Puerto Rico ( Puerto Rico) is a country in Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic. Puerto Rico geographic coordinates 18 15 N, 66 30 W; area 8,959 sq km; area comparative slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island; land boundaries 0 km; coastline 501 km; maritime claims exclusive economic zone:<; 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; elevation extremes Cerro de Punta 1,338 m; natural resources some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil; land use 90.53% (2001); irrigated land 400 sq km (1998 est.); natural hazards periodic droughts; hurricanes; environment current issues erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages; 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;

introduction

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. government type commonwealth; capital San Juan; administrative divisions none (commonwealth associated with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the 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; independence none (commonwealth associated with the US); national holiday US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952); constitution ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952; legal system based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice; suffrage 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but;

people

Puerto Rico population 3,916,632 (July 2005 est.); age structure 12.4% (male 211,283/female 276,120) (2005 est.); median age 35.87 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 0.47% (2005 est.); birth rate 13.93 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 7.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate -1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 9.52 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 81.77 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 1.91 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate NA; hiv people with aids 7,397 (1997); hiv deaths NA; nationality Puerto Rican; ethnic groups white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%; religions Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%; languages Spanish, English; literacy 94.4% (2002);

Regions

Cities