Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico(Spanishfor 'rich port'; abbreviatedPR),officially theCommonwealth of Puerto Rico,is aself-governingCaribbeanarchipelago and islandorganized as anunincorporated territoryof the United States under the designation ofcommonwealth. Located about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast ofMiami,Florida, between theDominican Republicin theGreater Antillesand theU.S. Virgin Islandsin theLesser Antilles, it consists of theeponymousmain island and numerous smaller islands, includingVieques,Culebra, andMona. With approximately 3.2 millionresidents, it is divided into78 municipalities, of which the most populous is thecapitalmunicipality ofSan Juan, followed by those within theSan Juan metropolitan area.Spanishand English are theofficial languagesof thegovernment,though Spanish predominates.
Puerto Rico was settled by a succession ofAmerindian peoplesbeginning 2,000 to 4,000 years ago;these included theOrtoiroid,Saladoid, andTaíno. It was claimed bySpainfollowing thearrivalofChristopher Columbusin 1493 and subsequentlycolonizedbyJuan Ponce de Leónin 1508.Puerto Rico was contested by otherEuropean powersinto the 18th century but remained a Spanish possession for the next 400 years. Thedecline of the indigenous population, followed by an influx ofSpanishsettlers, primarily from theCanary IslandsandAndalusia, andAfrican slavesvastly changed the cultural and demographic landscape of the archipelago. Within theSpanish Empire, Puerto Rico played a secondary butstrategically significant rolecompared to larger and wealthier colonies likePeruandNew Spain.By the late 19th century, a distinct Puerto Rican identity began to emerge, centered on a fusion ofEuropean,African, andindigenouselements.In 1898, following theSpanish–American War, Puerto Rico wasacquired by the United States.
Puerto Ricanshave beenU.S. citizenssince 1917 and can move freely between thearchipelagoand themainland.However, residents of Puerto Rico aredisenfranchised from federal electionsand generally do not payfederal income tax.In common with four otherterritories, Puerto Rico sends anonvoting representativeto theU.S. Congress, called aResident Commissioner, and participates inpresidential primaries; as it is not a state, Puerto Rico does not have a vote in the U.S. Congress, which oversees it under thePuerto Rico Federal Relations Act of 1950. Congress approved aterritorial constitutionin 1952, allowing residents of the archipelago to elect agovernorin addition to asenateandhouse of representatives. Thepolitical status of Puerto Ricois anongoing debate.
Beginning in the mid-20th century, theU.S. government, together with thePuerto Rico Industrial Development Company, launched a series of economic projects to develop Puerto Rico into an industrial high-income economy. It is classified by theInternational Monetary Fundas adeveloped jurisdictionwith an advanced,high-income economy;it ranks 40th on theHuman Development Index. The major sectors of Puerto Rico's economy aremanufacturing, primarilypharmaceuticals,petrochemicals, and electronics, followed byservices, namelytourismand hospitality.
Puerto Rico is Spanish for "rich port".Puerto Ricansoften call the islandBorinquen, a derivation ofBorikén, itsIndigenousTaínoname, which is popularly said to mean "Land of the Valiant Lord".The termsboricua,borinqueño, andborincanoare commonly used to identify someone of Puerto Rican heritage,and derive fromBorikénandBorinquenrespectively.The island is also popularly known in Spanish asLa Isla del Encanto, meaning "the island of enchantment".
Columbus named the islandSan Juan Bautista, in honor of SaintJohn the Baptist, while the capital city was namedCiudad de Puerto Rico("Rich Port City").Eventually traders and other maritime visitors came to refer to the entire island as Puerto Rico, while San Juan became the name used for the main trading/shipping port and the capital city.
The island's name was changed toPorto Ricoby the United States after theTreaty of Paris of 1898.The anglicized name was used by the U.S. government and private enterprises (alsoPortoin Italian, French, and Portuguese). The name was changed back to Puerto Rico in 1931 by a joint resolution in Congress introduced byFélix Córdova Dávila.
The official name of the entity in Spanish isEstado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico("FreeAssociated Stateof Puerto Rico"), while its official English name isCommonwealth of Puerto Rico.The Spanish official name was suggested by its architectLuis Muñoz Marínand adopted by a constitutional assembly on July 25, 1952. Some authorities have called it aeuphemismand have charged that the official name in English of "Commonwealth" constitutes afig leaf, i.e., associated with the covering up of an act that is actually embarrassing or distasteful with something of innocuous appearance.Puerto Rico remains aterritory of the United States, exercising substantial internal self-government, but subordinated to the U.S. Constitution in areas such as foreign affairs or defense. For this reason, it is not considered to be a full-fledged associated state under either international or U.S. domestic law.
The history of Puerto Rico began with the settlement of theOrtoiroid peoplebefore 430 BC. At the time ofChristopher Columbus's arrival in theNew Worldin 1493, the dominant indigenous culture was that of theTaínos. The Taíno people's numbers went dangerously low during the later half of the 16th century because of new infectious diseases carried by Europeans, exploitation by Spanish settlers, and warfare.
Located in the northeastern Caribbean, Puerto Rico formed a key part of the Spanish Empire from the early years of the exploration, conquest and colonization of theNew World. The island was a major military post during many wars between Spain and other European powers for control of the region in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
In 1593, Portuguese soldiers, sent from Lisbon by order of Phillip II, composed the first garrison of the San Felipe del Morro fortress in Puerto Rico. Some brought their wives, while others married Puerto Rican women, and today there are many Puerto Rican families with Portuguese last names. The smallest of theGreater Antilles, Puerto Rico was a stepping-stone in the passage from Europe to Cuba, Mexico, Central America, and the northern territories of South America. Throughout most of the 19th century until the conclusion of theSpanish–American War, Puerto Rico and Cuba were the last two Spanish colonies in the New World; they served as Spain's final outposts in a strategy to regain control of the American continents. Realizing that it was in danger of losing its two remaining Caribbean territories, the Spanish Crown revived theRoyal Decree of Graces of 1815. The decree was printed in Spanish, English and French in order to attract Europeans, with the hope that the independence movements would lose their popularity and strength with the arrival of new settlers. Free land was offered to those who wanted to populate the islands on the condition that they swear their loyalty to the Spanish Crown and allegiance to theCatholic Church.
In 1898, during theSpanish–American War, Puerto Rico was invaded and subsequently became a possession of the U.S. The first years of the 20th century were marked by the struggle to obtain greater democratic rights from the U.S.
TheForaker Actof 1900 established a civil government, endingrule by American generalsand theDepartment of War.  AU.S. Supreme Courtruling,Ortega v. Lara,202U.S.339, 342(1906),involving the Foraker Act and referring to the island as "the acquired country", soon affirmed that theU.S. Constitutionapplied within its territory and that any domestic Puerto Rican laws which did not conflict with it remained in force.
TheJones Actof 1917 made Puerto RicansU.S. citizens.The Jones act paved the way for the drafting ofPuerto Rico's Constitutionand its approval by Congress and Puerto Rican voters in 1952 Puerto Rico is one of five territories with less representation in the Federal government, along with the Federal District.
In 2009, theUnited Nations Special Committee on Decolonizationapproved a draft resolution calling on the U.S. government to expedite a process that would allow the Puerto Rican people to exercise fully their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.In November 2012, a two-question referendum took place, simultaneous with the general elections.The first question, voted on in August, asked voters whether they wanted to maintain the current status under the territorial clause of the U.S. Constitution. 54% voted against the status quo, effectively approving the second question to be voted on in November. The second question posed three alternate status options: statehood, independence, orfree association.61.16% voted for statehood, 33.34% for a sovereign free-associated state, and 5.49% for independence.
In 2016, PresidentBarack Obamasigned into lawH.R. 5278:PROMESA, establishing a Control Board over the Puerto Rican government. This board will have a significant degree of federal control involved in its establishment and operations. In particular, the authority to establish the control board derives from the federal government's constitutional power to "make all needful rules and regulations" regarding U.S. territories; The president would appoint all seven voting members of the board; and the board would have broad sovereign powers to effectively overrule decisions by Puerto Rico's legislature, governor, and other public authorities.There would be another referendum in 2017 in Puerto Rico, in favor of statehood although it was boycotted by some political opponents of it. (see2017 Puerto Rican status referendum)
In 2017, Puerto Rico suffered back-to-back large hurricanes: the Category 5Hurricane Irma(September 7, 2017) and the Category 4Hurricane Maria(September 20, 2017).The storms caused an extreme amount of damage to the island, causing the following effects: all power was knocked out, 95% cell service, 43% of waste water treatment plants, 40 thousand land slides, 97% of roads blocked, 28% of health facilities damaged, leading to over 90% of the population applying for assistance after the storms.See alsoEffects of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
It is thought that a combination of the debt crisis and two major hurricanes in the late 2010s, caused further departures from the island. Overall the population has decreased by about half a million in the 21st century, with many seeking better opportunities on the mainland.
Puerto Rico held itsstatehood referendumduring the 3 November 2020 general elections; the ballot asked one question: "Should Puerto Rico be admitted immediately into the Unionas a State?" The results showed that 52 percent of Puerto Rico voters answered yes.In the United States in the early 2020s, thePuerto Rico Status Actwas being worked on by Congress, and H.R. 8393 passed the House in 2022—though it has not passed the Senate; this bill would support PR making a binding referendum. The bill does not decide PR's fate, it simply prepares the United States to respond the outcome of referendum.In the 5 November 2024 elections, there was three choices in a non-binding referendum which included Statehood, Independence, or Independence with Free Association on the ballot; Statehood won with 59%.In addition, on November 5, 2024,Jennifer Gonzalez, who is pro-statehood, won the office of Governor of Puerto Rico in the 2024 general election with nearly 40% of the vote.
