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Puerto Rico
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{{short description|Island of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean}}
{{redirect-multi|2|Porto Rico|Borinquen|other uses|Porto Rico (disambiguation)|and|Borinquen (disambiguation)|and|Puerto Rico (disambiguation)}}
{{coord|18.2|-66.5|display=title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox dependency
| name = Puerto Rico
(contracted; show full)sbn=9789027258007}}</ref>}} ({{langnf||Spanish|Rich Port}}; abbreviated '''PR'''),<ref name="CIA World Factbook - Puerto Rico">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html |title=CIA World Factbook - Puerto Rico |accessdate=5 August 2019 |archive-date=8 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108113942/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html |url-status=dead }}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108113942/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html |date=8 January 2019 }}</ref> officially the '''Commonwealth of Puerto Rico''' ({{lang-es|link=yes|Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico|lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico}}<!-- {{IPA-es|esˈtaðo ˈliβɾe asoˈsjaðo ðe ˈpweɾto ˈriko|}} -->){{efn|The Spanish word for commonwealth is typically ''[[mancomunidad]]''.}} and in previous centuries called '''Porto Rico''' in English,{{efn|In 1932, the [[U.S. Congress]] officially back-corrected t(contracted; show full)ca de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. 396 (1967), and Vientos-Gaston, ''Informe del Procurador General sobre el idioma'', 36 Revista del Colegio de Abogados de PuertO Rico. (P.R.) 843 (1975).</ref> though Spanish predominates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prfaa.pr.gov/puertoricond2.asp |title=Puerto Rico |accessdate=September 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912144331/http://prfaa.pr.gov/puertoricond2.asp |archivedate=September 12, 2015
 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912144331/http://prfaa.pr.gov/puertoricond2.asp |date=12 September 2015 }}</ref>

Originally populated by the [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous]] [[Taíno]] people, Puerto Rico was colonized by Spain following the arrival of [[Christopher Columbus]] in 1493.<ref name="CIA World Factbook - Puerto Rico"/> It was contested by various other European [[Regional power|powers]], but remained a Spanish possession for the next four centuries. The island's cultural and demographic landscapes were shaped by the displacement and assimilation of the n(contracted; show full))|Agüeybaná]], inhabited the island. They called it ''Boriken'', meaning "the great land of the valiant and noble Lord".<ref>{{cite web |author=Pedro Torres |work=Taíno Inter-Tribal Council Inc. |title=The Dictionary of the Taíno Language |url=http://members.dandy.net/~orocobix/tedict.html |accessdate=February 11, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060213164808/http://members.dandy.net/~orocobix/tedict.html |archivedate=February 13, 2006 |df=
 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060213164808/http://members.dandy.net/~orocobix/tedict.html |date=13 February 2006 }}</ref> The natives lived in small villages, each led by a cacique. They subsisted by hunting and fishing, done generally by men, as well as by the women's gathering and processing of indigenous [[cassava]] root and fruit. This lasted until Columbus arrived in 1493.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/travel/story.html?id=eb3c0119-8328-4b52-96ed-4a63763160f7 |title=Vieques Island: What lies beneath |author=Cheryl Mahaffy |date=January 30, 2006 |newspaper=Edmonto(contracted; show full)e Christian religion; the colonists continue to treat the natives as slaves."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/americancollection/woman/timeline.html |title=Masterpiece Theatre – American Collection – Almost a Woman – Puerto Rico: A Timeline |publisher=Pbs.org |date= |accessdate=April 14, 2014 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222221840/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/americancollection/woman/timeline.html |url-status=dead }}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222221840/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/americancollection/woman/timeline.html |date=22 February 2014 }}</ref>}}{{efn|Poole (2011) "[The Taíno] began to starve; many thousands fell prey to smallpox, measles and other European diseases for which they had no immunity [...]"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/What-Became-of-the-Taino.html |title=History, Travel, Arts, Science, People, Places – Smithsonian |publisher=Smithsonianmag.com |date= |accessdate=April 14, 2014 |archive-date=7 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207130050/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/What-Became-of-the-Taino.html |url-status=dead }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207130050/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/What-Became-of-the-Taino.html |date=7 December 2013 }}</ref>}}{{efn|[[PBS]] "[The Taíno] eventually succumbed to the Spanish soldiers and European diseases that followed Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/spirits/html/body_taino.html |title=taino |website=PBS |date= |accessdate=April 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208073734/https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/spirits/html/body_taino.html |archivedate=February 8, 2013 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208073734/https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/spirits/html/body_taino.html |date=8 February 2013 }}</ref>}}{{efn|[[Yale University]] "[...] the high death rate among the Taíno due to enslavement and European diseases (smallpox, influenza, measles, and typhus) persisted."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yale.edu/gsp/colonial/puerto-rico/ |title=Puerto Rico – Colonial Genocides – Genocide Studies Program – Yale University |publisher=Yale.edu |date= |accessdate=April 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520120915/http://www.yale.edu/gsp/colonial/puerto-rico/ |archivedate=May 20, 2013}}</ref>}}

====Colonization, the Habsburgs====
In 1520, [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|King Charles I of Spain]] issued a royal decree collectively emancipating the remaining Taíno population. By that time, the Taíno people were few in number.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yale.edu/gsp/colonial/puerto-rico/index.html |title=Puerto Rico – Colonial Genocides – Genocide Studies Program |publisher=Yale University |date= |accessdate=October 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908234849/http://www.yale.edu/gsp/colonial/puerto-rico/index.html |archivedate=September 8, 2011 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908234849/http://www.yale.edu/gsp/colonial/puerto-rico/index.html |date=8 September 2011 }}</ref> [[slavery in the Spanish Empire|Enslaved Africans had already begun to be imported]] to compensate for the native labor loss, but their numbers were proportionate to the diminished commercial interest Spain soon began to demonstrate for the island colony. Other nearby islands, like Cuba, Hispaniola, and [[Guadeloupe|Guadalupe]], attracted more of the slave trade than Puerto Rico, probably because of greater agricultural interests in those islands, on which colonists had developed large sugar (contracted; show full)anuel Macías]] inaugurated the new government under the Autonomic Charter. General elections were held in March and the new government began to function on July 17, 1898.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.solboricua.com/history2.htm#usa |title=USA Seizes Puerto Rico |year=2000 |work=History of Puerto Rico |publisher=solboricua.com |access-date=September 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515120148/http://www.solboricua.com/history2.htm#usa |archive-date=May 15, 2014 |url-status=dead 
}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515120148/http://www.solboricua.com/history2.htm#usa |date=15 May 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topuertorico.org/history4.shtml |title=History |accessdate=October 1, 2007 |author=Magaly Rivera |publisher=topuertorico.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/chronpr.html |title=Chronology of Puerto Rico in the Spanish–American War |work=The World of 1898: The Spanish–American War |publisher=Hispanic Division, Library of Congress}}</ref>

