Commonwealth and unincorporated territory of the United States
Self-governing under its own constitution of 1952, with the official designation of Commonwealth (Estado Libre Asociado). Puerto Rico remains an unincorporated U.S. territory, subject to the authority of Congress under the Territory Clause. Persons born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens by statute.
National Identity
- Official name
- Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- Official name (in Spanish)
- Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico
- 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
Sources:- Constitution of the Free Associated State of Puerto Rico ↗ - Virtual Library of OGP 'Miguel J. Rodríguez Fernández' Old San Juan, Puerto Rico - Office of Management and Budget
- The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
- National anthem
- The Star Spangled BannerThe national anthem of the United States.1:18
- Title
- The Star Spangled Banner
- Lyrics
- English
1Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thru the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
2On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: ‘Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
3And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out of their foul footsteps’ pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight and the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
4Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war’s desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Source: - Citizens
- Puerto Ricans
- Official name:Constitution of the Free Associated State of Puerto Rico ↗ - Virtual Library of OGP 'Miguel J. Rodríguez Fernández' Old San Juan, Puerto Rico - Office of Management and Budget
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
- Total area
- 9,104 km²
- Land area
- 8,959 km²
- Water area
- 145 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 501 km
- Terrain
Mostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas - Mean elevation
- 261 m
- Highest point
- 1,338 mCerro de Punta
- Lowest point
- 0 mCaribbean Sea
- Climate
Tropical marine mild; little seasonal temperature variation - Avg. temperature
- 25.4 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 23.3 to 28.1 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,123 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 26.7 23.9 21.7 44 February 26.8 23.9 21.6 40 March 27.1 24.1 21.7 57 April 27.5 24.8 22.4 87 May 28.2 25.6 23.4 135 June 29.2 26.5 24.3 89 July 29.5 26.7 24.6 95 August 29.5 26.8 24.7 116 September 29.2 26.6 24.6 157 October 28.8 26.1 24.2 141 November 27.8 25.3 23.3 111 December 27.1 24.5 22.5 52 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable5.7%Perm. crops1.8%Pasture11.6%Forest50.3%Other30.6%
- Arable land
- 50,200 hectares (5.7%)
- Permanent crops
- 16,000 hectares (1.8%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 102,700 hectares (11.6%)
- Forest
- 446,480 hectares (50.3%)
- Other land
- 271,620 hectares (30.6%)
Source:
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
Demographics
- Population change2026
- −0.39% per year−12,601 people/yearWorld Rank196thof 237
- Birth rate
- 5.9 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 10.9 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- +0.3 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 46.2 yearsWorld Rank17thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years10.9%15-64 years63.3%65 years +25.8%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 25.8%
- Share aged under 18
- 14.1%
- Total dependency ratio
- 58
- Youth dependency ratio
- 17
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 41
- Sex ratio
- 0.89 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 3.0% 4.6% 70-79 5.0% 6.5% 60-69 6.2% 7.6% 50-59 6.3% 7.1% 40-49 5.8% 6.6% 30-39 5.8% 6.2% 20-29 6.6% 6.4% 10-19 5.1% 4.8% 0-9 3.3% 3.1% - 2026
- 1.16 below the replacement level for Puerto Rico ()0.94 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank232ndof 237
- 0.45 daughters per woman0.55 below replacement, long-run each generation smaller than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- −5.0 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 5.0 more deaths than births a year
- 2026
- +0.3 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 94.4% live in 3,043,406 urban residents
- Largest cities2020
- San Juan, Bayamón, Carolina, PonceRankCity or TownPopulation (2020 census)1San Juan322,8542Bayamón165,3683Carolina138,3044Ponce107,9515Caguas70,3186Guaynabo68,4917Mayagüez57,5668Trujillo Alto43,7129Arecibo39,63410Levittown25,591Source:
- U.S. Census Bureau (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- 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.
- Ethnic groups2010
- White75.8%Black/African American12.4%Other8.5%Mixed3.3%
99% of the population is Latino.Other includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and others.
Source:- The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
- Religions2014
- Roman Catholic56.0%Protestant33.0%Other2.0%Atheist1.0%None7.0%
Protestants are largely Pentecostal.