Puerto Rico consists of the main island of Puerto Rico and various smaller islands, includingVieques,Culebra,Mona,Desecheo, andCaja de Muertos. Of these five, only Culebra and Vieques are inhabited year-round. Mona, which has played a key role in maritime history, is uninhabited most of the year except for employees of thePuerto Rico Department of Natural Resources.There are many other even smallerislets, likeMonito, located near Mona,andIsla de CabrasandLa Isleta de San Juan, both located on theSan Juan Bay. The latter is the only inhabited islet with communities likeOld San JuanandPuerta de Tierra, which are connected to the main island by bridges.
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has an area of 3,515 square miles (9,100 km), of which 3,459 sq mi (8,960 km) is land and 56 sq mi (150 km) is water.Puerto Rico is larger thanDelawareandRhode Islandbut smaller thanConnecticut. The maximum length of the main island from east to west is 110 mi (180 km), and the maximum width from north to south is 40 mi (64 km).Puerto Rico is the smallest of theGreater Antilles. It is 80% of the size ofJamaica,just over 18% of the size ofHispaniolaand 8% of the size of Cuba, the largest of the Greater Antilles.
The topography of the island is mostly mountainous with large flat areas in the northern and southern coasts. The main mountain range that crosses the island from east to west is called theCordillera Central(also known as the Central Mountain Range in English). The highest elevation in Puerto Rico,Cerro de Punta4,390 feet (1,340 m),is located in this range. Another important peak isEl Yunque, one of the highest in theSierra de Luquilloat theEl Yunque National Forest, with an elevation of 3,494 ft (1,065 m).
Puerto Rico has 17 lakes, all man-made, and more than50 rivers, most of which originate in the Cordillera Central.Rivers in the northern region of the island are typically longer and of higherwater flow ratesthan those of the south, since the south receives less rain than the central and northern regions.
Puerto Rico is composed ofCretaceoustoEocenevolcanicandplutonicrocks, overlain by youngerOligoceneand more recentcarbonatesand othersedimentary rocks.Most of thecavernsandkarsttopography on the island occurs in the northern region. The oldest rocks are approximately190 millionyears old (Jurassic) and are located atSierra Bermejain the southwest part of the island. They may represent part of theoceanic crustand are believed to come from the Pacific Ocean realm.
Puerto Rico lies at the boundary between theCaribbeanandNorth American Platesand is being deformed by thetectonicstresses caused by their interaction. These stresses may causeearthquakesandtsunamis. Theseseismicevents, along withlandslides, represent some of the most dangerousgeologic hazardsin the island and in the northeastern Caribbean. The1918 San Fermín earthquakeoccurred on11 October, 1918 and had an estimated magnitude of 7.5 on theRichter scale.It originated off the coast ofAguadilla, several kilometers off the northern coast, and was accompanied by atsunami. It caused extensive property damage and widespread losses, damaging infrastructure, especially bridges. It resulted in an estimated 116 deaths and $4 million in property damage. The failure of the government to move rapidly to provide for the general welfare contributed to political activism by opponents and eventually to the rise of thePuerto Rican Nationalist Party. On 7 January 2020,the country experiencedits largest earthquakesince 1918,estimated at magnitude 6.4.Economic losses were estimated to be more than $3.1 billion.
ThePuerto Rico Trench, the largest and deepest trench in the Atlantic, is located about 71 mi (114 km) north of Puerto Rico at the boundary between the Caribbean and North American plates.It is 170 mi (270 km) long.At its deepest point, named theMilwaukee Deep, it is almost 27,600 ft (8,400 m) deep.TheMona Canyon, located in theMona Passagebetween Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, is another prominent oceanic landform with steep walls measuring between 1.25 and 2.17 miles (2.01 and 3.49 km) in height from bottom to top.
The climate of Puerto Rico in theKöppen climate classificationis mostlytropical rainforest. Temperatures are warm to hot year round, averaging near 85 °F (29 °C) in lower elevations and 70 °F (21 °C) in the mountains. Easterlytrade windspass across the island year round. Puerto Rico has arainy season, which stretches from April into November, and adry seasonstretching from December to March. The mountains of the Cordillera Central create arain shadowand are the main cause of the variations in the temperature and rainfall that occur over very short distances. The mountains can also cause wide variation in local wind speed and direction due to their sheltering and channeling effects, adding to the climatic variation. Daily temperature changes seasonally are quite small in the lowlands and coastal areas.
Between the dry and wet seasons, there is a temperature change of around 6 °F (3.3 °C). This change is due mainly to the warm waters of the tropicalAtlantic Ocean, which significantly modify cooler air moving in from the north and northwest. Coastal water temperatures during the year are about 75 °F (24 °C) in February and 85 °F (29 °C) in August. The highest temperature ever recorded was 110 °F (43 °C) atArecibo,while the lowest temperature ever recorded was 40 °F (4 °C) in the mountains atAdjuntas,Aibonito, andCorozal.The average yearly precipitation is 66 in (1,676 mm).Climate change in Puerto Ricohas had a large impact on the ecosystems and landscapes.
Puerto Rico experiences theAtlantic hurricane season, similar to the rest of the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean. On average, a quarter of its annual rainfall is contributed fromtropical cyclones, which are more prevalent during periods ofLa NiñathanEl Niño.A cyclone of tropical storm strength passes near Puerto Rico, on average, every five years. A hurricane passes in the vicinity of the island, on average, every seven years. Since 1851, theLake Okeechobee Hurricane(also known as the San Felipe Segundo hurricane in Puerto Rico) of September 1928 is the only hurricane to make landfall as a Category 5 hurricane.In 2017, Puerto Rico was affected by Category 5Hurricane Irmaand Category 4Hurricane Maria,causing widespread and devastatingimpacts, particularly to the electric grid.
Puerto Rico is home to three terrestrial ecoregions:Puerto Rican moist forests,Puerto Rican dry forests, andGreater Antilles mangroves.Puerto Rico has two biosphere reserves recognized by theUNESCOMan and the Biosphere Programme: Luquillo Biosphere Reserve represented byEl Yunque National Forestand theGuánica Biosphere Reserve.
Speciesendemicto the archipelago number 239 plants, 16 birds and 39amphibians/reptiles, recognized as of 1998. Most of these (234, 12 and 33 respectively) are found on the main island.The most recognizable endemic species and a symbol of Puerto Rican pride is thecoquí, a small frog easily identified by the sound of its call, from which it gets its name. Mostcoquíspecies (13 of 17) live in theEl Yunque National Forest,the onlytropical rainforestin theU.S. Forest Servicesystem, located in the northeast of the island. It was previously known as the Caribbean National Forest. El Yunque is home to more than 240 plants, 26 of which are endemic to the island. It is also home to 50 bird species, including the critically endangeredPuerto Rican amazon.
In addition to El Yunque National Forest, the Puerto Rican moist forest ecoregion is represented by protected areas such as theMaricaoandToro Negrostate forests. These areas are home to endangered endemic species such as the Puerto Rican boa (Chilabothrus inornatus), the Puerto Rican sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus venator), the Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus brunnescens) and the elfin woods warbler (Setophaga angelae). TheNorthern Karstcountry of Puerto Rico is also home to one of the remaining rainforest tracts in the island, with theRío Abajo State Forestbeing the first focus for the reintroduction of the highly endangered Puerto Rican parrot outside of the Sierra de Luquillo.
In the southwest, the Guánica State Forest and Biosphere Reserve contain over 600 uncommon species of plants and animals, including 48 endangered species and 16 that are endemic to Puerto Rico, and is considered a prime example of the Puerto Rican dry forest ecoregion and the best-preserved dry forest in the Caribbean.Other protected dry forests in Puerto Rico can be formed within theCaribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge complexat theCabo Rojo,Desecheo,CulebraandVieques National Wildlife Refuges, and in theCaja de MuertosandMona and Monito Islands Nature Reserves.Examples of endemic species found in this ecoregion are the higo chumbo (Harrisia portoricensis), the Puerto Rican crested toad (Peltophryne lemur), and the Mona ground iguana (Cyclura stejnegeri), the largest land animal native to Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico has three of the seven year-longbioluminescent baysin the Caribbean:Laguna GrandeinFajardo,La ParguerainLajasandPuerto MosquitoinVieques. These are unique bodies of water surrounded bymangrovesthat are inhabited by thedinoflagellatePyrodinium bahamense.However, tourism, pollution, and hurricanes have highly threatened these unique ecosystems.
Puerto Rico has arepublican form of governmentbased on theAmerican model, withseparation of powerssubject to the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United States.All governmental powers are delegated by theUnited States Congress, with the head of state being thepresident of the United States. As anunincorporated territory, Puerto Rico lacks full protection under the U.S. Constitution.
The government of Puerto Rico is composed of three branches. The executive is headed by thegovernor, currentlyJenniffer González-Colón. Thelegislative branchconsists of thebicameralLegislative Assembly, made up of aSenateas its upper chamber and aHouse of Representativesas its lower chamber; the Senate is headed by apresident, currentlyJosé Luis Dalmau, while the House is headed by thespeaker of the House, currentlyTatito Hernández. The governor and legislators are elected by popular vote every four years, withthe last election held in November 2020. Thejudicial branchis headed by thechief justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, currentlyMaite Oronoz Rodríguez. Members of the judiciary are appointed by the governor with theadvice and consentof the Senate.
Puerto Rico is represented in the U.S. Congress by a nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives, theresident commissioner, currentlyPablo Hernández Rivera. Current congressional rules have removed the commissioner's power to vote in theCommittee of the Whole, but the commissioner can vote in committee.