===American territory (1898–present)===
(contracted; show full)/www.llmc.com/TitleLLMC.asp?ColID=3&Cat=136&TID=7037&TName=Ponce%20Massacre,%20Com.%20of%20Inquiry,%201937 |title=Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Civil Rights in Puerto Rico. The Commission, 70p, np, May&nbsp;22, 1937 |publisher=Llmc.com |accessdate=August 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214194610/http://llmc.com/TitleLLMC.asp?ColID=3&Cat=136&TID=7037&TName=Ponce%20Massacre%2C%20Com.%20of%20Inquiry%2C%201937 |archivedate=December 14,
 2010 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101214194610/http://llmc.com/TitleLLMC.asp?ColID=3&Cat=136&TID=7037&TName=Ponce%20Massacre%2C%20Com.%20of%20Inquiry%2C%201937 |date=14 December 2010 }}</ref> Nineteen people were killed and over 200 were badly wounded, many shot in the back while running away.<ref name="5yrs">[http://www.cheverote.com/reviews/marcantonio.html "Five Years of Tyranny", Speech before the U.S. House of Representatives.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112031601/http://www.cheverote.com/reviews/marcantonio.html |date=January 12, 2012 }} The entire speech is contained in the ''Congressional Record'' o(contracted; show full)dro Albizu Campos served many years in a federal prison in [[Atlanta]], for seditious conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government in Puerto Rico.<ref>{{cite web |last=García |first=Marvin |url=http://www.nl.edu/academics/cas/ace/resources/campos.cfm |title=Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos |publisher=National-Louis University |accessdate=April 28, 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051224214401/http://www3.nl.edu/academics/cas/ace/resources/campos.cfm |archivedate=December 24, 2005
 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051224214401/http://www3.nl.edu/academics/cas/ace/resources/campos.cfm |date=24 December 2005 }}</ref>

The [[Constitution of Puerto Rico]] was approved by a Constitutional Convention on February 6, 1952, and 82% of the voters in a March referendum. It was modified and ratified by the U.S. Congress, approved by President Truman on July 3 of that year, and proclaimed by Gov. Muñoz Marín on July 25, 1952. This was the anniversary of July 25, 1898, landing of U.S. troops in the [[Puerto Rican Campaign]] of the [[Spanish–American War]], until then celebrated as an annual Puerto Rico holiday.

(contracted; show full)ion on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and |last=Peoples |date=November 22, 2005 |publisher=United Nations Publications |via=Google Books|isbn=9789218102119 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nam.gov.za/media/040820.pdf |title=XIV Ministerial Conference of the Movement of Non-Aligned Nations. Durban, South Africa, 2004. See pp. 14–15. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731065406/http://www.nam.gov.za/media/040820.pdf |archivedate=July 31, 2009 
}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731065406/http://www.nam.gov.za/media/040820.pdf |date=31 July 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Report of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples |volume=23 |author=United Nations. General Assembly. Special Committee on the Situation With Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples |publisher=United Nations Publications |year=1971 |isbn=978-92-1-810211-9 |pages=[https://bo(contracted; show full)ationship with Puerto Rico without the territory's consent.<ref name=status2007>{{cite web |url=http://www.primerahora.com/XStatic/primerahora/docs/espanol/whitehousestatusreport.pdf |title=Report by the President's task force on Puerto Rico's Status |date=December 2007 |accessdate=December 24, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216013058/http://www.primerahora.com/XStatic/primerahora/docs/espanol/whitehousestatusreport.pdf |archivedate=February 16, 2008
 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216013058/http://www.primerahora.com/XStatic/primerahora/docs/espanol/whitehousestatusreport.pdf |date=16 February 2008 }}</ref> It stated that the U.S. Justice Department in 1959 reiterated that Congress held power over Puerto Rico pursuant to the Territorial Clause<ref name="Artice4">Art. IV, Sec. 3, clause 2, U.S. Constitution.</ref> of the U.S. Constitution.<ref name=status2007 />

(contracted; show full)etermination and independence",<ref name="UN decolonization committee eyes PR">{{cite web |author=casiano communications |url=http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=58665&ct_id=1 |title=UN decolonization committee eyes PR |publisher=Caribbeanbusinesspr.com |date=June 21, 2011 |accessdate=October 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124013213/http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=58665&ct_id=1 |archivedate=November 24,
 2011 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124013213/http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=58665&ct_id=1 |date=24 November 2011 }}</ref> and to release all Puerto Rican political prisoners in U.S. prisons, to clean up, decontaminate and return the lands in the islands of Vieques and Culebra to the people of Puerto Rico, and to perform a probe into U.S. human rights violations on the island and into the killing by the FBI of pro-independence leader [[Filiberto Ojeda Rios]].
<!---- a lot of duplication from other subsections will need to be rewritten/merged--->

===21st century===
(contracted; show full);ref name="President Task Force Status Report 2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/Puerto_Rico_Task_Force_Report.pdf |title=REPORT BY THE PRESIDENT'S TASK FORCE ON PUERTO RICO'S STATUS |date=March 11, 2011 |publisher=The White House |accessdate=July 14, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205020912/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/Puerto_Rico_Task_Force_Report.pdf |archivedate=February 5, 2015 
}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205020912/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/Puerto_Rico_Task_Force_Report.pdf |date=5 February 2015 }}</ref>

On June 14, 2011, President [[Barack Obama]] "promised to support 'a clear decision' by the people of Puerto Rico on statehood".<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/us/politics/15obama.html ''In Visit to Puerto Rico, Obama Offers (and Seeks Out) Support''.] Helene Cooper. New York Times. June 14, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2012.</ref> That same month, the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization passed a resolution and adopt(contracted; show full), or [[Compact of Free Association|free association]].<ref>{{cite web |author=casiano communications |url=http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=62931&ct_id=1 |title=Fortuño calls for status, legislative reform votes on 12 August 2012 |publisher=Caribbeanbusinesspr.com |date=October 4, 2011 |accessdate=October 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124013232/http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=62931&ct_id=1 |archivedate=November 24,
 2011 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124013232/http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=62931&ct_id=1 |date=24 November 2011 }}</ref> 61.16% voted for statehood, 33.34% for a sovereign free associated state, and 5.49% for independence.<ref>{{cite news |title=Puerto Rico votes on whether to change relationship with US, elects governor and legislators |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/puerto-rico-votes-on-whether-to-change-relationship-with-us-elects-governor-and-legislators/2012/11/06/d87278ae-288b-11e2-aaa5-ac786110c486_story.html |agency=Associated Press |accessdate=November 6, 2012 |url-status=dead (contracted; show full)ov/legislative/bills/hr-5278-puerto-rico-oversight-management-and-economic-stability-act-2016-promesa |title=H.R. 5278, Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act of 2016 (PROMESA) |date=June 6, 2016 |website=Policy.house.gov |accessdate=July 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819125905/https://policy.house.gov/legislative/bills/hr-5278-puerto-rico-oversight-management-and-economic-stability-act-2016-promesa |archive-date=August 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819125905/https://policy.house.gov/legislative/bills/hr-5278-puerto-rico-oversight-management-and-economic-stability-act-2016-promesa |date=19 August 2016 }}</ref>
<!---moved from below. probably needs to be integrated in the above--->

