Puerto Rico Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

San Juan

Population

2,984,841 (2025 est.)

Area

9,104 sq km

Location

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

🧭 Background

Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, Puerto Rico was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 after Christopher 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 that provided for internal self-government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood. A referendum held in late 2020 showed a narrow preference for statehood. Economic recession on the island has led to a net population loss since about 2005, as large numbers of residents moved to the US mainland. In 2017, Hurricane Maria was the worst storm to hit the island in eight decades, and damage was estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.

🗺️ 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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area — total

9,104 sq km

Area — land

8,959 sq km

Area — water

145 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Land boundaries — total

0 km

Coastline

501 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Climate

Tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

Mostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas

Elevation — highest point

Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

Elevation — lowest point

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

261 m

Natural resources

Some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil

Land use — agricultural land

19% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 11.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

50.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

30.6% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

220 sq km (2012)

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

Natural hazards

Periodic droughts; hurricanes

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 dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

2,984,841 (2025 est.)

Population — male

1,400,771

Population — female

1,584,070

Nationality — noun

Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)

Nationality — adjective

Puerto Rican

Ethnic groups

White 75.8%, Black/African American 12.4%, other 8.5% (includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and others), mixed 3.3% (2010 est.)

Languages — Languages

Spanish, English

Languages — major-language sample(s)

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Roman Catholic 56%, Protestant 33% (largely Pentecostal), other 2%, atheist 1%, none 7% (2014 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

12.5% (male 191,649/female 184,597)

Age structure — 15-64 years

62.6% (male 904,406/female 986,778)

Age structure — 65 years and over

24.9% (2024 est.) (male 322,698/female 429,322)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

60.7 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

19.4 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

41.2 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

2.4 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

46.7 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

44.2 years

Median age — female

47.8 years

Population growth rate

-1.1% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

7.78 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

10.48 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-8.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

Urbanization — urban population

93.6% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

-0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

2.440 million SAN JUAN (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.92 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

11 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

6.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

82.1 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

78.9 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

85.5 years

Total fertility rate

1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.62 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Physician density

3.06 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

40.9% (2022 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.3% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

16% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy — total population

92.4% (2017 est.)

Literacy — male

92.4% (2017 est.)

Literacy — female

92.4% (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

17 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

16 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

18 years (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Soil erosion; occasional droughts cause water shortages; industrial pollution

Climate

Tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Land use — agricultural land

19% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 11.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

50.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

30.6% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

93.6% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

-0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

18.833 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

2.49 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

11.801 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

4.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

4.171 million tons (2024 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

796 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

2.365 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

113.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

7.1 billion cubic meters (2022)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Country name — conventional short form

Puerto Rico

Country name — abbreviation

PR

Country 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

Government type

Unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; note - reference Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act, 2 March 1917, as amended by Public Law 600, 3 July 1950

Dependency status

Unincorporated organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President

Capital — name

San Juan

Capital — geographic coordinates

18 28 N, 66 07 W

Capital — time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

Spanish explorer Juan PONCE de Leon named the city in 1511 both for himself and for his name saint, Saint John

Administrative divisions

No first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) are considered 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

Legal system

Civil law system based on the Spanish civil code, within the framework of the US federal system

Constitution — history

Previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified by referendum 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed by a concurrent resolution of at least two-thirds majority by the total Legislative Assembly membership; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and approval by a majority of voters in a special referendum; if passed by at least three-fourths Assembly vote, the referendum can be held concurrently with the next general election; constitutional articles such as the republican form of government or the bill of rights cannot be amended

Citizenship

See United States

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)

Executive branch — head of government

Governor Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN (since 2 January 2025)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly

Executive branch — election/appointment process

President and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of Puerto Rico do not vote in elections for US president and vice president, but they can vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits)