Puerto Rican elections are governed by theFederal Election Commissionand theState Elections Commission of Puerto Rico.Residents of Puerto Rico, including other U.S. citizens, cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections, but can vote inprimaries. Puerto Ricans who become residents of aU.S. stateorWashington, D.C.can vote in presidential elections.
Puerto Rico haseight senatorial districts,40 representative districts, and78 municipalities; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the U.S. government. Municipalities are subdivided into wards orbarrios, and those into sectors. Each municipality has amayorand a municipal legislature elected for a four-year term. The municipality ofSan Juanis the oldest, founded in 1521;the next earliest settlements areSan Germánin 1570,Coamoin 1579,Areciboin 1614,Aguadain 1692 andPoncein 1692. Increased settlement in the 18th century saw 30 more communities established, following 34 in the 19th century. Six were founded in the 20th century, the most recent beingFloridain 1971.
Since 1952, Puerto Rico has had three main political parties: thePopular Democratic Party(PPD in Spanish), theNew Progressive Party(PNP in Spanish) and thePuerto Rican Independence Party(PIP). The three parties stand for different political status. The PPD, for example, seeksto maintain the island's status with the U.S. as a commonwealth, while the PNP seeksto make Puerto Rico a U.S. state. Meanwhile, the PIP seeksto make Puerto Rico a sovereign nationfree from U.S. authority. In terms of party strength, the PPD and PNP usually hold about 47% of the vote each while the PIP holds about 5%.
After 2007, other parties emerged on the island. The first, thePuerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Partywas registered that same year. The party claims that it seeks to address the islands' problems from a status-neutral platform. But it ceased to remain as a registered party when it failed to obtain the required number of votes in the 2008 general election. Four years later, the 2012 election saw the emergence of theMovimiento Unión Soberanista(English: Sovereign Union Movement) and thePartido del Pueblo Trabajador(English: Working People's Party) but none obtained more than 1% of the vote.
Other non-registered parties include thePuerto Rican Nationalist Party, theSocialist Workers Movement, and theHostosian National Independence Movement.
The nature of Puerto Rico's political relationship with the U.S. is the subject ofongoing debatein Puerto Rico, the U.S. Congress, and theUnited Nations.Specifically, the basic question is whether Puerto Rico should remain an unincorporated territory of the U.S., become a U.S. state, or become an independent country.
Constitutionally, Puerto Rico is subject to theplenary powersof the U.S. Congress under theterritorial clauseofArticle IV of the U.S. Constitution.Laws enacted at the federal level in the U.S.apply to Puerto Rico as well, regardless of its political status. Their residentsdo not have voting representation in the U.S. Congress. Puerto Rico lacks "the full sovereignty of an independent nation", for example, the power to manage its "external relations with other nations", which is held by the U.S. federal government. The U.S. Supreme Court has indicated that once the U.S. Constitution has been extended to an area (by Congress or the courts), its coverage is irrevocable. To hold that the political branches may switch the Constitution on or off at will would lead to a regime in which they, not this Court, say "what the law is".
Puerto Ricans "were collectively made U.S. citizens" in 1917 as a result of theJones–Shafroth Act.U.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections, though both major parties, Republican and Democratic, hold primary elections in Puerto Rico to choose delegates to vote on the parties' presidential candidates. Since Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory and not a U.S. state, the U.S. Constitution does not fullyenfranchiseU.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico.
Onlyfundamental rightsunder the American federal constitution and adjudications are applied to Puerto Ricans. Various other U.S. Supreme Court decisions have held which rights apply in Puerto Rico and which ones do not. Puerto Ricans have a long history of service in the U.S. Armed Forces and, since 1917, they have been included in the U.S.compulsory draftwhen it has been in effect.
Though the Commonwealth government has its own tax laws, residents of Puerto Rico, contrary to a popular misconception, do pay U.S. federal taxes: customs taxes (which are subsequently returned to the Puerto Rico Treasury), import/export taxes, federal commodity taxes, social security taxes, etc. Residents pay federalpayroll taxes, such asSocial SecurityandMedicare, as well as Commonwealth of Puerto Rico income taxes. All federal employees, those who do business with the federal government, Puerto Rico-based corporations that intend to send funds to the U.S., and some others, such as Puerto Rican residents that are members of the U.S. military, and Puerto Rico residents who earned income from sources outside Puerto Rico also pay federal income taxes. In addition, because the cutoff point for income taxation is lower than that of the U.S. IRS code, and because the per-capita income in Puerto Rico is much lower than the average per-capita income on the mainland, more Puerto Rico residents pay income taxes to the local taxation authority than if the IRS code were applied to the island. This occurs because "the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico government has a wider set of responsibilities than do U.S. State and local governments."
In 2009, Puerto Rico paid$3.742 billioninto theU.S. Treasury.Residents of Puerto Rico pay into Social Security, and are thus eligible for Social Security benefits upon retirement. They are excluded from theSupplemental Security Income, and the island receives a smaller fraction of theMedicaidfunding it would receive if it were a U.S. state.Also, Medicare providers receive less-than-full state-like reimbursements for services rendered to beneficiaries in Puerto Rico, even though the latter paid fully into the system.
Puerto Rico's authority to enact a criminal code derives from Congress and not from local sovereignty as with the states. Thus, individuals committing a crime can only be tried in federal or territorial court, otherwise it would constitute double jeopardy and is constitutionally impermissible.
In 1992, PresidentGeorge H. W. Bushissued a memorandum to heads of executive departments and agencies establishing the current administrative relationship between the federal government and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This memorandum directs all federal departments, agencies, and officials to treat Puerto Rico administratively as if it were a state, insofar as doing so would not disrupt federal programs or operations.
Many federal executive branch agencies have significant presence in Puerto Rico, just as in any state, including theFederal Bureau of Investigation,Federal Emergency Management Agency,Transportation Security Administration,Social Security Administration, and others. While Puerto Rico has its ownCommonwealth judicial systemsimilar to that of a U.S. state, there is also a U.S. federal district court in Puerto Rico, and Puerto Ricans have served as judges in that Court and in other federal courts on the U.S. mainland regardless of their residency status at the time of their appointment.Sonia Sotomayor, aNew Yorker of Puerto Rican descent, serves as anassociate justiceof the U.S. Supreme Court. Puerto Ricans have also been frequently appointed to high-level federal positions, including serving asU.S. ambassadorsto other nations.
Unlike the vast majority of U.S. states, Puerto Rico has no first-order administrative divisions akin tocounties, but has 78municipalitiesormunicipiosas the secondary unit of administration; forU.S. Censuspurposes, the municipalities are consideredcounty equivalents. Municipalities are subdivided intobarrios, and those into sectors. Each municipality has amayorand a municipal legislature elected for four-year terms, per theAutonomous Municipalities Act of 1991.
Puerto Rico is subject to theCommerceandTerritorial Clauseof the U.S. Constitution and is thus restricted on how it can engage with other nations, sharing the opportunities and limitations that state governments have albeit not being one. As is the case with state governments, it has established several trade agreements with other nations, particularly with Latin American countries such as Colombia and Panamá.
It has also established trade promotion offices in many foreign countries, all Spanish-speaking, and within the U.S. itself, which now include Spain, the Dominican Republic,Panama,Colombia,Washington, D.C., New York City and Florida, and has included in the past offices inChile,Costa Rica, and Mexico. Such agreements require permission from the U.S. Department of State; most are simply allowed by existing laws or trade treaties between the U.S. and other nations which supersede trade agreements pursued by Puerto Rico and different U.S. states. Puerto Rico hostsconsulatesfrom 41 countries, mainly from theAmericasand Europe, with most located in San Juan.
At the local level, Puerto Rico established by law that the international relations which states and territories are allowed to engage must be handled by theDepartment of State of Puerto Rico, anexecutive department, headed by thesecretary of state of Puerto Rico, who also serves as the unincorporated territory's lieutenant governor. It is also charged to liaise with generalconsulsandhonorary consulsbased in Puerto Rico. ThePuerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, along with theOffice of the Resident Commissioner, manages all its intergovernmental affairs before entities of or in the U.S. (including the federal government of the U.S., local and state governments of the U.S., and public or private entities in the U.S.).
Both entities frequently assist the Department of State of Puerto Rico in engaging with Washington, D.C.-based ambassadors and federal agencies that handle Puerto Rico's foreign affairs, such as the U.S. Department of State, theAgency for International Development, and others. The current secretary of state isLarry Seilhamer Rodríguezfrom the New Progressive Party, while the currentdirector of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs AdministrationisJennifer M. Stopiranalso from the NPP and a member of the Republican Party of the U.S.
Theresident commissioner of Puerto Rico, thedelegateelected by Puerto Ricans to represent them before the federal government, including the U.S. Congress, sits in the U.S. House of Representatives, serves and votes on congressional committees, and functions in every respect as a legislator except being denied a vote on the final disposition of legislation on the House floor. The current resident commissioner isJenniffer González-Colón, a member of the New Progressive Party and the Republican Party, elected in 2016. She received more votes than any other official elected in Puerto Rico that year.
Many Puerto Ricans have served as U.S. ambassadors to different nations and international organizations, such as theOrganization of American States, mostly but not exclusively in Latin America. For example, Maricarmen Aponte, a Puerto Rican and now an acting assistant secretary of state, previously served asU.S. ambassador to El Salvador.
As it is an unincorporated U.S. territory, the defense of Puerto Rico is provided by the U.S. as part of theTreaty of Pariswith the president of the U.S. as itscommander-in-chief. Puerto Rico has its ownNational Guard, and its ownstate defense force, thePuerto Rico State Guard, which by local law is under the authority of the Puerto Rico National Guard.