===Hurricanes Irma and Maria===
[[File:Buildings damaged (23538370818).jpg|thumb|A neighborhood in Puerto Rico heavily damaged by the storm]]

(contracted; show full)ailure and officials were concerned about additional flooding from this source.<ref name="sierraclub.org">{{cite web |url=https://www.sierraclub.org/compass/2017/11/puerto-rico-after-hurricane-maria |title=Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria |publisher=Sierra Club |date=November 28, 2017 |accessdate=February 20, 2018 |archive-date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707005953/https://www.sierraclub.org/compass/2017/11/puerto-rico-after-hurricane-maria |url-status=dead }}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707005953/https://www.sierraclub.org/compass/2017/11/puerto-rico-after-hurricane-maria |date=7 July 2020 }}</ref>

Thousands had left Puerto Rico, with close to 200,000 having arrived in Florida alone.<ref name="pbs.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/its-been-10-weeks-since-hurricane-maria-hit-puerto-rico-heres-where-recovery-stands|title=It's been 10 weeks since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico. Here's where recovery stands – PBS NewsHour|date=November 30, 2017|publisher=Pbs.org|accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref> Those who were then living on the mainland experienced difficulty in getting health care benefits.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://usa-today-news.com/news/displaced-puerto-ricans-face-obstacles-getting-health-care/ |title=Displaced Puerto Ricans Face Obstacles Getting Health Care |accessdate=December 3, 2017 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204061347/https://usa-today-news.com/news/displaced-puerto-ricans-face-obstacles-getting-health-care/ |archivedate=December 4, 2017 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204061347/https://usa-today-news.com/news/displaced-puerto-ricans-face-obstacles-getting-health-care/ |date=4 December 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.salon.com/2017/12/02/displaced-puerto-ricans-face-obstacles-getting-health-care_partner/ |title=Displaced Puerto Ricans face obstacles getting health care |work=Salon.com |accessdate=February 20, 2018}}</ref> A ''[[The New York Times]]'' report on November 27 said it was understandable that Puerto Ricans wanted to leave the island. "Basic essentials are hard to find and electricity and other utilities are unreliable or enti(contracted; show full)us}}, of which {{convert|3420|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|1900|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} is water.<ref name=ciafactbook>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html#Geo |title=The World Factbook – Puerto Rico#Geography |publisher=Cia.gov |date= |accessdate=October 30, 2011 |archive-date=8 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108113942/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html#Geo |url-status=dead }}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108113942/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html#Geo |date=8 January 2019 }}</ref> Puerto Rico is larger than Delaware and Rhode Island. The maximum length of the main island from east to west is {{convert|110|mi|km|abbr=on}}, and the maximum width from north to south is {{convert|40|mi|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name=topuertorico.com>{{cite web |url=http://www.topuertorico.org/descrip.shtml |title=Welcome to Puerto Rico! |publisher=topuertorico.org |accessdate=December 30, 2007 }}</ref> Puerto Rico is the smallest of the Greater Antilles. It is 80% of the size of [[Jamaica]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/jm.html#Geo |title=The World Factbook – Jamaica |publisher=[[CIA]] |accessdate=April 24, 2008 |archive-date=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224150649/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/jm.html#Geo |url-status=dead }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224150649/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/jm.html#Geo |date=24 December 2018 }}</ref> just over 18% of the size of [[Hispaniola]] and 8% of the size of Cuba, the largest of the Greater Antilles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html#Geo |title=The World Factbook – Cuba |publisher=CIA |accessdate=April 24, 2008 |archive-date=10 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210152814/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html#Geo |url-status=dead }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024061151/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html#Geo |date=24 October 2011 }}</ref>

The island is mostly mountainous with large coastal areas in the north and south. The main mountain range is called "[[Cordillera Central (Puerto Rico)|La Cordillera Central]]" (The Central Range). The highest elevation in Puerto Rico, [[Cerro de Punta]] {{convert|4390|ft|m}},<ref name="ciafactbook"/> is located in this range.

Another important peak is [[El Yunque, Puerto Rico|El Yunque]], one of the highest in the ''Sierra de Luquillo'' at the [[El Yunque National Forest]], with an elevation of {{convert|3494|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-caribbean-national-forest-hiking-fishing-puerto-rico-sidwcmdev_066593.html |title=Caribbean National Forest – El Yunque Trail # 15 |publisher=GORP.com |accessdate=August 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818050917/http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-caribbean-national-forest-hiking-fishing-puerto-rico-sidwcmdev_066593.html |archivedate=August 18, 2010 |df= }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818050917/http://www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-caribbean-national-forest-hiking-fishing-puerto-rico-sidwcmdev_066593.html |date=18 August 2010 }}</ref>

[[File:Patillas Puerto Rico.jpg|thumb|The coast at Patillas, Puerto Rico]]

Puerto Rico has 17 lakes, all man-made, and more than [[List of Puerto Rico rivers|50 rivers]], most originating in the Cordillera Central.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gobierno.pr/DRNA/ReservasNaturales/LagosRiosLagunas/Lagos/Lagos_I.htm |title=Los Lagos de Puerto Rico |accessdate=June 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041225032628/http://www.gobierno.pr/DRNA/ReservasNatural(contracted; show full)vert|75|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in February to {{convert|85|°F|°C|abbr=on}} in August. The highest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|99|F}} at [[Arecibo, Puerto Rico|Arecibo]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sercc.com/cgi-bin/sercc/cliMAIN.pl?pr0410 |title=ARECIBO 3 ESE, PUERTO RICO – Climate Summary |publisher=Sercc.com |accessdate=January 29, 2012 |archive-date=12 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612145715/http://www.sercc.com/cgi-bin/sercc/cliMAIN.pl?pr0410 |url-status=dead }}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612145715/http://www.sercc.com/cgi-bin/sercc/cliMAIN.pl?pr0410 |date=12 June 2008 }}</ref> while the lowest temperature ever recorded was {{convert|40|F}} in the mountains at [[Adjuntas, Puerto Rico|Adjuntas]], [[Aibonito, Puerto Rico|Aibonito]], and [[Corozal, Puerto Rico|Corozal]].<ref name="NOAA-PR">{{cite web |url=http://nowdata.rcc-acis.org/SJU/pubACIS_results |title=NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |accessdate=October 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009161414/http://nowdata.rcc-acis.org/SJU/pubACIS_results |archivedate=October 9, 2011 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009161414/http://nowdata.rcc-acis.org/SJU/pubACIS_results |date=9 October 2011 }}</ref> The average yearly precipitation is {{convert|66|in|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Daly2003">{{cite journal |last1=Daly |first1=Christopher |last2=Helmer |first2=Eileen H. |last3=Quiñonez |first3=Maya |year=2003 |title=Mapping the Climate of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra |url= |journal=International Journal of Climatology |volume=23 |issue=11 |pages=1359–81 |doi=10.1002/joc.937 |bibcode=2003IJCli..23.1359D}}</ref>

{{clear}}

{{Weather box
(contracted; show full){convert|15|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} of dry land at the Guánica Commonwealth Forest Reserve contain over 600 uncommon species of plants and animals, including 48 endangered species and 16 endemic to Puerto Rico.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=5146 |title=Puerto Rico |publisher=Scholastic.com |accessdate=August 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601022607/http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=5146 |archivedate=June 1, 2010 
}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601022607/http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=5146 |date=1 June 2010 }}</ref>

Puerto Rico has three bioluminescent bays: rare bodies of water occupied by microscopic marine organisms that glow when touched.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/bioluminescent-bay-puerto-rico-unique-places-around-the-world.html |title=Bioluminescent Bay, Puerto Rico - Unique Places around the World - WorldAtlas.com<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-date=15 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215211706/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/bioluminescent-bay-puerto-rico-unique-places-around-the-world.html |url-status=dead }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215211706/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/bioluminescent-bay-puerto-rico-unique-places-around-the-world.html |date=15 February 2020 }}</ref>{{better source|date=February 2020}} However, tourism, pollution, and hurricanes have threatened the organisms.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Yancey-Bragg|first=N'dea|title=After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico's rare bioluminescent bays may go dark|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/09/22/after-hurricane-maria-puerto-ricos-rare-bioluminescent-bays-may-go-dark/694833001/|access-date=2020-06-29|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Demographics==
(contracted; show full)rto Rico has the second highest life expectancy in the United States, if territories are taken into account.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html|title=Central America :: Puerto Rico — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|access-date=2019-12-28|archive-date=8 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108113942/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html|url-status=dead}}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108113942/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html |date=8 January 2019 }}</ref>

===Immigration and emigration===
{| style="float:center;" class="wikitable"
|-
| colspan="7" style="text-align: center;" | Racial groups
|-
! Year !! Population !! White !! Mixed (mainly biracial white European and black African ) !! Black !! Asian !! Other
(contracted; show full)3/census-2010-puerto-rico-dominicans-and-other-immigrants-a-growing-population/|date=January 14, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.havenscenter.org/files/Dominican%20Migration%20to%20Puerto%20Rico.pdf |title=Portadilla de Revista<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=January 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525013730/http://www.havenscenter.org/files/Dominican%20Migration%20to%20Puerto%20Rico.pdf |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525013730/http://www.havenscenter.org/files/Dominican%20Migration%20to%20Puerto%20Rico.pdf |date=25 May 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/06/haitian-immigrants-puerto-rico-_n_3225298.html |title=Haiti Immigrants Using Puerto Rico As Gateway To U.S. In New Migrant Route |date=May 6, 2013 |work=The Huffington Post |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724054450/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/06/haitian-immigrants-puerto-rico-_n_3225298.html |archivedate=July 24, 2015 }}</ref> Other major sources of recent immigrants include [[Cuba](contracted; show full)theastern United States|northeastern states]] and nearby [[Florida]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_1YR_S0201&prodType=table |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150227055528/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_1YR_S0201&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-02-27 |title=American FactFinder – Results |author=Data Access and Dissemination Systems (DADS)
 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212210049/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_13_1YR_S0201&prodType=table |date=12 February 2020 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/us/economy-and-crime-spur-new-puerto-rican-ex(contracted; show full)t;{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US72&-context=adp&-ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_&-tree_id=307&-_lang=en&-_caller=geoselect&-format= |title=U.S. Census Annual Population Estimates 2007 |publisher=Factfinder.census.gov |date= |accessdate=April 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170524214928/https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t |archivedate=May 24, 2017 
}} {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200210231203/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US72&-context=adp&-ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_&-tree_id=307&-_lang=en&-_caller=geoselect&-format= |date=10 February 2020 }}</ref>

The U.S. Census Bureau's 2016 update provides the following facts: 94.3% of adults speak only Spanish at home, which compares to 5.5% who speak English, 0.2% who speak French, and 0.1% who speak another language at home.<ref name="census1"/>

(contracted; show full)cism continues to be the dominant religion. The first Protestant church, [[Iglesia de la Santísima Trinidad]], was established in Ponce by the [[Anglican]] [[Diocese of Antigua]] in 1872.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://episcopalpr.org/sobre_nosotros/sobre_nosotros.html |title=Sobre Nosotros |publisher=Episcopalpr.org |accessdate=February 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317153425/http://www.episcopalpr.org/sobre_nosotros/sobre_nosotros.html |archivedate=March 17, 2010
 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317153425/http://www.episcopalpr.org/sobre_nosotros/sobre_nosotros.html |date=17 March 2010 }}</ref> It was the first non-Roman Catholic Church in the entire [[Spanish Empire]] in [[the Americas]].<ref>Luis Fortuño Janeiro. ''Album Histórico de Ponce (1692–1963).'' Page 165. Ponce, Puerto Rico: Imprenta Fortuño. 1963.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.preb.com/articulos/aleman2.htm |title=La presencia Germanica en Puerto Rico |publisher=Preb.com |accessdate=February 6, 2011}}</ref>

(contracted; show full)y not be recent.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html |title=Puerto Rico People and Society |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2015 |website=CIA Library |publisher=CIA |access-date=February 17, 2017 |quote=Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15% |archive-date=8 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108113942/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html |url-status=dead }}
</ref> A 2013 Pew Research survey found that only about 45% of Puerto Rican adults identified themselves as Catholic, 29% as Protestant and 20% as unaffiliated with a religion. The people surveyed by Pew consisted of Puerto Ricans living in the 50 states and DC and may not be indicative of those living in the Commonwealth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pewhispanic.org/2015/09/15/hispanics-of-puerto-rican-origin-in-the-united-states-2013/ |title=Hispanics of Puerto Rican Origin in the United States, 2013 |last=LÓPEZ |first=Gustavo |date=September 15, 2015 |website=Pew Research |publisher=Pew Research Center, DC |access-date=February 17, 2017 |quote=Puerto Ricans in this statistical profile are people who self-identified as Hispanics of Puerto Rican origin; this means either they themselves were born in Puerto Rico1 or they were born in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia or elsewhere, but trace their family ancestry to Puerto Rico.}}</ref>

By 2014, a Pew Research report, with the sub-title ''Widespread Change in a Historically Catholic Region'', indicated that only 56% of Puerto Ricans were Catholic and that 33% were Protestant; this survey was completed between October 2013 and February 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pewforum.org/2014/11/13/religion-in-latin-america/ |title=Religion in Latin America |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=November 13, 2014 |website=Pew Research |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=February 21, 2017}}</ref><ref name="auto3" />

