Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Background

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 to retain commonwealth status.

Puerto Rico Information

• Population: 3,897,960 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican
• Location:: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
• Religions:: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
• Ethnic Groups:: white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
• Land Boundaries:: 0 km
• Area: total: 9,104 sq km water: 145 sq km land: 8,959 sq km
• Coast Line: 501 km
• 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
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 3.95% permanent crops: 5.52% other: 90.53% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
• Natural Resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
• Highways: total: 14,400 km paved: 14,400 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
• Railways: total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
• Ports & Harbours: Aguadilla, Arecibo, Fajardo, Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Mayaguez, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
• Airports: 30 (2003 est.)