Country Profile Puerto Rico

06-27-12 by Emmanuel Besserve


Country Profile Puerto Rico

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.

• Capital: San Juan
• Population: 3,706,690 (2011)
• Currency:  US dollar (USD)                                  
• Language:  Spanish and English
• Time zone:  UTC-4
• Government: Commonwealth
• Chief of State: President Barack H.Obama of the United States of America

Detailed country profile

ECONOMY

GDP real growth rate:

• -5.8% (2010 est.)
• -3.7% (2009 est.)
• -2% (2008 est.)
• -1.8% (2007 est.)
• 0.5% (2006 est.)

GDP-Composition by Sector (2005):

• Agriculture: 1%
• Industry: 45%
• Services: 54%

Labor force by occupation (2005):

• Agriculture: 2.1%
• Industry: 45%
• Services: 79%

Agriculture products:

• Sugarcane
• Coffee
• Pineapples
• Plantains
• Bananas
• Livestock products
• Chickens

Industries:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Electronics
• Apparel
• Food products
• Tourism

Exports:

• $75.74 billion (2011 est.)
• $68.86 billion (2010 est.)

Export Commodities

• Chemicals
• Electronics
• Apparel
• Canned tuna
• Rum
• Beverage concentrates
• Medical equipment

Imports:

• $46.61 billion (2011 est.)
• $41.43 billion (2010 est.)

Import commodities:

• Chemicals
• Machinery and equipment
• Clothing
• Food
• Fish
• Petroleum products

Ports and Terminal:

• Guayanilla
• Mayaguez
• San Juan

Unemployment rate:

• 14.2% (2012)
• 12% (2002)

GOVERNMENT

Government Type: Commonwealth

Executive Branch:

Chief of state: President Barack Hussein Obama Vice President  Joseph Biden
Head of government: Governor Luis Fortuño (since 2 January 2009)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature
Elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Luis FORTUNO elected governor with 52.8% of the vote, he will take office on 2 January 2009

Legal system: Based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice

GEOGRAPHY

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

Elevation Extremes:

• Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
• Highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m

Natural resources:

• Copper and nickel
• Potential for onshore and offshore oil

Environment and current issues:

• Erosion
• Occasional drought causing water shortages

PEOPLE

Ethnic groups:

• White (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%
• Black 8%
• Amerindian 0.4%
• Asian 0.2%
• Mixed 4.2%
• Other 6.7% (2000 census)

Languages:  Spanish and English

Religion:

• Roman Catholic 85%
• Protestant and other 15%

HISTORY

Express History

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.

Source: The world factbook www.cia.gov

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