An [[Eastern Orthodox]] community, the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos / St. Spyridon's Church is located in Trujillo Alto, and serves the small Orthodox community. This affiliation accounted for under 1% of the population in 2010 according to the Pew Research report.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://parish.orthodoxtheologicalinstitute.org/Dormition_of_the_Theotokos/Welcome.html |title=Welcome |publisher=Parish.orthodoxtheologicalinstitute.org |date= |accessdate=November 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304223521/http://parish.orthodoxtheologicalinstitute.org/Dormition_of_the_Theotokos/Welcome.html |archivedate=March 4, 2011 |df=}}</ref> In 1940, [[Juanita García Peraza]] founded the [[Mita Congregation]], the first religion of Puerto Rican origin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://webpub.allegheny.edu/group/LAS/LatinAmIssues/Articles/Vol13/LAI_vol_13_section_I.html |title=Latin American issues Vol. 3 |publisher=Webpub.allegheny.edu |accessdate=February 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202221418/http://webpub.allegheny.edu/group/LAS/LatinAmIssues/Articles/Vol13/LAI_vol_13_section_I.html |archivedate=December 2, 2010}}</ref> [[Taíno people|Taíno religious practices]] have been rediscovered/reinvented to a degree by a handful of advocates. Similarly, some aspects of African religious traditions have been kept by some adherents. In 1952, a handful of American Jews established the island's first [[synagogue]]; this religion accounts for under 1% of the population in 2010 according to the Pew Research report.<ref name="EG">''Eduardo Giorgetti Y Su Mundo: La Aparente Paradoja De Un Millonario Genio Empresarial Y Su Noble Humanismo''; by [[Delma S. Arrigoitia]]; Publisher: Ediciones Puerto; {{ISBN|978-0-942347-52-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prairieschooltraveler.com/html/world/pr/Korber.html |title=Korber House |publisher=Prairieschooltraveler.com |accessdate=February 6, 2011}}</ref> The synagogue, called ''Sha'are Zedeck'', hired its first rabbi in 1954.<ref name="JVL"/> Puerto Rico has the largest Jewish community in the Caribbean, numbering 3000 people (date not stated),<ref>{{cite news |title=The Jewish Palate: The Jews of Puerto Rico |url=http://www.jpost.com/Food-Index/The-Jewish-Palate-The-Jews-of-Puerto-Rico |accessdate=February 18, 2017 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> and is the only Caribbean island in which the [[Conservative Jews|Conservative]], [[Reform Jews|Reform]] and [[Orthodox Jews|Orthodox Jewish]] movements all are represented.<ref name="JVL">{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Puerto_Rico.html |title=The Virtual Jewish History Tour Puerto Rico |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |accessdate=February 6, 2011}}</ref><ref name="LN">{{cite web |url=http://www.luxner.com/cgi-bin/view_article.cgi?articleID=1237 |title=Luxner News |publisher=Luxner.com |date=August 3, 2004 |accessdate=February 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051107203700/http://www.luxner.com/cgi-bin/view_article.cgi?articleID=1237 |archive-date=November 7, 2005 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> In 2007, there were about 5,000 Muslims in Puerto Rico, representing about 0.13% of the population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iiie.net/index.php?q=node/65 |title=Number of Muslims and Percentage in Puero Rico |publisher=Institute of Islamic Information and Education |date= February 8, 2006|accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=29 |title=Percent Puerto Rican population that are Muslims |accessdate=February 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194154/http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=29 |archivedate=September 27, 2007 }} Retrieved {{Nowrap|June 8}}, 2009.</ref> Eight [[mosques]] are located throughout the island, with most Muslims living in [[Río Piedras]] and [[Caguas]]; most Muslims are of Palestinian and Jordanian descent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pupr.edu/msa/mosques.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805220625/http://www.pupr.edu/msa/mosques.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 5, 2012 |title=Muslim mosques in Pto. Rico |publisher=Pupr.edu |date= |accessdate=October 30, 2011 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108113942/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html |date=8 January 2019 }}</ref> A 2013 Pew Research survey found that only about 45% of Puerto Rican adults identified themselves as Catholic, 29% as Protestant and 20% as unaffiliated with a religion. The people surveyed by Pew consisted of Puerto Ricans living in the 50 states and DC and may not be indicative of those living in the Commonwealth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pewhispanic.org/2015/09/15/hispanics-of-puerto-rican-origin-in-the-united-states-2013/ |title=Hispanics of Puerto Rican Origin in the United States, 2013 |last=LÓPEZ |first=Gustavo |date=September 15, 2015 |website=Pew Research |publisher=Pew Research Center, DC |access-date=February 17, 2017 |quote=Puerto Ricans in this statistical profile are people who self-identified as Hispanics of Puerto Rican origin; this means either they themselves were born in Puerto Rico1 or they were born in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia or elsewhere, but trace their family ancestry to Puerto Rico.}}</ref>

By 2014, a Pew Research report, with the sub-title ''Widespread Change in a Historically Catholic Region'', indicated that only 56% of Puerto Ricans were Catholic and that 33% were Protestant; this survey was completed between October 2013 and February 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pewforum.org/2014/11/13/religion-in-latin-america/ |title=Religion in Latin America |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=November 13, 2014 |website=Pew Research |publisher=Pew Research Center |access-date=February 21, 2017}}</ref><ref name="auto3" />

An [[Eastern Orthodox]] community, the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos / St. Spyridon's Church is located in Trujillo Alto, and serves the small Orthodox community. This affiliation accounted for under 1% of the population in 2010 according to the Pew Research report.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://parish.orthodoxtheologicalinstitute.org/Dormition_of_the_Theotokos/Welcome.html |title=Welcome |publisher=Parish.orthodoxtheologicalinstitute.org |date= |accessdate=November 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304223521/http://parish.orthodoxtheologicalinstitute.org/Dormition_of_the_Theotokos/Welcome.html |archivedate=March 4, 2011 |df=}}</ref> In 1940, [[Juanita García Peraza]] founded the [[Mita Congregation]], the first religion of Puerto Rican origin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://webpub.allegheny.edu/group/LAS/LatinAmIssues/Articles/Vol13/LAI_vol_13_section_I.html |title=Latin American issues Vol. 3 |publisher=Webpub.allegheny.edu |accessdate=February 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202221418/http://webpub.allegheny.edu/group/LAS/LatinAmIssues/Articles/Vol13/LAI_vol_13_section_I.html |archivedate=December 2, 2010 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202221418/http://webpub.allegheny.edu/group/LAS/LatinAmIssues/Articles/Vol13/LAI_vol_13_section_I.html |date=2 December 2010 }}</ref> [[Taíno people|Taíno religious practices]] have been rediscovered/reinvented to a degree by a handful of advocates. Similarly, some aspects of African religious traditions have been kept by some adherents. In 1952, a handful of American Jews established the island's first [[synagogue]]; this religion accounts for under 1% of the population in 2010 according to the Pew Research report.<ref name="EG">''Eduardo Giorgetti Y Su Mundo: La Aparente Paradoja De Un Millonario Genio Empresarial Y Su Noble Humanismo''; by [[Delma S. Arrigoitia]]; Publisher: Ediciones Puerto; {{ISBN|978-0-942347-52-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prairieschooltraveler.com/html/world/pr/Korber.html |title=Korber House |publisher=Prairieschooltraveler.com |accessdate=February 6, 2011}}</ref> The synagogue, called ''Sha'are Zedeck'', hired its first rabbi in 1954.<ref name="JVL"/> Puerto Rico has the largest Jewish community in the Caribbean, numbering 3000 people (date not stated),<ref>{{cite news |title=The Jewish Palate: The Jews of Puerto Rico |url=http://www.jpost.com/Food-Index/The-Jewish-Palate-The-Jews-of-Puerto-Rico |accessdate=February 18, 2017 |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> and is the only Caribbean island in which the [[Conservative Jews|Conservative]], [[Reform Jews|Reform]] and [[Orthodox Jews|Orthodox Jewish]] movements all are represented.<ref name="JVL">{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Puerto_Rico.html |title=The Virtual Jewish History Tour Puerto Rico |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |accessdate=February 6, 2011}}</ref><ref name="LN">{{cite web |url=http://www.luxner.com/cgi-bin/view_article.cgi?articleID=1237 |title=Luxner News |publisher=Luxner.com |date=August 3, 2004 |accessdate=February 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051107203700/http://www.luxner.com/cgi-bin/view_article.cgi?articleID=1237 |archive-date=November 7, 2005 |url-status=dead }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051107203700/http://www.luxner.com/cgi-bin/view_article.cgi?articleID=1237 |date=7 November 2005 }}</ref> In 2007, there were about 5,000 Muslims in Puerto Rico, representing about 0.13% of the population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iiie.net/index.php?q=node/65 |title=Number of Muslims and Percentage in Puero Rico |publisher=Institute of Islamic Information and Education |date= February 8, 2006|accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=29 |title=Percent Puerto Rican population that are Muslims |accessdate=February 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194154/http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=29 |archivedate=September 27, 2007 }} Retrieved {{Nowrap|June 8}}, 2009.</ref> Eight [[mosques]] are located throughout the island, with most Muslims living in [[Río Piedras]] and [[Caguas]]; most Muslims are of Palestinian and Jordanian descent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pupr.edu/msa/mosques.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805220625/http://www.pupr.edu/msa/mosques.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 5, 2012 |title=Muslim mosques in Pto. Rico |publisher=Pupr.edu |date= |accessdate=October 30, 2011 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120805220625/http://www.pupr.edu/msa/mosques.html |date=5 August 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198706/muslims.in.the.caribbean.htm |title=Muslims concentrated in Rio Piedras |publisher=Saudiaramcoworld.com |accessdate=February 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505090834/http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198706/muslims.in.the.caribbean.htm |archive-date=May 5, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> There is also a [[Bahá'í]] community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bahaipr.org/index.php/en/|title=Home|website=Bahá'ís of Puerto Rico|access-date=6 July 2020|archive-date=7 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707012751/https://bahaipr.org/index.php/en/|url-status=dead}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707012751/https://bahaipr.org/index.php/en/ |date=7 July 2020 }}</ref>

In 2015, the 25,832 [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] represented about 0.70% of the population, with 324 congregations.<ref>''2016 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses'', pp. 184–85</ref> The [[Chinese immigration to Puerto Rico|Padmasambhava Buddhist Center]], whose followers practice [[Tibetan Buddhism]], as well as [[Nichiren Buddhism]] have branches in Puerto Rico.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.buddhanet.net/l_tibet.htm |title=Budda Net |publisher=Buddhan(contracted; show full)tion and sovereignty of the United States.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |url=http://www.oslpr.org/english/PDF/The%20Constitution%20of%20the%20Commonwealth%20of%20Puerto%20Rico.pdf |title=Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Article&nbsp;I, Section 2 |accessdate=August 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229150849/http://www.oslpr.org/english/pdf/the%20constitution%20of%20the%20commonwealth%20of%20puerto%20rico.pdf |archivedate=December 29, 2009
 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229150849/http://www.oslpr.org/english/pdf/the%20constitution%20of%20the%20commonwealth%20of%20puerto%20rico.pdf |date=29 December 2009 }}</ref><ref name=ussd>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/s/inr/rls/10543.htm |title=U.S. Department of State. Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty |publisher=State.gov |accessdate=August 14, 2010}}</ref> Its current powers are all delegated by the [[United States Congress]] and lack full protection under the [[United States Constitution]].<ref name="U.S. Department of State">{{cite web |url=https://fam.state.gov/FAM/07FAM/07FAM1120.html |title=U.S. Department of State. Foreign Affairs Manual: Volume 7 – Consular Affairs (7 FAM 1120), 'Acquisition of U.S. Nationality in U.S. Territories and Possessions', pp. 1–3. |format=PDF |accessdate=December 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222081013/https://fam.state.gov/FAM/07FAM/07FAM1120.html |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222081013/https://fam.state.gov/FAM/07FAM/07FAM1120.html |date=22 December 2015 }}</ref> Puerto Rico's head of state is the [[president of the United States]].

The government of Puerto Rico, based on [[Republicanism in the United States|the formal republican system]], is composed of three branches: the [[executive branch of the government of Puerto Rico|executive]], [[legislative branch of the government of Puerto Rico|legislative]], and [[judiciary of Puerto Rico|judicial branch]]. The executive branch is headed by the [[governor of Puerto Rico|governor]], currently [[Wanda (contracted; show full) has 78 [[municipalities]] at the second level. [[Mona Island]] is not a municipality, but part of the municipality of [[Mayagüez, Puerto Rico|Mayagüez]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enciclopediapr.org/ing/article.cfm?ref=08021702 |title=Mayagüez. Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico |publisher=Enciclopediapr.org |date= |accessdate=October 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005223516/http://www.enciclopediapr.org/ing/article.cfm?ref=08021702 |archivedate=October 5, 2011 
}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005223516/http://www.enciclopediapr.org/ing/article.cfm?ref=08021702 |date=5 October 2011 }}</ref>

Municipalities are subdivided into wards or [[barrio]]s, and those into sectors. Each municipality has a [[Mayors of Puerto Rico|mayor]] and a municipal legislature elected for a four-year term. The municipality of [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]] (previously called "town"), was founded first, in 1521, [[San Germán]] in 1570, [[Coamo]] in 1579, [[Arecibo]] in 1614, [[Aguada, Puerto Rico|Aguada]] in 1692 and [[Ponce, Puerto Rico|Ponce]] in 1692. An increase of settlement saw the (contracted; show full)ding the federal personal income tax for Puerto Rico-sourced income, but only under certain circumstances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stanford.wellsphere.com/healthcare-industry-policy-article/puerto-rico/267827 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401034052/http://stanford.wellsphere.com/healthcare-industry-policy-article/puerto-rico/267827 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 1, 2010 |title=Puerto Ricans pay import/export taxes |publisher=Stanford.wellsphere.com |accessdate=August 14, 2010
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stanford.wellsphere.com/healthcare-industry-policy-article/puerto-rico/267827 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401034052/http://stanford.wellsphere.com/healthcare-industry-policy-article/puerto-rico/267827 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 1, 2010 |title=Puerto Ricans pay federal commodity taxes |publisher=Stanford.wellsphere.com |date= |accessdate=October 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc903.html |title=Internal Revenue Service. ', Topic 903 – Federal Employment Tax in Puerto Rico' |publisher=Irs.gov |date=December 18, 2009 |accessdate=August 14, 2010}}</ref><ref name=reuters2009-09-24>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58N5X320090924 |title=Reuters, 'Puerto Rico hopes to gain from U.S. healthcare reform', 24&nbsp;September 2009 |agency=Reuters |date=September 24, 2009 |accessdate=August 14, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Schaefer |first=Brett |url=http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2009/03/dc-voting-rights-no-representation-no-taxation |title=The Heritage Foundation, 11&nbsp;March 2009. "D.C. Voting Rights: No Representation? No Taxation!", By Robert A. Book, PhD |publisher=Heritage.org |accessdate=October 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcvpr.com/CM/CurrentEvents/CEOsummitarticle.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515142411/http://www.mcvpr.com/CM/CurrentEvents/CEOsummitarticle.pdf |archivedate=May 15, 2011 |title=Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association, CEO Summit, Federal and Local Incentives: Where we are, Where We Want to be. Amaya Iraolagoitia, Partner, Tax Dept. |accessdate=August 14, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=jct>{{cite web |url=http://www.jct.gov/x-24-06.pdf |title=Joint Committee on Taxation. ''An Overview of the Special Tax Rules Related to Puerto Rico and an Analysis of the Tax and Economic Policy Implications of Recent Legislative Options'' |accessdate=August 14, 2010 |archive-date=3 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903121058/http://www.jct.gov/x-24-06.pdf |url-status=dead }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401034052/http://stanford.wellsphere.com/healthcare-industry-policy-article/puerto-rico/267827 |date=1 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://stanford.wellsphere.com/healthcare-industry-policy-article/puerto-rico/267827 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401034052/http://stanford.wellsphere.com/healthcare-industry-policy-article/puerto-rico/267827 |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 1, 2010 |title=Puerto Ricans pay federal commodity taxes |publisher=Stanford.wellsphere.com |date= |accessdate=October 30, 2011 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401034052/http://stanford.wellsphere.com/healthcare-industry-policy-article/puerto-rico/267827 |date=1 April 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc903.html |title=Internal Revenue Service. ', Topic 903 – Federal Employment Tax in Puerto Rico' |publisher=Irs.gov |date=December 18, 2009 |accessdate=August 14, 2010}}</ref><ref name=reuters2009-09-24>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE58N5X320090924 |title=Reuters, 'Puerto Rico hopes to gain from U.S. healthcare reform', 24&nbsp;September 2009 |agency=Reuters |date=September 24, 2009 |accessdate=August 14, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Schaefer |first=Brett |url=http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2009/03/dc-voting-rights-no-representation-no-taxation |title=The Heritage Foundation, 11&nbsp;March 2009. "D.C. Voting Rights: No Representation? No Taxation!", By Robert A. Book, PhD |publisher=Heritage.org |accessdate=October 16, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcvpr.com/CM/CurrentEvents/CEOsummitarticle.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515142411/http://www.mcvpr.com/CM/CurrentEvents/CEOsummitarticle.pdf |archivedate=May 15, 2011 |title=Puerto Rico Manufacturers Association, CEO Summit, Federal and Local Incentives: Where we are, Where We Want to be. Amaya Iraolagoitia, Partner, Tax Dept. |accessdate=August 14, 2010 |url-status=dead }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515142411/http://www.mcvpr.com/CM/CurrentEvents/CEOsummitarticle.pdf |date=15 May 2011 }}</ref><ref name=jct>{{cite web |url=http://www.jct.gov/x-24-06.pdf |title=Joint Committee on Taxation. ''An Overview of the Special Tax Rules Related to Puerto Rico and an Analysis of the Tax and Economic Policy Implications of Recent Legislative Options'' |accessdate=August 14, 2010 |archive-date=3 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903121058/http://www.jct.gov/x-24-06.pdf |url-status=dead }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903121058/http://www.jct.gov/x-24-06.pdf |date=3 September 2009 }}</ref>{{#Tag:Ref|Members of the military must pay federal income tax<ref name=reuters2009-09-24 /><ref name=jct />}} In 2009, Puerto Rico paid {{Nowrap|$3.742 billion}} into the [[U.S. Treasury]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-soi/09db05co.xls |title=Table 5. Internal Revenue Gross Collections, by Type of Tax and State, Fiscal year 2009 |publisher=[[Internal Revenue Service]] |format=XLS}}</ref> Residents of Puerto Rico pay into Social Security, and are thu(contracted; show full);{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/04/reuters-america-puerto-rico-to-furlough-workers-proposes-pension-plan-reform.html |title=Puerto Rico to furlough workers, proposes pension plan reform |first=Daniel |last=Bases |date=August 4, 2017 |website=Cnbc.com |accessdate=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806222116/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/04/reuters-america-puerto-rico-to-furlough-workers-proposes-pension-plan-reform.html |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |url-status=dead }}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806222116/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/04/reuters-america-puerto-rico-to-furlough-workers-proposes-pension-plan-reform.html |date=6 August 2017 }}</ref>

===Public finances===
{{main|Puerto Rico government-debt crisis|Budget of the Government of Puerto Rico|public debt of Puerto Rico}}
Puerto Rico has an [[operating budget]] of about U.S.$9.8&nbsp;billion with expenses at about $10.4&nbsp;billion, creating a structural deficit of $775&nbsp;million (about 7.9% of the budget).<ref name="el-vocero-la-estadidad-es-uniforme">{{cite news |url=http://elvocero.com/la-estadidad-es-una-unica-uniforme-e-irreversible/ |title=La (contracted; show full)nding more than 40% of Puerto Rico's entire public debt today.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.pr.gov/presupuestos/presupuesto2011-2012/Resumen%20del%20Presupuesto/Servicio%20de%20la%20Deuda.pdf |title=SERVICIO DE LA DEUDA |website=".pr.gov |accessdate=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525014050/http://www2.pr.gov/presupuestos/presupuesto2011-2012/Resumen%20del%20Presupuesto/Servicio%20de%20la%20Deuda.pdf |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
</ref> Holistically, from FY2000–FY2010 Puerto Rico's debt grew at a [[compound annual growth rate]] (CAGR) of 9% while GDP remained stagnant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gdbpr.com/spa/investors_resources/documents/2011-07-12-DeudaPublicaDic2010-GS.pdf |title=Reporte General sobre Deuda Pública |website=".pr.gov |accessdate=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525013905/http://gdbpr.com/spa/investors_resources/documents/2011-07-12-DeudaPublicaDic2010-GS.pdf |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 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&nbsp;billion in bond debt; the agency planned to seek Court protection.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/02/business/puerto-ricos-electric-power-authority-effectively-files-for-bankruptcy.html |title=Puerto Rico's Power Authority Effectively Files for Bankruptcy |first=Mary Williams |last=Walsh |date=July 2, 2017 |accessdate=August 26, 2017 |website=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

