Puerto Rico
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Puerto Rico is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of the Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico is composed of an archipielago that includes the main island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller islands and keys, the largest of which are Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. The main island of Puerto Rico is the smallest by land area and second smallest by population among the four large islands of the Greater Antilles, which also include Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica.
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.
Its major environmental issues include erosion and occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic Coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W
Area: 13,790 square km (8,870 sq km land and 4,921 sq km water)
arable land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72% (2005)
Coastline: 501 km
Maritime Claims: Territorial sea to12 nautical miles and Exclusive economic zone to 200 nautical miles
Natural Hazards: Periodic droughts; hurricanes.
Terrain: Mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas. The highest point is Cerro de Punta (1,339 m).
Climate: Tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation.
Capital: San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Juan
Ecology and Biodiversity
57% of Puerto Rico was forested in 2003, up from 32% in 1990. The two small offshore islands of Vieques and Culebra were even most forested at 85% and 88% respectively. The island’s diverse forests, holding over 500 native species, reflect its equally diverse physiography. Three forest types are recognizerd:
| Subtropical moist forest: | 2,589 km2 (999 mile2) or 51% of timberland |
| Subtropical wet and rain forest: | 1,615 km2 (624 mile2) or 32% of timberland |
| Subtropical dry forest: | 503 km2 (194 mile2) or 14% of timberland |
| Lower montane forest wet and rain forest: | 117 km2 (194 mile2) or 2% of timberland |
| Mangrove | remainder or 1% of timberlan |
Puerto Rico Province
Like the moist forests of the other islands of the Great Antilles (Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica), those of Peurto Rico are rich in biodiversity and endemic species. These montane forests are restricted to the Luquillo Mountains and the higher peaks of the Cordillera Central, the wettest regions in Puerto Rico. Three endemic birds are the Elfin-woods warbler (Dendroica angelae), Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata), and Puerto Rican bullfinch (Loxigilla portoricensis). The parrot, once found throughout the island, is now endangered.
Peurto Rico's dry forests occupy to lower coastal regions of the island and have been more significantly impacted by deforestation and agriculture.
Puerto Rico is also home to the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
See also Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem and Biological diversity in the Caribbean Islands
People and Society
Population: 3,971,020 (July 2009 est.)
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 19.9% (male 404,635/female 386,733)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,260,114/female 1,361,193)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male 240,318/female 318,027) (2009 est.)
Population Growth Rate: 0.34% (2009 est.)
Birthrate: 12.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death Rate: 7.88 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net Migration Rate: -0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth: 78.53 years
Total Fertility Rate: 1.71 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Languages: Spanish, English
Literacy: 94.1%
Economy
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as the primary locus 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. 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, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million tourists in 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again in 2006-07.
GDP: (Purchasing Power Parity): $70.59 billion (2008 est.)
GDP: (Official Exchange Rate): $88 billion (2008 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: -2% (2008 est.)
GDP- per capita (PPP): $17,800 (2008 est.)
GDP- composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2002 est.)
Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Natural Resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Currency: US dollar
Further Reading
- The CIA World Factbook
- World Wildlife Fund Homepage
- Puerto Rico’s Forest Inventory: Adapting the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis Program to a Caribbean Island, US Forest Service
Return to Puerto Rico's country profile
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