Facts & Figures

        
   
Discovered by Columbus in 1493, the island of Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain to the United states in 1898, following the Spanish-American War.
   

Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economics in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has surpassed agriculture as the primary focus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the U.S. mainland and by tax incentives, U.S. firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. U.S. 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 some 2 million hotel guests in 2002.
               
   

Name
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Government type
Republican form of government
Constitution
Ratified March 3, 1952
Legal system
Based on Spanish civil code
Political parties
New Progressive Party
Popular Democratic Party
Puerto Rican Independence Party
Governor
Sila M. Calderón
Cabinet
Appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature
Legislative branch
Consists of the Senate 28 seats and House of Representatives 54 seats.

Judicial Branch
U.S. District Court; Supreme
Court; and others
Administrative divisions
Capital city: San Juan 78 municipalities
Representation in the U.S.
Puerto Rico elects one non-
voting representiative to the
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
Elections for governor, resident commisssioner, Senate, House
of Representatives and municipalities last held
November 7, 2000
Military
Defense provided by United States

          
       
         
       
 
          Education
High school degree: 23 %
Bacherlor´s degree: 13.6%
Graduate degree: 4.7 %
Income
Median household income: $14,412
37.1% of households earn less than $10,000
2.4% of households earn $150,000 or more;
44.6% of households are below federal poverty level.
Housing
Average household: 3 people
Housing units: 1.4 million
73% own their homes; 23% rent;
37.5% of homes have mortgages;
average home price is $75,000
average monthly rent is $300

Automobiles (per household)
At least one car: 39%
At leas two cars: 24.7%
At least three cars: 7.45%
None: 28.7%

           
       
Population
3,937,316
Citizenship
United States
Population growth rate
0.54%
Population density
1,112 people per square mile
Life expectancy
75.76 years
Total fertlity rate:
1.9 children born/women
Ethnic groups
White 80.5% Black 8% Other 11.5%
Religions
Roman Catholic 40%
Protestant 40% Other 20%
Languages
Spanish, English
Literacy
Total 89%

  Location
Between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic.
Area
Total: 9,104 sq km
Land: 8,959 sq km
Water: 145 sq km
Slightly less than three time the size of Rhode Island
Climate
Tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation.
Average high: 84 degrees F. Average Low: 73 degrees F.
Average monthly rainfall: 5in.
Natural hazards
Periodic droughts; hurricanes
Terrain
Mostly mountains, with coastal plain belt in north; sandy beaches along most coastal areas