Source:- The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
- Languages
- Spanish (Español), English
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:U.S. Census Bureau (2020 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicShared with the United States: the President of the United States is head of state.The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Estado Libre Asociado) is constituted within a compact with the United States, whose federal law required a constitution of republican form; Puerto Rico has no head of state of its own (Art. I, ss. 1, 2; 48 U.S.C. § 731c).Sources:
- Constitución del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico ↗, Art. I, ss. 1, 2; 48 U.S.C. § 731c
- Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act (act of 2 March 1917, ch. 145, 39 Stat. 951, as amended) and act of 3 July 1950, ch. 446 (Public Law 600), 64 Stat. 319, 48 U.S.C. ch. 4, United States Code ↗, Art. I, ss. 1, 2; 48 U.S.C. § 731c
- System of government
- PresidentialThe Governor, elected by direct vote for four years, holds executive power and appoints Secretaries with Senate consent; there is no confidence vote, removal is by impeachment, and the Legislative Assembly cannot be dissolved (Art. III, ss. 10, 21; Art. IV, ss. 1, 2, 5).Sources:
- Constitución del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico ↗, Art. III, ss. 10, 21; Art. IV, ss. 1, 2, 5
- Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act (act of 2 March 1917, ch. 145, 39 Stat. 951, as amended) and act of 3 July 1950, ch. 446 (Public Law 600), 64 Stat. 319, 48 U.S.C. ch. 4, United States Code ↗, Art. III, ss. 10, 21; Art. IV, ss. 1, 2, 5
- Official websites
- Capital
- San Juan322,854 people(2020)
- National holidays
- 18 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- TueJan 6Epiphany
- MonJan 19Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- MonFeb 16George Washington Day, Presidents' Day, and the Day of the Women and Men Heroes of Puerto Rico
- SunMar 22Emancipation Day
- MonMar 23Emancipation Day (observed)
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- MonMay 25Memorial Day
- FriJun 19Juneteenth National Independence Day
- FriJul 3Independence Day (observed)
- SatJul 4Independence Day
- SatJul 25Puerto Rico Constitution Day
- MonSep 7Labor Day
- MonOct 12Columbus Day
- WedNov 11Veterans Day
- ThuNov 19Puerto Rican Identity Day
- ThuNov 26Thanksgiving Day
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- ASTAtlantic Standard TimeUTC−4
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +1-787, +1-939
- Internet TLD
- .pr
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- PR, PRI
- Infrastructure
- Heliports
- 40
Source:- The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
- Form of state, System of government:Constitución del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico ↗ - Judicial Branch of Puerto Rico
- Form of state, System of government:Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act (act of 2 March 1917, ch. 145, 39 Stat. 951, as amended) and act of 3 July 1950, ch. 446 (Public Law 600), 64 Stat. 319, 48 U.S.C. ch. 4, United States Code ↗ - U.S. Government Publishing Office
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Economy
- High income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- −0.1% per yearWorld Rank182ndof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $41,851 (35th in the world)
Source:- 2025
- Services51.9% of GDPIndustry47% of GDPAgriculture0.7% of GDPManufacturing44%part of industry
- Households
- +78.7%
- Government
- +7.7%
- Investment
- +14.2%
- Exports
- +46.9%
- Imports
- −43.6%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useThe five add up to 104% of GDP, not 100. The gap is in the source data.
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 3.1%up 1.6 percentage points1.6pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 1.2 million (38% of population)World Rank140thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 42.6% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 5.6%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 13.1% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $61.6 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 0.4% of GDP deficit
- Trade2019
- Agricultural products2024
- Plantains and cooking bananas, Bananas, Papayas, and 7 more
- 1Plantains and cooking bananas49.7×
- 2Bananas14.5×
- 3Papayas10.2×
- 4Squash and gourds (including pumpkins)6.1×
- 5Mangoes and guavas and mangosteens5.5×
- 6Raw milk of cattle5.2×
- 7Oranges4.1×
- 8Meat of chickens (fresh or chilled)3.6×
- 9Hen eggs in shell (fresh)2.2×
- 10Tomatoes2×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
- Income level, GDP by sector:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
- Loading
- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
- Loading
- Average gross salary2020
- $2,233 per month$2,381 (PPP)
- Median
- $1,575 per month
- Men
- $2,391 per month
- Women
- $2,075 per month
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Average gross salary:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- Literacy2017
- 92.4% of adults
- Education expenditure2024
- 4.3% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 17.1%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2022
- 87.3% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 83.1%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2022
- 3.9 million
- Fixed telephone lines
- 739,111
- Fixed broadband
- 22.3 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2014latest available
- 24% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 58%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 70%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 64%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Inbound tourists2024
- Official tourism site5.6 million arrivalsup 75% against 201975% above 2019World Rank43rdof 139
- Per resident
- 1.7 arrivals per resident
- Same-day visitors
- 1.4 million arrivals
- Visitor spending in the country
- $3.3 billion(2022)
- Share of GDP
- 2.7% tourism direct GDP(2020, latest available)
- Residents' trips abroad
- 980,100 overnight trips
- Residents' spending abroad
- $1.4 billion(2022)
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2024A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 1 site1 cultural
Site La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site Source:- The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Homicide rate2024
- High by global standards15.2 per 100,000 peopleWorld Rank14thof 115
- Crime rates
- 7 offence categories
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 15.2 493 2024 Serious assault 109.1 3,536 2022 Sexual violence 35.4 1,192 2017 Kidnapping 0.9 30 2017 Burglary 78.0 2,528 2022 Theft 312.6 10,130 2022 Vehicle theft 75.6 2,449 2022 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2023
- 217.5 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 7,052
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 82.3 years
- Infant mortality2026
- 4.6 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 11 per 100,000 live births
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 15.4 Mt per yearup 5.5 percent on the previous year5.5% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 4.3 t per personWorld Rank71stof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- 0.04%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 1.55 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 0.64 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 17.6 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 3.7 µg/m³ of PM2.5Most polluted196thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
- National standard
- 9 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- soil erosion
- occasional droughts cause water shortages
- industrial pollution
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Puerto Rico - CIA
Food & Water
- Obesity2024
- 42.4% of adults
- Men
- 36.2%
- Women
- 47.8%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 99.2 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- 0.05%
- Supply
- No meaningful productionproduces under 2% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- No electricity trade20 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 20 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 19 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- Production endedlast produced in 2009Consumption202494,400 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration