Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico, officially called the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. It is an unincorporated territory of the United States, meaning it is under U.S. control but not one of the 50 states. The main island is surrounded by smaller islands like Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. About 3.2 million people live there, with San Juan being the largest city.

The islands were first home to Indigenous peoples thousands of years ago. Spain claimed Puerto Rico in 1493 after Christopher Columbus arrived, and it stayed under Spanish rule for over 400 years. In 1898, after a war between Spain and the United States, Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory. Today, Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but they cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections or elect representatives who can vote in Congress.

Puerto Rico has a strong economy, with many jobs in manufacturing, especially in pharmaceuticals and electronics. Tourism is also important, drawing visitors to its beautiful beaches and rich history. The island mixes influences from Indigenous, Spanish, and African cultures, creating a unique and vibrant way of life.

Etymology

Puerto Rico means "rich port" in Spanish. People from Puerto Rico often call the island Boricua, coming from an old word Boriquen, which means "Land of the Valiant Lord". Other names like borinqueño and borincano also come from this word.

When Christopher Columbus arrived, he named the island San Juan Bautista to honor Saint John the Baptist. The main city was called Ciudad de Puerto Rico, meaning "Rich Port City". Over time, people started calling the whole island Puerto Rico, and the city became San Juan.

After the Treaty of Paris of 1898, the United States changed the name to Porto Rico. In 1931, the name was officially changed back to Puerto Rico.

The official Spanish name is Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, meaning "Free Associated State of Puerto Rico", created in 1952. Puerto Rico is a part of the United States, with its own government but still under U.S. rules for things like defense.

History

Main article: History of Puerto Rico

The story of Puerto Rico starts long ago with the Ortoiroid people who lived there before 430 BC. When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, the Taíno were the main group of people there. Their numbers dropped a lot in the 1500s because of new diseases from Europe, hard work by Spanish settlers, and fights.

Puerto Rico was very important to the Spanish Empire. It was a strong military place during many wars between Spain and other European countries. In 1593, Portuguese soldiers built the San Felipe del Morro fortress. Some of these soldiers married Puerto Rican women, and today many families have Portuguese last names. Puerto Rico was a stop on the way from Europe to places like Cuba and Mexico.

In 1898, during a war between Spain and the United States, Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory. In 1917, Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens. In 1952, Puerto Rico made its own constitution. During the Cold War, people argued about whether Puerto Rico should be independent or stay as it was.

In 2017, big storms hit Puerto Rico very hard, causing lots of damage. Many people left the island after this, looking for better lives elsewhere. In recent years, people in Puerto Rico have voted to become a U.S. state, but this has not happened yet.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Puerto Rico

See also: Geology of Puerto Rico and List of islands of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is made up of the main island and many smaller islands, such as Vieques, Culebra, Mona, Desecheo, and Caja de Muertos. Only Culebra and Vieques are lived on all year. Mona is mostly home to workers from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. There are also small rocks and islands like Monito near Mona, and Isla de Cabras and La Isleta de San Juan near the San Juan Bay. La Isleta de San Juan is the only place where people live on a small island, with places like Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra connected to the main island by bridges.

Puerto Rico covers 3,515 square miles (9,100 km²), with 3,459 sq mi (8,960 km²) of land and 56 sq mi (150 km²) of water. The main island is 110 mi (180 km) long and 40 mi (64 km) wide. It is the smallest of the Greater Antilles.

The land is mostly hilly with flat areas along the northern and southern coasts. The main hilly area running across the island is called the Cordillera Central. The highest point, Cerro de Punta, is 4,390 feet (1,340 m) tall. Another tall mountain is El Yunque in the Sierra de Luquillo at the El Yunque National Forest, which is 3,494 ft (1,065 m) tall.

Puerto Rico has 17 lakes, all made by people, and more than 50 rivers, most starting in the Cordillera Central. Rivers in the north are usually longer and have more water than those in the south, because the south gets less rain.

Puerto Rico is made of rocks from different times, from Cretaceous to Eocene volcanic and plutonic rocks, covered by younger Oligocene and more recent carbonates and other sedimentary rocks. Most caves and special land shapes are in the northern part. The oldest rocks, about 190 million years old (Jurassic), are at Sierra Bermeja in the southwest. These rocks may be from the oceanic crust and might have come from the Pacific Ocean.

