Puerto Rico

Unincorporated Organized Territory Of The US With Local Self-GovernmentPop3.0MGDP (PPP)$141.3BCP0.0→Beta

Puerto Rico

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Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 8,959 sq km
Water: 145 sq km
Total: 9,104 sq km

Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas

Land Use

Other: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 50.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 19% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.6% (2023 est.)

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Coastline: 501 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Mean elevation: 261 m

Irrigated land: 220 sq km (2012)
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean

Land Boundaries

Total: 0 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes
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
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Area comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W
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

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 92.4% (2017 est.)
Female: 92.4% (2017 est.)
Total population: 92.4% (2017 est.)

Languages

Languages: Spanish, English
Major language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Roman Catholic 56%, Protestant 33% (largely Pentecostal), other 2%, atheist 1%, none 7% (2014 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
Total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 7.78 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 10.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 44.2 years
Total: 46.7 years (2025 est.)
Female: 47.8 years

Population

Male: 1,400,771
Total: 2,984,841 (2025 est.)
Female: 1,584,070

Nationality

Noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
Adjective: Puerto Rican

Urbanization

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

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)

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.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 60.7 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 19.4 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 2.4 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 41.2 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 3.06 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Net migration rate: -8.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

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

Education Expenditure

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

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: -1.1% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.62 (2025 est.)
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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 78.9 years
Female: 85.5 years
Total population: 82.1 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

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

Major urban areas population: 2.440 million SAN JUAN (capital) (2023)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 40.9% (2022 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 16 years (2023 est.)
Total: 17 years (2023 est.)
Female: 18 years (2023 est.)

Government

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

Capital

Name: San Juan
Etymology: Spanish explorer Juan PONCE de Leon named the city in 1511 both for himself and for his name saint, Saint John
Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
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

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
Abbreviation: PR
Conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Conventional short form: Puerto Rico

Independence: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code, within the framework of the US federal system
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

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 8 associate justices)
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts
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

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly
Chief of state: President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
Election results: 2024: Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN elected governor; percent of vote - Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN (PNP) 39.4%, Juan DALMAU Ramírez (PIP) 32.7%, Jesús Manuel ORTIZ (PPD) 21.1%, Javier JIMÉNEZ (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%
Head of government: Governor Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN (since 2 January 2025)
Most recent election date: 5 November 2024
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)
Expected date of next election: 7 November 2028

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

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

Legislative Branch

Note: 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)
Term in office: 4 years
Legislature name: Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
Legislative structure: bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
History: official anthem, as a US commonwealth
Lyrics/music: Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH

National symbol(s): Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog)
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

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name: House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes)
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 51 (directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 11/3/2020
Expected date of next election: November 2024
Percentage of women in chamber: 19.6%
Parties elected and seats per party: PPD (26); PNP (21); MVC (2); PIP (1); PD (1)

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Chamber name: Senate (Senado)
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 30 (directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 11/3/2020
Expected date of next election: November 2024
Percentage of women in chamber: 48.1%
Parties elected and seats per party: PPD (12); NP (10); MVC (2); PD (1); PIP (1); independent (1)

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic Representation from the US

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

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

Economy

Budget

Revenues: $9.268 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $9.974 billion (2017 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $59.712 billion (2022 est.)

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

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $52.15 billion (2022 est.)

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

Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Labor force: 1.152 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 50.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 50.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
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

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 5.5% (2024 est.)

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

Exports partners: Italy 15%, Netherlands 15%, Belgium 9%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Austria 8%, Spain 7%, China 5% (2019)
Imports partners: Ireland 38%, Singapore 9%, Switzerland 8%, South Korea 5% (2019)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $44,100 (2024 est.)

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

Real GDP Growth Rate

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

Agricultural products: milk, plantains, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, oranges, mangoes/guavas, pineapples, eggs, pumpkins/squash (2023)
Exports commodities: packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, hormones, orthopedic and medical appliances, sulfur compounds (2019)
Imports commodities: nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines, cars (2019)
GDP (official exchange rate): $125.842 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 76% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 8.2% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 14.6% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 51.9% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -42.8% (2024 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.3% (2022 est.)

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

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $141.344 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $136.247 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $136.926 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $141.344 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 14% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 12.5% (2024 est.)
Female: 9.8% (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 48% (2024 est.)
Services: 51.5% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 0.7% (2024 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.124 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 1.124 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

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

Electricity

Consumption: 18.669 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 6.898 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.224 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Exports: 15.627 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 2.331 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 2.315 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 86.286 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Wind: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Solar: 4.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 94.6% 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.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 87% (2022 est.)

Broadcast media: more than 30 TV stations; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations
Internet country code: .pr

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.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 751,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 4
Medium: 3
Key ports: Arroyo, Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guanica, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Very small: 7
Total ports: 14 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 7

Airports: 20 (2025)
Heliports: 40 (2025)

Environment

Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Land Use

Other: 30.6% (2023 est.)
Forest: 50.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 19% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 11.6% (2023 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.)

Environmental issues: soil erosion; occasional droughts cause water shortages; industrial pollution

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.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 18.833 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 4.542 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.)

Total renewable water resources: 7.1 billion cubic meters (2022)

Military & Security

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)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 146 (2024 est.)

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Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Puerto Rico — vintage 2026-Q1: Puerto Rico factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/puerto-rico

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Sources: CIA World Factbook