Country Profile: Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the Caribbean between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. With a population of approximately 2.98 million, the island has a diverse demographic with a majority identifying as Latino. The economy is heavily reliant on tourism and industrial sectors, but has faced challenges such as economic recession and natural disasters like Hurricane Maria in 2017. Governed by a local republican form of government, Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens but do not vote in presidential elections.

Geography

Puerto Rico is situated in the Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic, with a total area of 9,104 sq km, characterized by a mixture of mountains and coastal plains. The island's terrain includes steep mountains, especially in the western regions, with a coastline of 501 km featuring sandy beaches. It enjoys a tropical marine climate with minimal seasonal temperature variation and possesses natural resources such as copper and nickel.

9,104 sq km: Total area of Puerto Rico.
501 km: Length of the coastline.
Cerro de Punta: Highest point at 1,338 m.
Tropical Marine Climate: Characterized by mild weather and little seasonal variation.

People and Society

Puerto Rico has a population estimated at 2,984,841 as of 2025, with a significant urban population of 93.6%. The society is predominantly composed of Latinos, primarily of mixed heritage, and is characterized by its rich cultural traditions, primarily influenced by Spanish heritage. The median age is approximately 46.7 years, and the literacy rate stands at 92.4%.

75.8%: Percentage of the population identifying as White.
1.27 children: Average number of children born per woman (2025 est.).
82.1 years: Life expectancy at birth (2024 est.).
93.6%: Urban population as of 2023.
12.5%: Population aged 0-14 years.

Economy

The economy of Puerto Rico is classified as a territory-based economy largely relying on the capital-intensive industries and tourism. Recent years have seen the island suffer from recession, leading to a declining labor force and job growth. In 2024, the Real GDP is estimated at $141.344 billion, with a GDP per capita of $44,100.

5.5%: Unemployment rate projected for 2024.
76%: Household consumption as part of GDP (2024 est.).
51.5%: Contribution of services to GDP (2024 est.).
$65.368 billion: Total exports expected in 2024.
0.7%: Agricultural contribution to GDP (2024 est.).

Government

Puerto Rico functions as an unincorporated territory of the U.S. with a republican form of government. The capital is San Juan, and the government operates with separate branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. While Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, they cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections. The current Governor is Jenniffer González-Colón, who was elected in November 2024.

18 years: Minimum voting age; universal suffrage.
78 municipalities: Administrative divisions on the island.
Constitution ratified: March 3, 1952.
Legislative Assembly: Bicameral with a House of Representatives and a Senate.

Military and Security

Defense responsibilities for the island lie with the United States. Puerto Rico maintains its own police force and a National Guard, which was established by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1919.

Established: Puerto Rico National Guard traces its history back to 1511.
Police force: Comprised of local law enforcement committed to maintaining public order.

Energy

Electricity access in Puerto Rico is nearly universal, with 100% of the population having access as of 2022. The energy sector heavily relies on fossil fuels, accounting for over 94% of the total installed capacity.

18.669 billion kWh: Total electricity consumption (2023 est.).
6.898 million kW: Installed generating capacity (2023 est.).
94.6%: Percentage of electricity generated from fossil fuels (2023 est.).

Communications

Puerto Rico enjoys a robust communications infrastructure with a high rate of internet usage, with 87% of the population having access. The island has more than 30 TV stations and a variety of radio stations.

4.1 million: Mobile cellular subscriptions (2024).
751,000: Fixed broadband subscriptions (2023).
23: Telephones per 100 inhabitants (fixed lines, 2023).

Transportation

Transportation infrastructure includes an extensive network of airports and ports. Puerto Rico has 20 airports as of 2025 and 14 ports facilitating maritime logistics.

20: Number of airports (2025).
14: Total ports (2024).
40: Number of heliports (2025).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	2,984,841 (2025 est.)	Total estimated population
Area	9,104 sq km	Total land area
GDP (PPP)	$141.344 billion	Estimated for 2024
GDP per capita	$44,100	Estimated for 2024
Unemployment rate	5.5% (2024 est.)	Projected unemployment rate
Birth rate	7.78 births/1,000	Estimated for 2025
Life expectancy	82.1 years	Estimated for 2024
Literacy rate	92.4% (2017 est.)	Total population literacy rate
Urban population	93.6%	Estimated urban population share (2023)
Energy consumption per capita	86.286 million Btu/person (2023 est.)	Total energy consumption rate