Puerto Rico sits where the Caribbean and North American plates meet, and this can cause earthquakes and tsunamis. These events, along with landslides, can be dangerous for the island and the northeastern Caribbean. The 1918 San Fermín earthquake was measured at 7.5 on the Richter scale. It caused damage and loss, and led to changes in how people thought about the island. In 2020, a big earthquake happened again.

The Puerto Rico Trench, the deepest place in the Atlantic, is about 71 mi (114 km) north of Puerto Rico. It is 170 mi (270 km) long and very deep. The Mona Canyon is another deep area between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Climate

The climate of Puerto Rico is mostly like a tropical rainforest. Temperatures stay warm to hot all year, around 85 °F (29 °C) lower down and 70 °F (21 °C) in the mountains. Winds come from the east all year. There is a wet time from April to November and a dry time from December to March. Mountains cause changes in temperature and rain over short distances. The biggest temperature change between dry and wet times is about 6 °F (3.3 °C). Coastal water is about 75 °F (24 °C) in February and 85 °F (29 °C) in August. The hottest it has ever been was 110 °F (43 °C) at Arecibo, and the coldest was 40 °F (4 °C) in the mountains at Adjuntas, Aibonito, and Corozal. The average rain each year is 66 in (1,676 mm). Climate change in Puerto Rico affects plants and animals.

Puerto Rico gets hurricanes, like the rest of the Caribbean. Some rain comes from tropical storms and hurricanes, especially when there is La Niña. A tropical storm passes close every five years, and a hurricane comes near every seven years. In 2017, Puerto Rico faced big storms that caused a lot of trouble.

Biodiversity

Main articles: Fauna of Puerto Rico and Flora of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has three types of land areas with plants and animals: Puerto Rican moist forests, Puerto Rican dry forests, and Greater Antilles mangroves. Two special places are the Luquillo Biosphere Reserve at El Yunque National Forest and the Guánica Biosphere Reserve.

Some plants, birds, and animals live only in Puerto Rico. One well-known animal is the coquí, a tiny frog that makes a special sound. Most coquí live in El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. Forest Service system. El Yunque has many plants and birds, including the Puerto Rican amazon, which is in danger.

Other places with special plants and animals are the Maricao and Toro Negro state forests. These homes include the Puerto Rican boa, the Puerto Rican sharp-shinned hawk, the Puerto Rican broad-winged hawk, and the elfin woods warbler. The Northern Karst Belt has a rainforest area where they are trying to bring back the Puerto Rican amazon.

In the southwest, the Guánica State Forest and Biosphere Reserve has many different plants and animals, including some that are in danger. Puerto Rico has three places where the water shines at night because of tiny living things, but these places are in danger from tourism, pollution, and storms.

Government and politics

Main articles: Government of Puerto Rico, Political status of Puerto Rico, and Politics of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has a republican form of government based on the American model, with separation of powers subject to the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United States. All governmental powers are delegated by the United States Congress, with the head of state being the President of the United States. As an unincorporated territory, Puerto Rico lacks full protection under the U.S. Constitution.

The government is composed of three branches. The executive is headed by the governor, currently Jenniffer González-Colón. The legislative branch consists of the bicameral Legislative Assembly, made up of a Senate as its upper chamber and a House of Representatives as its lower chamber; the Senate is headed by a president, currently José Luis Dalmau, while the House is headed by the speaker of the House, currently Tatito Hernández. The governor and legislators are elected by popular vote every four years, with the last election held in November 2024. The judicial branch is headed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, currently Maite Oronoz Rodríguez. Members of the judiciary are appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Puerto Rico is represented in the U.S. Congress by a nonvoting delegate to the House of Representatives, the resident commissioner, currently Pablo Hernández Rivera. Current congressional rules have removed the commissioner's power to vote in the Committee of the Whole, but the commissioner can vote in committee.

Puerto Rican elections are governed by the Federal Election Commission and the State Elections Commission of Puerto Rico. Residents of Puerto Rico, including other U.S. citizens, cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections but can vote in primaries. Puerto Ricans who become residents of a U.S. state or Washington, D.C. can vote in presidential elections.

