Dialing code ++1-787 and 1-939
ISO 2 code PR
ISO 3 code PRI
Capital San Juan
Main Language English
Currency Dollar (USD)
GDP $70.6 billion 77th
Population 3,916,632 128th

Geography

Continent North America
Location Caribbean island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean east of the Dominican Republic
Land 9,104 km2 170th
Terrain Mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Climate Tropical marine mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Natural Hazards Mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
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

Neighbouring Countries

History

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.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 78.53 years 35th
Median Age 36.2 years 53rd
Birth Rate 12.12 births/1,000 population 155th
Death Rate 7.75 births/1,000 population 105th
Sex Ratio 0.76 male(s)/female 111th
Literacy 94.1% 88th
Population

3.9 million

Transportation

Roadways 26186 km 101st
Railways None km
Airports 29 117th
Waterways None km
Heliports None
Airports paved 2 86th

Economy

Currency Dollar (USD)
GDP $70.6 billion 77th
GDP per capita (PPP) $17800 61st