Puerto Rico Overview
| Puerto Rico is an island east of the Dominican Republic and west of the British Virgin Islands. Also included are several smaller islands, such as Culebra, Mona and Vieques. The island is comparatively small, 8959 sq km (3459 sq miles), with a central mountain range reaching an altitude of 1338m (4390ft) at Cerro de Punta, and surrounded by low coastal plains. The capital is on the northeast shore. Much of the natural forest has been cleared for agriculture, but the trees in the northeast are protected as a national park. The other main towns are Aguadilla, Arecibo, Bayamón, Caguas, Carolina, Cayey, Farjardo, Guaynabo, Mayagüez and Ponce. |
| 8959 sq km (3459 sq miles). |
| Self-governing US Commonwealth Territory (incorporated). Gained internal autonomy in 1951. Recent history: In December 1998, the third referendum in 30 years was held on the issue of whether voters wished Puerto Rico to become the 51st state of the USA, become independent, enter a compact of Free Association (similar to that which operates in a number of Pacific micro-territories) or retain the status quo. By a narrow majority, they voted for the status quo. There is still a strong lobby for full independence for Puerto Rico, and the issue remains a sensitive issue on the island: its advocates received a boost in 2003 when the US military ended its use of the island of Vieques for military exercises after 60 years. Executive power is held by the Governor, who is elected by universal adult suffrage for a four-year term, assisted by a 15-member Cabinet staffed by appointees. A bicameral Assembly, a scaled-down version of the US Congress, is responsible for legislation. The House of Representatives has 54 members; the Senate has 28. Puerto Rico has a representative in the US House of Representatives; the inhabitants of the island are US citizens, but they may not vote in Presidential elections. The latest election for Governor, held in November 2000, was a three-way fight between PNP candidate Carlos Pesquera, Sila Maria Calderón of the PPD and Ruben Berrios Martine of the small Partido Independentista. Calderon won with just under half the total poll. Elections to the Senate and the House of Representatives on the same day gave the PPD a small majority in both houses. At the end of 2004, Calderón was opposed by Anibal Acevedo Vila. After two months of wrangling and recounts, the leader of the pro-Commonwealth Popular Democratic Party was confirmed as the new Head of Government. |
| 3.91 million (official estimate 2005). |
| 437.1 per sq km. |
| Spanish and English are the official languages. |
| Roman Catholic 85 per cent; the remainder are other Christian denominations and Jews. |
| GMT - 4. |
| San Juan. Population: 442,447 (2004). |
| 110 volts AC, 60Hz. |