Puerto Rico has eight senatorial districts, 40 representative districts, and 78 municipalities; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the U.S. government. Municipalities are subdivided into barrios. Each municipality has a mayor and a municipal legislature elected for a four-year term. The municipality of San Juan is the oldest, founded in 1521.

Political parties and elections

Main article: Political party strength in Puerto Rico

Since 1952, Puerto Rico has had three main political parties: the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), the New Progressive Party (PNP) and the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP). The three parties stand for different political status. The PPD, for example, seeks to maintain the island's status with the U.S. as a commonwealth, while the PNP seeks to make Puerto Rico a U.S. state. Meanwhile, the PIP seeks to make Puerto Rico a sovereign nation free 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, the Puerto Ricans for Puerto Rico Party was 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 the Movimiento Unión Soberanista (Sovereign Union Movement) and the Partido del Pueblo Trabajador (Working People's Party) but none obtained more than 1% of the vote. Other non-registered parties include the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, the Socialist Workers Movement, and the Hostosian National Independence Movement.

Political status

Main articles: Political status of Puerto Rico and Proposed political status for Puerto Rico

The nature of Puerto Rico's political relationship with the U.S. is the subject of ongoing debate in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Congress, and the United 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 the plenary powers of the U.S. Congress under the territorial clause of Article 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 residents do 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.

Puerto Ricans were collectively made U.S. citizens in 1917 as a result of the Jones–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 fully enfranchise U.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico. Fundamental rights under the 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 have been included in the U.S. compulsory draft when 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 federal payroll taxes, such as Social Security and Medicare, 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 billion into the U.S. Treasury. Residents are eligible for Social Security benefits upon retirement. They are excluded from the Supplemental Security Income, and the island receives a smaller fraction of the Medicaid funding 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.

The 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, President George H. W. Bush issued 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 the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security Administration, Social Security Administration, and others. While Puerto Rico has its own Commonwealth judicial system similar 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 regardless of their residency status at the time of their appointment. Sonia Sotomayor, a New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent, serves as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Puerto Ricans have been appointed to high-level federal positions, including serving as U.S. ambassadors to other nations.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Municipalities of Puerto Rico

Unlike the vast majority of U.S. states, Puerto Rico has no first-order administrative divisions akin to counties but has 78 municipalities or municipios as the secondary unit of administration; for U.S. Census purposes, the municipalities are considered county equivalents. Municipalities are subdivided into barrios. Each municipality has a mayor and a municipal legislature elected for four-year terms, per the Autonomous Municipalities Act of 1991.

Foreign and intergovernmental relations

Main article: Foreign and intergovernmental relations of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is subject to the Commerce and Territorial Clause of 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 also established trade promotion offices in many foreign countries, all Spanish-speaking, and within the U.S. itself, including Spain, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia, Washington, D.C., New York City and Florida. 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 hosts consulates from 41 countries, mainly from the Americas and 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 the Department of State of Puerto Rico, an executive department, headed by the secretary of state of Puerto Rico, who also serves as the unincorporated territory's lieutenant governor. It is also charged to liaise with general consuls and honorary consuls based in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, along with the Office 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.).^{[citation needed]} 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, the Agency for International Development, and others. The current secretary of state is Larry Seilhamer Rodríguez from the New Progressive Party, while the current director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration is Jennifer M. Stopiran also from the NPP and a member of the Republican Party of the U.S.^{[citation needed]}

The resident commissioner of Puerto Rico, the delegate elected 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 is Jenniffer 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 the Organization 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 as U.S. ambassador to El Salvador.

Military

Main article: Military of Puerto Rico

The defense of Puerto Rico is provided by the U.S., under the responsibility of U.S. Northern Command. Puerto Rico has its own National Guard and its own state defense force, the Puerto Rico State Guard, which is under the authority of the Puerto Rico National Guard.

The commander-in-chief of both local forces is the governor of Puerto Rico who delegates his authority to the Puerto Rico adjutant general, currently Major General José 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.