Thecommander-in-chiefof both local forces is thegovernor of Puerto Ricowho delegates his authority to thePuerto Rico adjutant general, currentlyMajor GeneralJosé J. Reyes. The Adjutant General, in turn, delegates the authority over the State Guard to another officer but retains the authority over the Puerto Rico National Guard as a whole.
U.S. military installations in Puerto Rico were part of theU.S. Atlantic Command(LANTCOM after 1993 USACOM), which had authority over all U.S. military operations that took place throughout the Atlantic. Puerto Rico had been seen as crucial in supporting LANTCOM's mission until 1999, when U.S. Atlantic Command was renamed and given a new mission asU.S. Joint Forces Command. Puerto Rico is currently under the responsibility ofU.S. Northern Command.
Both the Naval Forces Caribbean (NFC) and the Fleet Air Caribbean (FAIR) were formerly based at the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station. The NFC had authority over all U.S. Naval activity in the waters of the Caribbean while FAIR had authority over all U.S. military flights and air operations over the Caribbean. With the closing of the Roosevelt Roads and Vieques Island training facilities, the U.S. Navy has basically exited from Puerto Rico, except for the ships that steam by, and the only significant military presence in the island is theU.S. ArmyatFt Buchanan, thePuerto Rican Armyand Air National Guards, and theU.S. Coast Guard. Protests over the noise of bombing practice forced the closure of the naval base. This resulted in a loss of 6,000 jobs and an annual decrease in local income of $300 million.
A branch of the U.S.Army National Guardis stationed in Puerto Rico – known as thePuerto Rico Army National Guard– which performs missions equivalent to those of the Army National Guards of different U.S. states, including ground defense, disaster relief, and control of civil unrest. The local National Guard also incorporates a branch of the U.S.Air National Guard– known as thePuerto Rico Air National Guard– which performs missions equivalent to those of the Air National Guards of each one of the U.S. states.
At different times in the 20th century, the U.S. had about 25 military or naval installations in Puerto Rico.The largest of these installations were the formerRoosevelt Roads Naval StationinCeiba, the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility (AFWTF) onVieques, the National Guard training facility atCamp SantiagoinSalinas,Fort AlleninJuana Diaz, the Army'sFort Buchananin San Juan, the former U.S. Air Force's Ramey Air Force Base in Aguadilla, and the Puerto Rico Air National Guard'sMuñiz Air National Guard BaseinSan Juan.
The former U.S. Navy facilities at Roosevelt Roads, Vieques, and Sabana Seca have been deactivated and partially turned over to the local government. Other thanU.S. Coast Guardand Puerto Rico National Guard facilities, there are only two remaining military installations in Puerto Rico: the U.S. Army's small Ft. Buchanan (supporting local veterans and reserve units) and the PRANG (Puerto Rico Air National Guard) Muñiz Air Base (the C-130 Fleet). In recent years, the U.S. Congress has considered their deactivations, but these have been opposed by diverse public and private entities in Puerto Rico – such as retired military who rely on Ft. Buchanan for the services available there.
Puerto Ricans have participated in many U.S. military conflicts, including theAmerican Revolution, when volunteers from Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Mexico fought theBritishin 1779 under the command of GeneralBernardo de Gálvez(1746–1786).They continue to be disproportionately represented in present-day conflicts inIraqandAfghanistan.The most notable example is the65th Infantry Regimentof the U.S. Army, nicknamedThe Borinqueneers,from the original Taíno name of the island (Borinquen). The all-Puerto Ricanregiment participated inWorld War I,World War II, theKorean War, and theWar on Terror; in 2014, it was awarded theCongressional Gold Medalfor its heroism during the Korean War.
A significant number of Puerto Ricans serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, largely asNational Guardmembers and civilian employees. The size of the overall military-related community is estimated to be 100,000, including retired personnel.Fort Buchanan has about 4,000 military and civilian personnel. In addition, approximately 17,000 people are members of the Puerto Rico Army and Air National Guards, or the U.S. Reserve forces.
The insular legal system is a blend ofcivil lawand thecommon lawsystems.
Puerto Rico is the only current U.S. jurisdiction whose legal system operates primarily in a language other than American English: namely,Spanish. Because theU.S. federal governmentoperates primarily in English, all Puerto Rican attorneys must be bilingual in order to litigate in English inU.S. federal courts, and litigate federal preemption issues in Puerto Rican courts.
Title 48 of the United States Codeoutlines the role of the U.S. Code to U.S. territories and insular areas such as Puerto Rico. After the U.S. government assumed control of Puerto Rico in 1901, it initiated legal reforms resulting in the adoption of codes of criminal law, criminal procedure, and civil procedure modeled after those then in effect inCalifornia. Although Puerto Rico has since followed the federal example of transferring criminal and civil procedure fromstatutory lawto rules promulgated by the judiciary, several portions of its criminal law still reflect the influence of theCalifornia Penal Code.
The judicial branch is headed by thechief justiceof thePuerto Rico Supreme Court, which is the only appellate court required by the Constitution. All other courts are created by theLegislative Assembly of Puerto Rico.There is also aFederal District Court for Puerto Rico, and someone accused of a criminal act at the federal level may not be accused for the same act in a Commonwealth court, and vice versa, since Puerto Rico as an unincorporated territory lacks sovereignty separate from Congress as a state does.The U.S. Supreme Court held in 2016 that such a parallel accusation would constitutedouble jeopardy.
The homicide rate of 19.2 per 100,000 inhabitants was significantly higher than any U.S. state in 2014.Most homicide victims are gang members and drug traffickers with about 80% of homicides in Puerto Rico being drug related.
In 1992, the FBI made armedcarjackinga federal crime and rates decreased per statistics,but as of 2019, the problem continued in municipalities like Guaynabo and others.From 1 January 2019 to 14 March 2019, thirty carjackings had occurred on the island.
Puerto Rico is classified as ahigh income economyby theWorld BankandInternational Monetary Fund.It is considered the most competitive economy inLatin Americaby theWorld Economic Forumand ranks highly on theHuman Development Index. According toWorld Bank,gross national incomeper capita in Puerto Rico in 2020 was $21,740.Puerto Rico's economy is mainly driven bymanufacturing(primarily pharmaceuticals, textiles, petrochemicals and electronics) followed by services (primarily finance, insurance,real estateandtourism); agriculture represents less than 1% of GNP.In recent years, it has also become a popular destination for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions), with a modernconvention center districtoverlooking thePort of San Juan.
Responsibility for San Juanportinspections lies withPPQ.So high is the volume ofcargotraffic that between 1984–2000 the San Juan PPQ station recorded 7.74% of allinterceptions, #4 in the country, #2 for insects and #3 forpathogens.Most species are originally fromSouth Americaor elsewhere in theCaribbeandue to PR's position as an intermediary on the way to the mainland.This is one of the worst locations forcut flowersand other plant parts – both in terms of number of problems and diversity of species – for insects in plant parts inbaggage, and for pathogens in plant parts in baggage and cargo.Pathogen interceptions were dramatically (17%) higher 1999–2000 than in 1985–1986.
Puerto Rico's geographyandpolitical statusare both determining factors for its economic prosperity, primarily due to its relatively small size;lack of natural resourcesand subsequent dependence onimports; and vulnerability to U.S.foreign policyand trading restrictions, particularly concerningits shipping industry.
Puerto Rico experienced a recession from 2006 to 2011, interrupted by four quarters of economic growth, and entered into recession again in 2013, following growing fiscal imbalance and the expiration of the IRS Section 936 corporate incentives that theU.S. Internal Revenue Codehad applied to Puerto Rico. This IRS section was critical to the economy, as it establishedtax exemptionsfor U.S. corporations that settled in Puerto Rico and allowed their insular subsidiaries to send their earnings to the parent corporation at any time, without paying federal tax on corporate income. Puerto Rico has been able to maintain a relatively low inflation in the past decade while maintaining apurchasing power parityper capita higher than 80% of the rest of the world.
Academically, most of Puerto Rico's economic woes stem from federal regulations that expired, have been repealed, or no longer apply to Puerto Rico; its inability to become self-sufficient and self-sustainable throughout history;its highly politicized public policy which tends to changewhenever a political party gains power;as well asits highly inefficient local governmentwhich has accrued apublic debtequal to 68% of itsgross domestic productthroughout time.Puerto Rico currently has a public debt of $72.204 billion (equivalent to 103% of GNP), and a government deficit of $2.5 billion.
By American standards, Puerto Rico is underdeveloped: It is poorer than Mississippi, the poorest state of the U.S., with 41% of its population below thepoverty line.However, it has the highestGDPper capita in Latin America. Puerto Rico's main trading partners are the United States,Ireland, and Japan, with most products coming fromEast Asia, mainly China,Hong Kong, andTaiwan. Puerto Rico's dependency on oil fortransportationand electricity generation, as well as its dependency on food imports and raw materials, makes Puerto Rico volatile and highly reactive to changes inthe world economyandclimate.
Tourism in Puerto Ricois also an important part of the economy. In 2017,Hurricane Mariacaused severe damage to the island and its infrastructure, disrupting tourism for many months. The damage was estimated at $100 billion. An April 2019 report indicated that by that time, only a few hotels were still closed, that life for tourists in and around the capital had, for the most part, returned to normal.By October 2019, nearly all of the popular amenities for tourists, in the major destinations such as San Juan, Ponce and Arecibo, were in operation on the island and tourism was rebounding. This was important for the economy, since tourism provides up to 10% of Puerto Rico's GDP, according to Discover Puerto Rico.
A tourism campaign was launched by Discover Puerto Rico in 2018 intended to highlight the island's culture and history, branding it distinct, and different from other Caribbean destinations. In 2019, Discover Puerto Rico planned to continue that campaign.
In early 2017, thePuerto Rican government-debt crisisposed serious problems for the government which was saddled with outstanding bond debt that had climbed to $70 billion.The debt had been increasing during a decade-long recession.
The Commonwealth had been defaulting on many debts, including bonds, since 2015. With debt payments due, the governor was facing the risk of a government shutdown and failure to fund the managed health care system."Without action before April, Puerto Rico's ability to execute contracts for Fiscal Year 2018 with its managed care organizations will be threatened, thereby putting at risk beginning July 1, 2017 the health care of up to 900,000 impoverished U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico", according to a letter sent to Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Health and Human Services. They also said that "Congress must enact measures recommended by both Republicans and Democrats that fix Puerto Rico's inequitable health care financing structure and promote sustained economic growth."
Initially, the oversight board created underPROMESAcalled for Puerto Rico's governorRicardo Rossellóto deliver a fiscal turnaround plan by 28 January. Just before that deadline, the control board gave the Commonwealth government until 28 February to present a fiscal plan (including negotiations with creditors for restructuring debt) to solve the problems. A moratorium on lawsuits by debtors was extended to 31 May.It is essential for Puerto Rico to reach restructuring deals to avoid a bankruptcy-like process under PROMESA.An internal survey conducted by the Puerto Rican Economists Association revealed that the majority of Puerto Rican economists reject the policy recommendations of the Board and the Rosselló government, with more than 80% of economists arguing in favor of auditing the debt.
In early August 2017, the island's financial oversight board (created by PROMESA) planned to institute two days off without pay per month for government employees, down from the original plan of four days per month; the latter had been expected to achieve $218 million in savings. Governor Rossello rejected this plan as unjustified and unnecessary. Pension reforms were also discussed including a proposal for a 10% reduction in benefits to begin addressing the $50 billion in unfunded pension liabilities.
Puerto Rico has anoperating budgetof about U.S.$9.8 billion with expenses at about $10.4 billion, creating a structural deficit of $775 million (about 7.9% of the budget).The practice of approving budgets with a structural deficit has been done for 25 consecutive years starting in 2000. Throughout those years, including present time, all budgets contemplated issuing bonds to cover these projected deficits rather than making structural adjustments. This practice increased Puerto Rico's cumulative debt, as the government had already been issuing bondsto balance its actual budgetfor four decades beginning in 1973.
Projected deficits added substantial burdens to an already indebted nation which accrueda public debtof $71B or about 70% of Puerto Rico's gross domestic product. This sparkedan ongoing government-debt crisisafter Puerto Rico's general obligation bonds were downgraded to speculative non-investment grade ("junk status") by three credit-rating agencies. In terms of financial control, almost 9.6%—or about $1.5 billion—of Puerto Rico's central government budget expenses for FY2014 is expected to be spent on debt service.Harsher budget cuts are expected as Puerto Rico must now repay larger chunks of debts in the coming years.
For practical reasons the budget is divided into two aspects: a "general budget" which comprises the assignments funded exclusively by theDepartment of Treasury of Puerto Rico, and the "consolidated budget" which comprises the assignments funded by the general budget, byPuerto Rico's government-owned corporations, by revenue expected from loans, by the sale of government bonds, by subsidies extended by thefederal government of the United States, and by other funds.
Both budgets contrast each other drastically, with the consolidated budget being usually thrice the size of the general budget; currently $29B and $9.0B respectively. Almost one out of every four dollars in the consolidated budget comes from U.S. federal subsidies while government-owned corporations compose more than 31% of the consolidated budget.
The critical aspects come from the sale of bonds, which comprise 7% of the consolidated budget – a ratio that increased annually due to the government's inability to prepare a balanced budget in addition to being incapable of generating enough income to cover all its expenses. In particular, the government-owned corporations add a heavy burden to the overall budget and public debt, as none is self-sufficient. For example, in FY2011 the government-owned corporations reported aggregated losses of more than $1.3B with thePuerto Rico Highways and Transportation Authority(PRHTA) reporting losses of $409M, thePuerto Rico Electric Power Authority(PREPA; the government monopoly that controls all electricity on the island) reporting losses of $272M, while thePuerto Rico Aqueducts and Sewers Authority(PRASA; the government monopoly that controls all water utilities on the island) reported losses of $112M.
Losses by government-owned corporations have been defrayed through the issuance of bonds compounding more than 40% of Puerto Rico's entire public debt today.Holistically, from FY2000–FY2010 Puerto Rico's debt grew at acompound annual growth rate(CAGR) of 9% while GDP remained stagnant.This has not always provided a long-term solution. In early July 2017 for example, the PREPA power authority was effectively bankrupt after defaulting in a plan to restructure $9 billion in bond debt; the agency planned to seek Court protection.
Thecost of livingin Puerto Rico is high and has increased over the past decade.
Statistics used for cost of living sometimes do not take into account certain costs, such as the high cost of electricity, which has hovered in the 24¢ to 30¢ range per kilowatt-hour, two to three times the national average, increased travel costs for longer flights, additional shipping fees, and the loss of promotional participation opportunities for customers "outside the continental United States". While some online stores do offer free shipping on orders to Puerto Rico, many merchants exclude Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
The household median income is stated as $19,350 and the mean income as $30,463 in the U.S. Census Bureau's 2015 update. The report also indicates that 45.5% of individuals are below the poverty level.The median home value in Puerto Rico ranges from U.S.$100,000 to U.S.$214,000, while the national median home value sits at $119,600.
One of the most cited contributors to the high cost of living in Puerto Rico is theMerchant Marine Act of 1920, also known as theJones Act, which prevents foreign-flagged ships from carrying cargo between two American ports, a practice known ascabotage.Because of the Jones Act, foreign ships inbound with goods fromCentralandSouth America,Western Europe, andAfricacannot stop in Puerto Rico, offload Puerto Rico-bound goods, load mainland-bound Puerto Rico-manufactured goods, and continue to U.S. ports. Instead, they must proceed directly to U.S. ports, where distributorsbreak bulkand send Puerto Rico-bound manufactured goods to Puerto Rico across the ocean by U.S.-flagged ships.Thelocal government of Puerto Ricohas requested several times to the U.S. Congress to exclude Puerto Rico from the Jones Act restrictions without success.
In 2013 theGovernment Accountability Officepublished a report which concluded that "repealing or amending the Jones Act cabotage law might cut Puerto Rico shipping costs" and that "shippers believed that opening the trade to non-U.S.-flag competition could lower costs".Ultimately, the report concluded that "[the] effects of modifying the application of the Jones Act for Puerto Rico are highly uncertain" for both Puerto Rico and the U.S., particularly for theU.S. shipping industryand the military preparedness of the U.S.A 2018 study by economists at Boston-based Reeve & Associates and Puerto Rico-based Estudios Tecnicos has concluded that the1920 Jones Acthas no impact on either retail prices or the cost of living on Puerto Rico.
Cities and towns in Puerto Rico are interconnected by a system of roads,freeways,expressways, andhighwaysmaintained by the Highways and Transportation Authority under the jurisdiction of theU.S. Department of Transportation, and patrolled by thePuerto Rico Police Department. The island'sSan Juan metropolitan areais served by apublic bus transit systemand ametro systemcalledTren Urbano('Urban Train'). Other forms of Puerto Rican public transport include seaborne ferries that serve Puerto Rico's archipelago as well ascarros públicos(private mini buses).
Puerto Rico has threeinternational airports, theLuis Muñoz Marín International AirportinCarolina,Mercedita International Airportin Ponce, and theRafael Hernández International Airportin Aguadilla, and 27 local airports. The Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is the largest aerial transportation hub in the Caribbean.
Puerto Rico has nineportsin different cities across the main island. TheSan Juan Portis the largest in Puerto Rico, and the busiest port in the Caribbean and the 10th busiest in the United States in terms of commercial activity and cargo movement, respectively.The second largest port is thePort of the Americasin Ponce, currently under expansion to increase cargo capacity to1.5 milliontwenty-foot containers (TEUs) per year.
ThePuerto Rico Electric Power Authority(PREPA,Spanish:Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica, AEE)—is anelectric power companyand thegovernment-owned corporation of Puerto Ricoresponsible forelectricity generation,power transmission, andpower distributionin Puerto Rico.PREPA was, by law, the only entity authorized to conduct such business in Puerto Rico, effectively making it agovernment monopolyuntil 2018. The Authority is ruled by a governing board appointed by the governor with theadvice and consentof theSenate of Puerto Rico, and is run by an executive director.
On 20 July 2018, Puerto Rico Law 120-2018 (Ley para Transformar el Sistema Eléctrico de Puerto Rico) was signed. This law authorized PREPA to sell infrastructure and services to other providers. As a result, a contract was signed on 22 June 2020, makingLUMA Energythe new operator of the energy distribution and transmission infrastructure, as well as other areas of PREPA's operations, in effect partially privatizing the Puerto Rican power grid. The takeover was set for 1 June 2021, amidst protests and uncertainty from the point of view of the general public and the former-PREPA workers andunion members.
Similarly, thePuerto Rico Aqueducts and Sewers Authority(PRASA,Spanish:Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados, AAA)—is a water company and the government-owned corporation responsible forwater quality,management, andsupplyin Puerto Rico.It is the only entity authorized to conduct such business in Puerto Rico, effectively making it a government monopoly. Its existence is designated by Law No. 40 of 1 May 1945, including the corresponding amendments.
Telecommunications in Puerto Ricoincludes radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet. Broadcasting in Puerto Rico is regulated by theU.S. Federal Communications Commission(FCC).As of 2007, there were 30 TV stations, 125 radio stations and roughly 1 million TV sets on the island. Cable TV subscription services are available, and the U.S. Armed Forces Radio and Television Service also broadcast on the island.Puerto Rico also has its ownamateur radio prefixes, which differ from those of the contiguous United States in that there are two letter before the number. The most well-known prefix is KP4, but others separated for use on thearchipelago(including Desecheo and Mona) are: KP3/KP4/NP3/NP4/WP3/WP4 (Puerto Rico,ViequesandCulebra) and KP5/NP5/WP5 (Desecheo Island).Amateur radio operators (also known as ham radio operators) are a well-known group in the island and can obtain special vehicle license plates with their callsign on them.They have been a key element in disaster relief.
Thepopulation of Puerto Ricoreflects influences from initialAmerindian settlement,European colonization,slavery, economic migration, and the archipelago's status as unincorporated territory of the United States.Puerto Ricansare characterized by a high degree of ethnic and cultural diversity, as well as a long history of intermarriage andacculturationamong different demographics; racial and ethnic identity is subsequently complex and often nebulous, shaped by the broader attitudes and policies of the Spanish colonial period, 20th centuryAmerican racial politics, and modern trends in cultural and identity in the 21st century United States.
According to the most recent2020 United States census, Puerto Rico had 3,285,874 residents, an 11.8% decrease since2010.The commonwealth's population peaked in 2000, when it was 3,808,610, before declining (for the first time in census history) to 3,725,789 in 2010.Emigration due to economic difficulties and natural disasters, coupled with a low birth rate, have resulted in continued population decline into the 21st century.
The most populous municipality is the capital,San Juan, with 342,259 people based on the2020 Census.Other major cities includeBayamón,Carolina,Ponce, andCaguas. Of the ten most populous cities on the island, eight are located within what is consideredSan Juan's metropolitan area, while the other two are located in the south (Ponce) and west (Mayagüez) of the island.
As of 2020,Hispanic or Latinosmade up 98.9 percent of the population, of which 95.5 percent werePuerto Ricanand 3.4% were Hispanic of non-Puerto Rican origins; only 1.1 percent of the population was non-Hispanic.Fewer than one-fifth of people (17.1 percent) identified as "White", a decline of almost 80 percent; by contrast, nearly half of Puerto Ricans (49.8 percent) reported beingmultiracial—compared to just 3 percent in 2010—while roughly one-quarter chose "some other race alone" (25.5 percent).
Censuses of Puerto Rico were completed by Spain in 1765, 1775, 1800, 1815, 1832, 1846 and 1857, yet some of the data remained untabulated and were considered reliable in a 1943 report byIrene Barnes Taeuber, an American demographer at theOffice of Population ResearchatPrinceton University.
Continuous European immigration and highnatural increasehelped the population of Puerto Rico grow from 155,426 in 1800 to almost a million by the end of the 19th century. A census conducted by royal decree on 30 September 1858 gave the following totals of the Puerto Rican population at that time: 341,015 werefree colored; 300,430 werewhite; and 41,736 wereslaves.A census in 1887 found a population of around 800,000, of which 320,000 were black.
During the 19th century, hundreds of families arrived in Puerto Rico, primarily from theCanary IslandsandAndalusia, but also from other parts of Spain such asCatalonia,Asturias,Galiciaand theBalearic Islands; they were later joined by numerous Spanish loyalists from Spain's former colonies in South America. There were also smaller numbers of settlers from outside Spain, including fromCorsica,France,Lebanon,Portugal,Ireland,Scotland,GermanyandItaly; this immigration from non-Hispanic countries was largely the result of theReal Cédula de Gracias de 1815(Royal Decree of Graces of 1815), which provided European Catholics with land allotments in the sparsely inhabited interior of the island, provided they paid taxes and continued to support the Catholic Church.
Between 1960 and 1990, the census questionnaire in Puerto Rico did not ask about race or ethnicity. The2000 United States Censusincluded a racial self-identification question in Puerto Rico, according to which most Puerto Ricans identified as white and Latino and few identified as black or some other race.
Although less than one percent of the population identifies as indigenous, a large proportion of Puerto Ricans have native ancestry: A 2003 study by theUniversity of Puerto Rico,which took genetic samples from 800 randomly selected subjects throughout the island, found that 61.1 percent of those surveyed hadmitochondrial DNAof indigenous origin; additionally, 26.4 percent had African markers and 12.5 percent showed European descent.The study reportedly resulted in a resurgence of indigenous and Taino identity among Puerto Ricans; in the 2010 census, 19,839 respondents identified as "American Indian or Alaskan Native", an increase of almost 49 percent from 2000 count.
The vast majority of recent immigrants, both legal and illegal, come fromLatin America, over half come from theDominican Republic. Dominicans represent 53% of non-Puerto Rican Hispanics, about 1.8% of Puerto Rico's population.Some illegal immigrants, particularly from Haiti, Dominican Republic,and Cuba, use Puerto Rico as a temporary stop-over point to get to the U.S. mainland. Other major sources of recent immigrants include Cuba,Colombia, Mexico,Venezuela,Haiti,Honduras,Panama,Ecuador, Spain, andJamaica.Additionally, there are many non-Puerto Rican U.S. citizens settling in Puerto Rico from the U.S. mainland, majority of which areWhite Americansand a smaller number areBlack Americans. In fact, non-Hispanic people represent 1.1% and majority of them are from the U.S. mainland. Smaller numbers of U.S. citizens come from theU.S. Virgin Islands. There are also large numbers ofNuyoricansand otherstateside Puerto Ricanscoming back, as many Puerto Ricans engage in 'circular migration'.Small numbers of non-Puerto Rican Hispanics in Puerto Rico are actually American-born migrants from the mainland U.S. and not recent immigrants. Most recent immigrants settle in and around the San Juan metropolitan area.
Emigrationis a major part of contemporary Puerto Rican history. Starting soon afterWorld War II, poverty, cheap airfares, and promotion by the island government caused waves of Puerto Ricans to move to the U.S. mainland, particularly to thenortheastern statesand nearbyFlorida.This trend continued even as Puerto Rico's economy improved and its birth rate declined. Puerto Ricans continue to follow a pattern of "circular migration", with some migrants returning to the island. In recent years, the population has declined markedly, falling nearly 1% in 2012 and an additional 1% (36,000 people) in 2013 due to a falling birthrate and emigration.The impact of hurricanesMariaandIrmain 2017, combined with the unincorporated territory's worsening economy, led to its greatest population decline since the U.S. acquired the archipelago.
According to the2020 U.S. census, the number of Puerto Ricans living outside of Puerto Rico in the U.S. is almost twice as many as those living in Puerto Rico.As those who leave tend to be better educated than those who remain, this accentuates the drain on Puerto Rico's economy.
Based on 1 July 2019 estimate by theU.S. Census Bureau, the population of the Commonwealth had declined by 532,095 people since the 2010 Census data had been tabulated.
Theofficial languagesof the executive branch of government of Puerto Ricoare Spanish and English, with Spanish being the primary language. Spanish is, and has been, the only official language of the entire Commonwealth judiciary system, despite a 1902 English-only language law.However, all official business of theU.S. District Courtfor the District of Puerto Rico is conducted in English. English is the primary language of less than 10% of the population. Spanish is the dominant language of business, education and daily life on the island, spoken by nearly 95% of the population.
Out of people aged five and older, 94.3% speak only Spanish at home, 5.5% speak English, and 0.2% speak other languages.APew Researchsurvey indicated an adult literacy rate of 90.4% in 2012 based on data from theUnited Nations.
In Puerto Rico, public school instruction is conducted almost entirely in Spanish. There have been pilot programs in about a dozen of the over 1,400 public schools aimed at conducting instruction in English only. Objections from teaching staff are common, perhaps because many of them are not fully fluent in English.English is taught as a second language and is a compulsory subject from elementary levels to high school. The languages of the deaf community areAmerican Sign Languageand its local variant,Puerto Rican Sign Language.
TheSpanish of Puerto Ricohas evolved into having many idiosyncrasies in vocabulary and syntax that differentiate it from the Spanish spoken elsewhere. Puerto Rican Spanish utilizes manyTaínowords, as well as English words. The largest influence on the Spanish spoken in Puerto Rico isthat of the Canary Islands. Taínoloanwordsare most often used in the context of vegetation, natural phenomena, and native musical instruments. Similarly, words attributed to primarilyWest African languageswere adopted in the contexts of foods, music, and dances, particularly in coastal towns with concentrations of descendants of Sub-Saharan Africans.
Christianityis the dominant religion in Puerto Rico.Catholicismwas brought by Spanish colonists and gradually became the prevailing faith. The firstdiocesesin the Americas, includingthat of Puerto Rico, were authorized byPope Julius IIin 1511.In 1512, priests were established for the parochial churches. By 1759, there was a priest for each church.One Pope,John Paul II, visited Puerto Rico in October 1984. Allmunicipalitiesin Puerto Rico have at least one Catholic church, most of which are located at the town center, orplaza.
Protestantism, which was suppressed under the Spanish Catholic regime, reemerged under U.S. rule, making contemporary Puerto Rico more interconfessional than in previous centuries, although Catholicism continues to be the dominant religion. The first Protestant church,Iglesia de la Santísima Trinidad, was established in Ponce by theAnglicanDiocese of Antiguain 1872.It was the first non-Catholic church in the entireSpanish Empireinthe Americas.
Sources differ on thedenominationalbreakdown of the population. Pollster Pablo Ramos stated in 1998 that the population was 38 percent Catholic, 28 percent Pentecostal, and 18 percent independent churches; the total number of Protestants collectively added up to almost two million people, or 46 percent of the population. Another researcher gave a more conservative assessment of the proportion of Protestants in 1997, finding a Protestant population of approximately 33 to 38 percent, the majority of whom arePentecostal; however, it estimated that Puerto Rico would become 75 percent evangelical by 2022.
A 2014Pew Researchreport found that only 56% of Puerto Ricans were Catholic, while 33% were Protestant and 8% were unaffiliated;these figures are shared by theCIA World Factbook, which further notes that Protestants are "largely Pentecostal", while other religions make up 2 percent and atheists only one percent.Pew Research from the year before, which surveyed Puerto Ricans living in the mainland United States, found that only about 45% of Puerto Rican adults identified themselves as Catholic, 29% as Protestant and 20% as unaffiliated with a religion.By contrast, anAssociated Pressarticle in March 2014 stated that "more than 70 percent" of Puerto Ricans identified as Catholic.
There is a smallEastern Orthodoxcommunity, centered mostly around twoEastern Orthodox Churchesin the territory: theRussian Orthodoxmissionof Saint John Climacus inSan Germanand the Saint GeorgeAntiochian Orthodox ChurchinCarolina; both have services in English and Spanish.There is a smallSyriacOrthodox church inAguada, which represents the onlyOriental Orthodoxdenomination in the Island. Orthodox Christians accounted for one percent of the population in 2010.In 2017, the firstEastern Catholic Churchwas established in Puerto Rico.In 2023,the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsdedicated atempleinSan Juan,and reported having a membership of approximately 23,000 in the commonwealth.In 2015, the 25,832Jehovah's Witnessesrepresented about 0.70% of the population, with 324 congregations.
Puerto Rico has the largest Jewish community in the Caribbean, at roughly 3,000,and is the only Caribbean island whereConservative,ReformandOrthodox Jewishmovements are all represented.The island's firstsynagogue,Sha'are Zedeck,was established in 1952 byAmerican Jews.
In 2007, there were about 5,000Muslimsin Puerto Rico, representing about 0.13% of the population.Eightmosquesare located throughout the island, with most Muslims living inRío PiedrasandCaguas; most Muslims are of Palestinian and Jordanian descent.There is also aBaháʼícommunity.
Buddhism in Puerto Rico is represented withNichiren,ZenandTibetan Buddhism, with theNew York Padmasambhava Buddhist Centerfor example having a branch in San Juan.There are several atheist activist and educational organizations, and an atheistic parody religion called thePastafarianChurch of Puerto Rico.AnISKCONtemple in Gurabo is devoted toKrishna, with two preaching centers in the San Juan metropolitan area.
Taíno religious practiceshave been rediscovered and reinvented to some degree by a handful of advocates.Similarly, some aspects of African religious traditions have persisted, as African slaves maintained various ethnic African religious practices associated with different peoples; in particular, theYorubabeliefs ofSanteríaorIfá, and theKongo-derivedPalo Mayombe. Some indigenous and African practices and beliefs aresyncretizedwith Christianity. In 1940,Juanita García Perazafounded theMita Congregation, the first religion of Puerto Rican origin.
The first school in Puerto Rico was theEscuela de Gramática(Grammar School). It was established by BishopAlonso Mansoin 1513, in the area where theCathedral of San Juanwas to be constructed. The school was free of charge and the courses taught wereLatin language, literature, history, science, art, philosophy and theology.
Education in Puerto Rico is divided in three levels—Primary (elementary school grades 1–6), Secondary (intermediate and high school grades 7–12), and Higher Level (undergraduate and graduate studies). As of 2002, the literacy rate of the Puerto Rican population was 94.1%; by gender, it was 93.9% for males and 94.4% for females.According to the 2000 Census, 60.0% of the population attained a high school degree or higher level of education, and 18.3% has a bachelor's degree or higher.
Instruction at the primary school level is compulsory between the ages of 5 and 18. As of 2010, there are 1539 public schools and 806 private schools.
The largest and oldest university system is the publicUniversity of Puerto Rico(UPR) with 11 campuses. The largest private university systems on the island are theSistema Universitario Ana G. Mendezwhich operates theUniversidad del Turabo,Metropolitan UniversityandUniversidad del Este. Other private universities include the multi-campusInter American University, thePontifical Catholic University,Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico, and theUniversidad del Sagrado Corazón. Puerto Rico has four schools of Medicine and threeABA-approved Law Schools.
In 2017, there were 69 hospitals in Puerto Rico.As of 2021, average life expectancy is approximately 82.1 years according to the CIA World Factbook, an improvement from 78.7 years in 2010.
Reforma de Salud de Puerto Rico(Puerto Rico Health Reform) – locally referred to asLa Reforma('The Reform') – is a government-run program which provides medical and health care services to the indigent andimpoverished, by means of contracting privatehealth insurancecompanies, rather than employing government-owned hospitals and emergency centers. The Reform is administered by the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration.
Modern Puerto Rican culture is a unique mix of cultural antecedents: including European (predominantly Spanish,Italian,French,GermanandIrish), African, and, more recently, some North American and many South Americans. Many Cubans and Dominicans have relocated to the island in the past few decades.
From the Spanish, Puerto Rico received the Spanish language, theCatholicreligion and the vast majority of their cultural and moral values and traditions. The United States added English-language influence, the university system and the adoption of some holidays and practices. On 12 March 1903, theUniversity of Puerto Ricowas officially founded, branching out from the "Escuela Normal Industrial", a smaller organization that was founded in Fajardo three years earlier.
Much of Puerto Rican culture centers on the influence of music and has been shaped by other cultures combining with local and traditional rhythms. Early in the history of Puerto Rican music, the influences of Spanish and African traditions were most noticeable. The cultural movements across the Caribbean and North America have played a vital role in the more recent musical influences which have reached Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico has many symbols, but only theFlor de Magahas been made official by the Government of Puerto Rico.Other popular, traditional, or unofficial symbols of Puerto Rico are thePuerto Rican spindalis, thekapok tree, thecoquí frog, thejíbaro, theTaíno Indian, andCerro Las Tetaswith itsjíbaro culture monument.
The architecture of Puerto Rico demonstrates a broad variety of traditions, styles and national influences accumulated over four centuries of Spanish rule, and a century of American rule.Spanish colonial architecture,Ibero-Islamic,art deco,post-modern, and many other architectural forms are visible throughout the island. From town to town, there are also many regional distinctions.
Old San Juan is one of the twobarrios, in addition toSanturce, that made up themunicipalityof San Juan from 1864 to 1951, at which time the former independent municipality ofRío Piedraswas annexed. With its abundance of shops, historic places, museums, open air cafés, restaurants, gracious homes, tree-shaded plazas, and its old beauty and architectonical peculiarity, Old San Juan is a main spot for local and internal tourism. The district is also characterized by numerous public plazas and churches includingSan José Churchand theCathedral of San Juan Bautista, which contains the tomb of the Spanish explorerJuan Ponce de León. It also houses the oldest Catholic school for elementary education in Puerto Rico, the Colegio de Párvulos, built in 1865.
The oldest parts of the district of Old San Juan remain partly enclosed by massive walls. Several defensive structures and notableforts, such as the emblematicFort San Felipe del Morro,Fort San Cristóbal, andEl Palacio de Santa Catalina, also known asLa Fortaleza, acted as the primary defenses of the settlement which was subjected to numerous attacks.La Fortalezacontinues to serve also as the executive mansion for thegovernor of Puerto Rico. Many of the historic fortifications are part ofSan Juan National Historic Site.
During the 1940s, sections of Old San Juan fell into disrepair, and many renovation plans were suggested. There was even a strong push to develop Old San Juan as a "smallManhattan". Strict remodeling codes were implemented to prevent new constructions from affecting the common colonial Spanish architectural themes of the old city. When a project proposal suggested that the old Carmelite Convent in San Juan be demolished to erect a new hotel, the Institute had the building declared as a historic building, and then asked that it be converted to a hotel in a renewed facility. This was what became theHotel El Conventoin Old San Juan. The paradigm to reconstruct and renovate the old city and revitalize it has been followed by other cities in the Americas, particularlyHavana,LimaandCartagena de Indias.
Ponce Creoleis a uniquearchitectural stylecreated inPonce, Puerto Rico, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This style of Puerto Rican buildings is found predominantly in residential homes in Ponce that developed between 1895 and 1920. Ponce Creole architecture borrows heavily from the traditions of France, Spain and the Caribbean vernacular to create houses that were especially built to withstand the hot and dry climate of the region, and to take advantage of the sun and sea breezes characteristic of the southern Puerto Rico'sCaribbean Seacoast.It is a blend of wood and masonry, incorporating architectural elements of other styles, fromClassical revivalandSpanish RevivaltoVictorian.
Puerto Rican art reflects many influences, much from its ethnically diverse background. A form offolk art, calledsantosevolved from the Catholic Church's use ofsculpturesto convert indigenous Puerto Ricans toChristianity.Santosdepict figures of saints and other religious icons and are made from native wood, clay, and stone. After shaping simple, they are often finished by painting them in vivid colors.Santosvary in size, with the smallest examples around eight inches tall and the largest about twenty inches tall. Traditionally, santos were seen as messengers between the earth and Heaven. As such, they occupied a special place on householdaltars, where people prayed to them, asked for help, or tried to summon their protection.
Also popular,caretasorvejigantesare masks worn duringcarnivals. Similar masks signifying evil spirits were used in both Spain and Africa, though for different purposes. The Spanish used their masks to frighten lapsedChristiansinto returning to the church, while tribal Africans used them as protection from the evil spirits they represented. True to their historic origins, Puerto Ricancaretasalways bear at least several horns and fangs. While usually constructed ofpapier-mâché, coconut shells and fine metal screening are sometimes used as well. Red and black were the typical colors forcaretasbut their palette has expanded to include a wide variety of bright hues and patterns.
