PUERTO RICO

Official Name Capital Type of Government Geographic Features Population Racial Composition Official Language Religion Physical Features Location Topography
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico San Juan commonwealth 3,690,923 (July 2012 est.) white (mostly Spanish origin) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%, Amerindian 0.2%, mixed 4.4%, other 12% (2007) Spanish, English Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15% Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment

Climate Natural Resources Principal Crops Industries Chief Export

Recent Development/ Highlight

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.
important locati on al ong t he Mona Passage - a k ey s hippi ng lane t o the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of t he bi ggest and best natur al har bors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and hi gh c entr al mou ntai ns ensur e land is well wat ered; south coast rel ati vel y dry; f ertile coastal plai n belt in north Sugar production has lost out t o dairy pr oduction and other livestock pr oducts as the mai n sourc e of i ncome in t he agricultur al sector.