Military presence includes the U.S. Navy at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, U.S. Army at Fort Buchanan, the Puerto Rican Army and Air National Guards, and the U.S. Coast Guard. A branch of the U.S. Army National Guard is stationed in Puerto Rico – known as the Puerto Rico Army National Guard – which performs missions equivalent to those of the Army National Guards of 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 the Puerto Rico Air National Guard.

At different times in the 20th century, the U.S. had about 25 military or naval installations in Puerto Rico. The former U.S. Navy facilities at Vieques and Sabana Seca have been deactivated and partially turned over to the local government. Puerto Ricans have participated in many U.S. military conflicts, including the American Revolution, when volunteers from Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Mexico fought the British in 1779 under the command of General Bernardo de Gálvez. They continue to be disproportionately represented in present-day conflicts. The most notable example is the 65th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army, nicknamed The Borinqueneers, from the original Taíno name of the island (Borinquen). The all-Puerto Rican regiment participated in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the war on terror; in 2014, it was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for its heroism during the Korean War.

A significant number of Puerto Ricans serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, largely as National Guard members 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.

Law

Main articles: Constitution of Puerto Rico and Law of Puerto Rico

The insular legal system is a blend of civil law and the common law systems. Puerto Rico is the only U.S. jurisdiction whose legal system operates primarily in a language other than American English: namely, Spanish. Title 48 of the United States Code outlines 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 in California. Although Puerto Rico has since followed the federal example of transferring criminal and civil procedure from statutory law to rules promulgated by the judiciary, several portions of its criminal law still reflect the influence of the California Penal Code.

The judicial branch is headed by the chief justice of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court, which is the only appellate court required by the Constitution. All other courts are created by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico. There is also a Federal 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 constitute double jeopardy.

Crime

Main articles: Crime in Puerto Rico and Illegal drugs in Puerto Rico

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 armed carjacking a federal crime, and rates decreased per statistics, but as of 2019, the problem continued in municipalities like Guaynabo and others.

Economy

Puerto Rico is a place where people live and work, and it is known for making things like medicines, clothes, and electronics. It also has services like banking, insurance, and tourism. Farming is a small part of its work. The island faced hard times from 2006 to 2011 and again in 2013 because of money problems.

Many of Puerto Rico's troubles come from rules that changed or stopped working for the island, and its government has a lot of debt. Life there is harder than in many U.S. states, but it is an important part of Latin America.

Tourism

In 2017, a big storm called Hurricane Maria hurt the island a lot. Many hotels were closed, but by 2019, most places for tourists were open again. Tourism is very important for Puerto Rico because it helps the economy.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Making medicines is a big job in Puerto Rico. The island makes a lot of medicines, second only to a state in the U.S.

Fiscal debt

In 2017, Puerto Rico had a lot of debt, about $70 billion. The government had trouble paying this money back and needed help from the U.S. Congress to fix its money problems.

Public finances

Puerto Rico’s government spends more money than it has, creating a big problem with debt. This has been happening for many years, and the island owes a lot of money. This makes it hard for the government to pay for important things.

Cost of living

Living in Puerto Rico can be expensive. Things like electricity and food cost more than in many other places. Many groceries come from other countries, which makes them pricier. The money people earn is less than in the U.S., and many families struggle to afford what they need.

Transportation

Main article: Transportation in Puerto Rico

People in Puerto Rico use roads, buses, and trains to get around. There are three big airports and many ports where ships come and go.

Utilities

Electricity

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) takes care of electricity for the island. In 2018, new rules allowed other companies to help with electricity, which changed how things worked.

Water and sewage

Similarly, the Puerto Rico Aqueducts and Sewers Authority (PRASA) manages water for the island. It is the only company allowed to do this work.

Telecommunications

Main article: Communications in Puerto Rico

Telecommunications in Puerto Rico include TV, radio, phones, and the Internet. There are many TV and radio stations, and people can also get cable TV. Some people even use special radio equipment to help during emergencies.

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Puerto Rico and Cultural diversity in Puerto Rico

The population of Puerto Rico shows a mix of people from many backgrounds. This includes early Amerindian settlement, European colonization, slavery, and people moving to the island for work. Because of this mix, Puerto Ricans have many different cultural backgrounds and histories.

