Puerto Rico

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 751,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 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.)

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.)

Agricultural products

milk, plantains, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, oranges, mangoes/guavas, pineapples, eggs, pumpkins/squash (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

revenues: $9.268 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: $9.974 billion (2017 est.)

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

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

$65.368 billion (2024 est.) $63.563 billion (2023 est.) $59.712 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, hormones, orthopedic and medical appliances, sulfur compounds (2019) top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Italy 15%, Netherlands 15%, Belgium 9%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Austria 8%, Spain 7%, China 5% (2019)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$125.842 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.7% (2024 est.) industry: 48% (2024 est.) services: 51.5% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Imports

$53.898 billion (2024 est.) $56.889 billion (2023 est.) $52.15 billion (2022 est.) note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines, cars (2019)

Imports - partners

Ireland 38%, Singapore 9%, Switzerland 8%, South Korea 5% (2019)

Industries

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.3% (2022 est.) 2.4% (2021 est.) -0.5% (2020 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

1.152 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt

50.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$141.344 billion (2024 est.) $136.926 billion (2023 est.) $136.247 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

3.2% (2024 est.) 0.5% (2023 est.) 3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$44,100 (2024 est.) $42,700 (2023 est.) $42,300 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Unemployment rate

5.5% (2024 est.) 5.8% (2023 est.) 6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 12.5% (2024 est.) male: 14% (2024 est.) female: 9.8% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

consumption: 1.124 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 1.124 million metric tons (2023 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 access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 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.)

Energy consumption per capita

86.286 million Btu/person (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.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 80,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide 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.)

Climate

tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Environmental issues

soil erosion; occasional droughts cause water shortages; industrial pollution

Land use

agricultural land: 19% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 11.6% (2023 est.) forest: 50.3% (2023 est.) other: 30.6% (2023 est.)

Total renewable water resources

7.1 billion cubic meters (2022)

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.)

Urbanization

urban population: 93.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.171 million tons (2024 est.)

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

Climate

tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

501 km

Elevation

highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m mean elevation: 261 m

Geographic coordinates

18 15 N, 66 30 W

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

Irrigated land

220 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 19% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 11.6% (2023 est.) forest: 50.3% (2023 est.) other: 30.6% (2023 est.)

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; hurricanes

Natural resources

some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil

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

Terrain

mostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas

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

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

Citizenship

see United States

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

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025) head of government: Governor Jenniffer GONZ LEZ-COL N (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 GONZ LEZ-COL N elected governor; percent of vote - Jenniffer GONZ LEZ-COL N (PNP) 39.4%, Juan DALMAU Ram rez (PIP) 32.7%, Jes s Manuel ORTIZ (PPD) 21.1%, Javier JIM NEZ (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

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 center meaning: 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 note: design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

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

Independence

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

International organization participation

AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WFTU (NGOs)

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

Legal system

civil law system based on the Spanish civil code, within the framework of the US federal system

Legislative branch

legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) legislative structure: bicameral term in office: 4 years note: Puerto Rico directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 4-year term as a commissioner to the US House of Representatives; the commissioner can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House but not when legislation is submitted for a 'full floor' House vote; election of commissioner last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)

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

National anthem(s)

title: "La Borinquena" (The Puerto Rican) lyrics/music: Manuel Fernandez JUNCOS/Felix Astol ARTES history: music adopted 1952, lyrics adopted 1977; the local anthem's name refers to the local name for the island, Borinquen; the music was originally composed as a dance in 1867 and gained popularity in the early 20th century _____ title: "The Star-Spangled Banner" lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH history: official anthem, as a US commonwealth

National color(s)

red, white, blue

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

National holiday

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)

National symbol(s)

Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog)

Political parties

Citizens' Victory Movement (Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana) or MVC Democratic Party of Puerto Rico New Progressive Party or PNP (pro-US statehood) Popular Democratic Party or PPD (pro-commonwealth) Project Dignity (Projecto Dignidad) or PD Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP (pro-independence) Republican Party of Puerto Rico

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal note: residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Military and security forces

Puerto Rico Police; Puerto Rico (US) National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico or GNPR) (2025) note: the GNPR was created by order of the US Congress in June 1919; the organization traces its lineage and history to Spanish militias created in 1511 and is one of the oldest organizations in the US National Guard system

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)

Birth rate

7.78 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

40.9% (2022 est.)

Death rate

10.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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.)

Drinking water source

total: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

4.3% of GDP (2024 est.) 16% national budget (2025 est.)

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.) note: 99% of the population is Latino

Gross reproduction rate

0.62 (2025 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

Languages

Spanish, English major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de informaci n b sica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.1 years (2024 est.) male: 78.9 years female: 85.5 years

Literacy

total population: 92.4% (2017 est.) male: 92.4% (2017 est.) female: 92.4% (2017 est.)

Major urban areas - population

2.440 million SAN JUAN (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 46.7 years (2025 est.) male: 44.2 years female: 47.8 years

Nationality

noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican

Net migration rate

-8.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Physician density

3.06 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Population

total: 2,984,841 (2025 est.) male: 1,400,771 female: 1,584,070

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

Population growth rate

-1.1% (2025 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 56%, Protestant 33% (largely Pentecostal), other 2%, atheist 1%, none 7% (2014 est.)

Sanitation facility access

total: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years (2023 est.) male: 16 years (2023 est.) female: 18 years (2023 est.)

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 93.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 146 (2024 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