none Currency: US currency is used Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June *Puerto Rico, Communications Railroads: 96 km rural narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger railroads Highways: 13,762 km paved (1982) Ports: San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Arecibo Airports: total: 30 usable: 23 with permanent-surface runways: 19 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 5 Telecommunications: modern system, integrated with that of the US by high capacity submarine cable and INTELSAT with high-speed data capability; digital telephone system with about 1 million lines; cellular telephone service; broadcast stations - 50 AM, 63 FM, 9 TV; cable television available with US programs (1990) *Puerto Rico, Defense Forces Branches: paramilitary National Guard, Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 830,133; fit for military service NA (1993 est.) Note: defense is the responsibility of the US