According to the most recent 2020 United States census, Puerto Rico had 3,285,874 residents. This is a decrease since the year 2000, when the population was highest at 3,808,610. Reasons for this decrease include people moving away for jobs or because of natural disasters, as well as fewer babies being born.

Population distribution

Main article: List of cities in Puerto Rico

The biggest city is San Juan, with 342,259 people based on the 2020 Census. Other important cities are Bayamón, Carolina, Ponce, and Caguas. Eight of the ten biggest cities are part of the area around San Juan, while two others are in the south (Ponce) and west (Mayagüez) of the island.

Population makeup

Main article: Puerto Ricans

In 2020, most people in Puerto Rico described themselves as having mixed backgrounds (49.8%). Other groups include Whites (17.1%), Blacks (6.96%), and smaller numbers of Indigenous people, East Asians, and Pacific Islanders. Almost all people (98.9%) identify as Hispanic or Latino, with most being of Puerto Rican background.

Immigration and emigration

Most recent immigrants to Puerto Rico come from Latin America, especially the Dominican Republic. Some people from other places, like Cuba and Haiti, also move to Puerto Rico temporarily before going to the United States. There are also people moving to Puerto Rico from the U.S. mainland, mostly White Americans and some Black Americans. Many Puerto Ricans also move back and forth between the island and the U.S.

Many Puerto Ricans have moved to the U.S. mainland since World War II, especially to northeastern states and Florida. This movement continues even when the island's economy improves. The population has decreased recently because of fewer babies being born and people leaving the island. Big storms in 2017, like hurricanes Maria and Irma, also caused many people to leave.

Languages

Main articles: Puerto Rican Spanish and English language in Puerto Rico

Both Spanish and English are official languages of Puerto Rico. Spanish is the main language used in everyday life, schools, and business, spoken by about 95% of the population. English is spoken by less than 10% of people. Children learn English in school, but most public schools teach mainly in Spanish.

Religion

Puerto Rico has many different religions, with Catholicism being the most common. Other groups include Protestants, and smaller numbers of people with no religion or other faiths. There are also communities of Eastern Orthodox, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jewish people, Muslims, and others.

Education

Main article: Education in Puerto Rico

Education in Puerto Rico includes primary school (ages 5–6), secondary school (ages 7–12), and higher education. Most children go to school until they are 18. There are both public and private schools. The largest university is the public University of Puerto Rico, with many campuses. There are also several private universities.

Health

There are hospitals across Puerto Rico, and the average life expectancy is about 82 years. The government has a program to help people who cannot afford healthcare, working with private insurance companies instead of running its own hospitals.

Culture

Puerto Rican culture is a special mix of different traditions. It includes influences from Europe (mostly Spain, but also Italy, France, Germany, and Ireland), Africa, and more recently, North America and South America. Many Cubans and Dominicans have also moved to the island in recent years.

Puerto Rico got its language, Spanish, and many of its traditions from Spain. The United States brought English, new school systems, and some holidays. Music plays a big role in the culture, with many different styles coming together over time. Early Puerto Rican music was shaped by Spanish and African traditions, and more recent styles have been influenced by music from around the Caribbean and North America.

Puerto Rico has many symbols, but only the Flor de Maga is official. Other important symbols include the Puerto Rican spindalis bird, the kapok tree, the coquí frog, the jíbaro (a country person), the Taíno Indian, and Cerro Las Tetas with its jíbaro culture monument.

Architecture

Puerto Rican architecture shows many different styles from over 400 years of history. You can see Spanish colonial buildings, Ibero-Islamic designs, art deco, post-modern, and more all over the island. Each town has its own special look.

Old San Juan is a famous part of the capital. It has many shops, old places, museums, cafes, restaurants, beautiful homes, and tree-lined squares. It also has old churches and public squares, like San José Church and the Cathedral of San Juan Bautista, where explorer Juan Ponce de León is buried. Old San Juan is protected by big walls and strong forts like Fort San Felipe del Morro and Fort San Cristóbal. These forts were built to defend the city from attacks.

During the 1940s, some parts of Old San Juan were neglected, but later efforts saved and restored many buildings. Strict rules were made to protect the old Spanish style of the city. One famous example is the Hotel El Convento, which was once a convent but was turned into a hotel.