Puerto Rican literature evolved from the art oforal story tellingto its present-day status. Written works by the native islanders of Puerto Rico were prohibited and repressed by the Spanish colonial government. Only those who were commissioned by the Spanish Crown to document the chronological history of the island were allowed to write.Diego de Torres Vargaswas allowed to circumvent this strict prohibition and in 1647 wroteDescripción de la Ciudad e Isla de Puerto Rico("Description of the Island and City of Puerto Rico"). This historical book was the first to make a detailed geographic description of the island.
Some of Puerto Rico's earliest writers were influenced by the teachings ofRafael Cordero. Among these wasManuel A. Alonso, the first Puerto Rican writer of notable importance. In 1849 he publishedEl Gíbaro, a collection of verses whose main themes were the poor Puerto Rican country farmer.Eugenio María de HostoswroteLa peregrinación de Bayoánin 1863, which usedBartolomé de las Casasas a springboard to reflect on Caribbean identity. After this first novel, Hostos abandoned fiction in favor of the essay which he saw as offering greater possibilities for inspiring social change.
In the late 19th century, with the arrival of the first printing press and the founding of the Royal Academy of Belles Letters, Puerto Rican literature began to flourish. The first writers to express their political views in regard to Spanish colonial rule of the island were journalists.Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, also known as the Father of Puerto Rican Literature, ushered in a new age ofhistoriographywith the publication ofThe Historical Library of Puerto Rico.Cayetano Coll y Tostewas another Puerto Rican historian and writer. His workThe Indo-Antillano Vocabularyis valuable in understanding the way theTaínoslived.Manuel Zeno Gandíain 1894 wroteLa Charcaand talked about the harsh life in the remote and mountainous coffee regions in Puerto Rico.Antonio S. Pedreira, described in his workInsularismothe cultural survival of the Puerto Rican identity after the American invasion.
With the Puerto Rican diaspora of the 1940s, Puerto Rican literature was greatly influenced by a phenomenon known as theNuyorican Movement. Puerto Rican literature continued to flourish, and many Puerto Ricans have since distinguished themselves as authors, journalists, poets, novelists, playwrights, essayists, and screenwriters. The influence of Puerto Rican literature has transcended the boundaries of the island to the U.S. and the rest of the world. Over the past fifty years, significant writers includeEd Vega(Omaha Bigelow),Miguel Piñero(Short Eyes),Piri Thomas(Down These Mean Streets),Giannina Braschi(Yo-Yo Boing!),Rosario Ferrer(Eccentric Neighborhoods). andEsmeralda Santiago(When I was Puerto Rican).
Themass mediain Puerto Rico includes localradio stations,television stationsandnewspapers, the majority of which are conducted inSpanish. There are also three stations of theU.S. Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Newspapers with daily distribution areEl Nuevo Día,El VoceroandÍndice,Metro, andPrimera Hora.El Vocerois distributed free of charge, as areÍndiceandMetro.
Newspapers distributed on a weekly or regional basis includeClaridad,La Perla del Sur,La Opinión,Visión, andLa Estrella del Norte, among others. Several television channels provide local content in the island. These includeWIPR-TV,Telemundo, Univision affiliateWLII-DT(Teleonce),WAPA-TV, andWKAQ-TV.
The music of Puerto Rico has evolved as a heterogeneous and dynamic product of diverse cultural resources. The most conspicuous musical sources have been Spain and West Africa, although many aspects of Puerto Rican music reflect origins elsewhere in Europe and the Caribbean and, over the last century, from the U.S. Puerto Rican music culture today comprises a wide and rich variety of genres, ranging from indigenous genres likebomba,plena,aguinaldo,danzaand the popularsalsato recent hybrids likereggaeton.
Puerto Rico has some national instruments, like thecuatro(Spanish for "four"). The cuatro is a local instrument that was made by the "Jibaro" or people from the mountains. Originally, the Cuatro consisted of four steel strings, hence its name, but currently the Cuatro consists of five double steel strings. It is easily confused with a guitar, even by locals. When held upright, from right to left, the strings are G, D, A, E, B.
In the realm ofclassical music, the island hosts two main orchestras, theOrquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Ricoand the Orquesta Filarmónica de Puerto Rico. TheCasals Festivaltakes place annually in San Juan, drawing in classical musicians from around the world.
With respect toopera, the legendary Puerto Rican tenorAntonio Paoliwas so celebrated, that he performed private recitals forPope Pius Xand TsarNicholas II of Russia. In 1907, Paoli was the first operatic artist in world history to record an entire opera – when he participated in a performance ofPagliaccibyRuggiero LeoncavalloinMilan, Italy.
Musical artists with great international success includeMenudo,Ricky Martin,Bad Bunnyand others.
Puerto Rico has been commemorated on four U.S. postal stamps. Insular Territories were commemorated in 1937, the third stamp honored Puerto Rico featuring 'La Fortaleza', the Spanish Governor's Palace.The first free election for governor of the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico was honored on 27 April 1949, at San Juan, Puerto Rico. 'Inauguration' on the 3-cent stamp refers to the election ofLuis Muñoz Marín, the first democratically elected governor of Puerto Rico.San Juan, Puerto Rico was commemorated with an 8-cent stamp on its 450th anniversary issued 12 September 1971, featuring a sentry box fromCastillo San Felipe del Morro.In the "Flags of our nation series" 2008–2012, of the fifty-five, five territorial flags were featured. Forever stamps included thePuerto Rico Flagillustrated by a bird issued 2011.
Puerto Rican cuisine has its roots in the cooking traditions and practices of Europe (Spain), Africa and the nativeTaínos. Basic ingredients includegrainsandlegumes,herbsandspices, starchy tropicaltubers, vegetables, meat and poultry, seafood and shellfish, and fruits. Main dishes includemofongo,arroz con gandules,pasteles, andpig roast(orlechón). Beverages includemavíandpiña colada. Desserts include flan,arroz con dulce(sweetrice pudding),piraguas,brazo gitanos,tembleque,polvorones, anddulce de leche.
Baseballwas one of the first sports to gain widespread popularity in Puerto Rico. ThePuerto Rico Baseball Leagueserves as the only active professional league, operating as a winter league. NoMajor League Baseballfranchise or affiliate plays in Puerto Rico; however, San Juan hosted theMontreal Exposfor several series in 2003 and 2004 before they moved to Washington, D.C. and became theWashington Nationals.
ThePuerto Rico national baseball teamhas participated in theWorld Cup of Baseballwinning one gold (1951), four silver and four bronze medals, theCaribbean Series(winning fourteen times) and theWorld Baseball Classic. InMarch 2006, San Juan'sHiram Bithorn Stadiumhosted the opening round as well as the second round of the newly formedWorld Baseball Classic. Puerto Rican baseball players includeHall of FamersRoberto Clemente,Orlando CepedaandRoberto Alomar, enshrined in 1973, 1999, and 2011 respectively.
Boxing,basketball, andvolleyballare considered popular sports as well.Wilfredo GómezandMcWilliams Arroyohave won their respective divisions at theWorld Amateur Boxing Championships. Other medalists includeJosé Pedraza, who holds a silver medal, and three boxers who finished in third place, José Luis Vellón,Nelson DieppaandMcJoe Arroyo. In the professional circuit, Puerto Rico has the third-mostboxing world championsand it is the global leader in champions per capita. These includeMiguel Cotto,Félix Trinidad,Wilfred Benítezand Gómez among others.
ThePuerto Rico national basketball teamjoined theInternational Basketball Federationin 1957. Since then, it has won more than 30 medals in international competitions, including gold in threeFIBA Americas Championshipsand the 1994Goodwill Games8 August 2004, became a landmark date for the team when it became the first team to defeat theUnited Statesin an Olympic tournament since the integration ofNational Basketball Associationplayers. Winning the inaugural game with scores of 92–73 as part of the2004 Summer Olympicsorganized inAthens, Greece.Baloncesto Superior Nacionalacts as the top-level professional basketball league in Puerto Rico and has experienced success since its beginning in 1930.
Puerto Ricois also a member ofFIFAandCONCACAF. In 2008, the archipelago's first unified league, thePuerto Rico Soccer League, was established.
Other sports includeprofessional wrestlingandroad running. TheWorld Wrestling CouncilandInternational Wrestling Associationare the largest wrestling promotions in the main island. TheWorld's Best 10K, held annually in San Juan, has been ranked among the 20 most competitive races globally. The "Puerto Rico All Stars" team, which has won twelve world championships inunicycle basketball.
OrganizedStreetballhas gathered some exposition, with teams like "Puerto Rico Street Ball" competing against established organizations including theCapitanes de AreciboandAND1'sMixtape Tour Team. Six years after the first visit, AND1 returned as part of their renamed Live Tour, losing to the Puerto Rico Streetballers.Consequently, practitioners of this style have earned participation in international teams, includingOrlando "El Gato" Meléndez, who became the first Puerto Rican born athlete to play for theHarlem Globetrotters.
Puerto Rico has representation in all international competitions including theSummerandWinter Olympics, thePan American Games, theCaribbean World Series, and theCentral American and Caribbean Games. Puerto Rico hosted the Pan Am Games in 1979 (officially in San Juan), and TheCentral American and Caribbean Gameswere hosted in1993inPonceand in2010inMayagüez.
Puerto Rican athletes have won ten medals in Olympic competition (two gold, two silver, six bronze), the first one in 1948 by boxerJuan Evangelista Venegas.Monica Puigwon the first gold medal for Puerto Rico in the Olympic Games by winning theWomen's Tennis singles title in Rio 2016.
18°12′N66°30′W﻿ / ﻿18.2°N 66.5°W﻿ /18.2; -66.5﻿ (Commonwealth of Puerto Rico)