Executive branch — most recent election date

5 November 2024

Executive branch — election results

2024: Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN elected governor; percent of vote - Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN (PNP) 39.4%, Juan DALMAU Ramírez (PIP) 32.7%, Jesús Manuel ORTIZ (PPD) 21.1%, Javier JIMÉNEZ (PD) 6.7%, other 0.1% 2020: Pedro PIERLUISI elected governor; percent of vote - Pedro PIERLUISI (PNP) 32.9%, Carlos DELGADO (PPD) 31.6%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 14.2%, Juan DALMAU (PIP) 13.7%, other 7.6%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

7 November 2028

Legislative branch — legislature name

Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

51 (directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

11/3/2020

Legislative branch - lower chamber — parties elected and seats per party

PPD (26); PNP (21); MVC (2); PIP (1); PD (1)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

19.6%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

November 2024

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Senate (Senado)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

30 (directly elected)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

11/3/2020

Legislative branch - upper chamber — parties elected and seats per party

PPD (12); NP (10); MVC (2); PD (1); PIP (1); independent (1)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

48.1%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

November 2024

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 8 associate justices)

Judicial branch — judge selection and term of office

Justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by majority Senate vote; judges serve until compulsory retirement at age 70

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts

Political parties

Citizens' Victory Movement (Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana) or MVC Democratic Party of Puerto Rico New Progressive Party or PNP (pro-US statehood) Popular Democratic Party or PPD (pro-commonwealth) Project Dignity (Projecto Dignidad) or PD Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP (pro-independence) Republican Party of Puerto Rico

Diplomatic representation in the US

None (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

None (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

International organization participation

AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WFTU (NGOs)

Independence

None (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

National holiday

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)

Flag

Description: five equal horizontal bands of red alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side has a large five-pointed white star in the center meaning: the star stands for the country; the three sides of the triangle stand for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters, red for the blood shed by warriors, and white for liberty, victory, and peace

National symbol(s)

Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog)

National color(s)

Red, white, blue

National anthem(s) — title

"The Star-Spangled Banner"

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH

National anthem(s) — history

Official anthem, as a US commonwealth

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the US entry

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

US Caribbean island territorial economy; hit hard by COVID-19 and hurricanes; declining labor force and job growth after a decade of continuous recession; capital-based industry and tourism; high poverty; energy import-dependent

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$141.344 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$136.926 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$136.247 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

3.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$44,100 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$42,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$42,300 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$125.842 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

4.3% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

2.4% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

-0.5% (2020 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

0.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

48% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

51.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

76% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

8.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

14.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

51.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-42.8% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Milk, plantains, bananas, tomatoes, chicken, oranges, mangoes/guavas, pineapples, eggs, pumpkins/squash (2023)

Industries

Pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Labor force

1.152 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

5.5% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

5.8% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

6% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

12.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

14% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

9.8% (2024 est.)

Budget — revenues

$9.268 billion (2017 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$9.974 billion (2017 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2016

50.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$65.368 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$63.563 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$59.712 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

Italy 15%, Netherlands 15%, Belgium 9%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Austria 8%, Spain 7%, China 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities

Packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, hormones, orthopedic and medical appliances, sulfur compounds (2019)

Imports — Imports 2024

$53.898 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$56.889 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$52.15 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

Ireland 38%, Singapore 9%, Switzerland 8%, South Korea 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities

Nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines, cars (2019)

Exchange rates

The US dollar is used

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

6.898 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

18.669 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

1.224 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

94.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

4.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — wind

0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

1.124 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

500 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

1.124 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

80,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

2.315 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — exports

15.627 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — imports

2.331 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

86.286 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

758,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

23 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

4.1 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

126 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

More than 30 TV stations; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations

Internet country code

.pr

Internet users — percent of population

87% (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

751,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

23 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Airports

20 (2025)

Heliports

40 (2025)

Ports — total ports

14 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

3

Ports — small

4

Ports — very small

7

Ports — ports with oil terminals

7

Ports — key ports

Arroyo, Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guanica, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Puerto Rico Police; Puerto Rico (US) National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico or GNPR) (2025)

Military - note

Defense is the responsibility of the US

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

146 (2024 est.)