Ponce Creole is a special style of architecture from the city of Ponce. These buildings were made between 1895 and 1920 to handle the hot, dry weather. They mix wood and stone and have influences from France, Spain, and Caribbean styles.

Arts

Puerto Rican art has many influences from the island's different people. One kind of folk art is called santos. These are small statues of saints and religious figures made from wood, clay, or stone. They are painted in bright colors and were used as messages between people and heaven.

Another popular art form is caretas or vejigantes, which are colorful masks worn during carnivals. These masks often have horns and fangs and are made from materials like papier-mâché, coconut shells, or metal. They come in many bright colors and patterns.

Literature

Puerto Rican writing started with oral stories and later grew into books. At first, the Spanish government did not allow islanders to write, except for official histories. Diego de Torres Vargas wrote the first detailed book about Puerto Rico in 1647.

Early writers were inspired by Rafael Cordero. Manuel A. Alonso wrote the first important collection of poems in 1849. Eugenio María de Hostos wrote about Caribbean identity in his book from 1863.

In the late 1800s, printing presses arrived, and Puerto Rican literature grew. Writers began to express their views on Spanish rule. Alejandro Tapia y Rivera is known as the father of Puerto Rican literature. Other important writers include Cayetano Coll y Toste, Manuel Zeno Gandía, and Antonio S. Pedreira.

In the 1940s, many Puerto Ricans moved to New York, creating the Nuyorican movement. Today, Puerto Rican writers are famous around the world. Notable authors include Ed Vega, Miguel Piñero, Piri Thomas, Giannina Braschi, Rosario Ferrer, and Esmeralda Santiago.

Music

Puerto Rican music comes from many places, including Spain, West Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States. Today, there are many kinds of music, from traditional styles like bomba, plena, aguinaldo, danza, and salsa to newer styles like reggaeton and Latin trap. Famous Puerto Rican musicians include Bad Bunny, Menudo, and Ricky Martin.

The cuatro is a special instrument from the mountains. It originally had four strings but now has five pairs of strings. Puerto Rico has two big orchestras: the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Puerto Rico. The Casals Festival happens every year in San Juan, bringing classical musicians from all over. Antonio Paoli was a famous opera singer who even performed for important leaders like Pope Pius X and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.

Philately

Puerto Rico has been featured on four U.S. postal stamps. In 1937, a stamp honored Puerto Rico with an image of La Fortaleza, the Spanish Governor's Palace. In 1949, a stamp celebrated the first free election of Puerto Rico's governor, Luis Muñoz Marín. In 1971, a stamp marked the 450th anniversary of San Juan, showing a sentry box from Castillo San Felipe del Morro. In the "Flags of our nation series" from 2008 to 2012, the Puerto Rico Flag was featured on a forever stamp.

Cuisine

Puerto Rican food comes from the cooking of Spain, Africa, and the Taíno people. Common ingredients include grains, legumes, herbs, tropical vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, and fruits. Popular dishes are mofongo, arroz con gandules, pasteles, and pig roast (lechón). Drinks include maví and piña colada. Desserts include flan, arroz con dulce (sweet rice pudding), piraguas, brazo gitanos, tembleque, polvorones, and dulce de leche.

Sports

Baseball is very popular in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Baseball League is the main professional league, and it plays during the winter. Puerto Rico has won many medals in international baseball competitions, including the World Cup of Baseball, the Caribbean Series, and the World Baseball Classic. Famous Puerto Rican baseball players include Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, and Roberto Alomar.

Boxing, basketball, and volleyball are also popular. Puerto Rican boxers have won many world championships, including Miguel Cotto, Félix Trinidad, and Wilfred Benítez. The Puerto Rico national basketball team has won medals in international competitions, including three FIBA Americas Championships and the 1994 Goodwill Games. In 2004, the team made history by beating the United States in the Olympics.

Puerto Rico has teams in many international competitions, including the Summer and Winter Olympics, the Pan American Games, and the Central American and Caribbean Games. Monica Puig won Puerto Rico's first Olympic gold medal in tennis at the 2016 Rio Olympics.