In terms of protocol, the governor, together with the [[Puerto Rico Office of Management and Budget]] (OGP in Spanish), formulates the budget he believes is required to operate all government branches for the ensuing fiscal year. He then submits this formulation as a budget request to the Puerto Rican legislature before July 1, the date established by law as the beginning of Puerto Rico's fiscal year. While the constitution establishes that the request must be submitted "at the beginning of each regular session", the request is typically submitted during the first week of May as the regular sessions of the legislature begin in January and it would be impractical to submit a request so far in advance. Once submitted, the budget is then approved by the legislature, typically with amendments, through a [[joint resolution]] and is referred back to the governor for his approval. The governor then either approves it or vetoes it. If vetoed, the legislature can then either refer it back with amendments for the governor's approval, or approve it without the governor's consent by two-thirds of the bodies of each chamber.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.pr.gov/presupuestos/PresupuestoAprobado2013-2014/Informacin%20General/Proceso%20Presupuestario.pdf |title=PROCESO PRESUPUESTARIO |website=2.pr.gov |accessdate=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525014054/http://www2.pr.gov/presupuestos/PresupuestoAprobado2013-2014/Informacin%20General/Proceso%20Presupuestario.pdf |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Once the budget is approved, the Department of Treasury disburses funds to the Office of Management and Budget which in turn disburses the funds to the respective agencies, while the [[Puerto Rico Government Development Bank]] (the government's intergovernmental bank) manages all related banking affairs including those related to the government-owned corporations.

===Cost of living===
[[File:Map-of-jones-act-carrier-routes-for-puerto-rico.png|thumb|upright=1.6|A map of [[Merchant Marine Act of 1920|Jones Act]] carrier routes for Puerto Rico]]
The cost of living in Puerto Rico is high and has increased over the past decade.{{efn|MRGI (2008) "Many female migrants leave their families behind due to the risk of illegal travel and the high cost of living in Puerto Rico."<ref name="refworld.org"/>}}<ref>[https://archive.today/20140618035840/http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/pls/psgprod/f?p=132:CONTENT:618940367579001::NO::P4_INST_ID,P4_INST_TYPE:4150,INSTALLATION "Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico"]. ''Military Installations''. Department of Defense. Retrieved June 17, 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/29/puerto-ricos-cost-of-livi_n_4013350.html |title=Puerto Rico's Cost of Living Skyrockets |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=September 29, 2013 |accessdate=April 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313113741/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/29/puerto-ricos-cost-of-livi_n_4013350.html |archivedate=March 13, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/us/economy-and-crime-spur-new-puerto-rican-exodus.html?_r=0 |work=The New York Times |first=Lizette |last=Alvarez |title=Economy and Crime Spur New Puerto Rican Exodus |date=February 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/sigueenaumentoelcostodevidaenpuertorico-1585599.html |title=Home – El Nuevo Día |publisher=Elnuevodia.com |date=August 31, 2013 |accessdate=April 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208121032/http://www.elnuevodia.com/sigueenaumentoelcostodevidaenpuertorico-1585599.html |archivedate=February 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/nota/midaconcluyealtocostodevidaeslapreocupacionmayordelboricua-399279/ |title=MIDA concluye alto costo de vida es la preocupación mayor del boricua |publisher=Primerahora.com |date=February 13, 2013 |accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dougherty |first=Conor |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB118705864479596908 |title=Puerto Rico's Economic Slump Weighs Hard on Consumers |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date=August 14, 2007 |accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Coto |first=Danica |url=http://nbclatino.com/2013/09/29/life-in-puerto-rico-becomes-costlier-amid-crisis/ |title=Life in Puerto Rico becomes costlier amid crisis |publisher=Nbclatino.com |date=September 29, 2013 |accessdate=April 14, 2014 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413160122/http://nbclatino.com/2013/09/29/life-in-puerto-rico-becomes-costlier-amid-crisis/ |url-status=dead {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525014050/http://www2.pr.gov/presupuestos/presupuesto2011-2012/Resumen%20del%20Presupuesto/Servicio%20de%20la%20Deuda.pdf |date=25 May 2017 }}</ref> Holistically, from FY2000–FY2010 Puerto Rico's debt grew at a [[compound annual growth rate]] (CAGR) of 9% while GDP remained stagnant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gdbpr.com/spa/investors_resources/documents/2011-07-12-DeudaPublicaDic2010-GS.pdf |title=Reporte General sobre Deuda Pública |website=".pr.gov |accessdate=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525013905/http://gdbpr.com/spa/investors_resources/documents/2011-07-12-DeudaPublicaDic2010-GS.pdf |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525013905/http://gdbpr.com/spa/investors_resources/documents/2011-07-12-DeudaPublicaDic2010-GS.pdf |date=25 May 2017 }}</ref> 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&nbsp;billion in bond debt; the agency planned to seek Court protection.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/02/business/puerto-ricos-electric-power-authority-effectively-files-for-bankruptcy.html |title=Puerto Rico's Power Authority Effectively Files for Bankruptcy |first=Mary Williams |last=Walsh |date=July 2, 2017 |accessdate=August 26, 2017 |website=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

In terms of protocol, the governor, together with the [[Puerto Rico Office of Management and Budget]] (OGP in Spanish), formulates the budget he believes is required to operate all government branches for the ensuing fiscal year. He then submits this formulation as a budget request to the Puerto Rican legislature before July 1, the date established by law as the beginning of Puerto Rico's fiscal year. While the constitution establishes that the request must be submitted "at the beginning of each regular session", the request is typically submitted during the first week of May as the regular sessions of the legislature begin in January and it would be impractical to submit a request so far in advance. Once submitted, the budget is then approved by the legislature, typically with amendments, through a [[joint resolution]] and is referred back to the governor for his approval. The governor then either approves it or vetoes it. If vetoed, the legislature can then either refer it back with amendments for the governor's approval, or approve it without the governor's consent by two-thirds of the bodies of each chamber.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.pr.gov/presupuestos/PresupuestoAprobado2013-2014/Informacin%20General/Proceso%20Presupuestario.pdf |title=PROCESO PRESUPUESTARIO |website=2.pr.gov |accessdate=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525014054/http://www2.pr.gov/presupuestos/PresupuestoAprobado2013-2014/Informacin%20General/Proceso%20Presupuestario.pdf |archive-date=May 25, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525014054/http://www2.pr.gov/presupuestos/PresupuestoAprobado2013-2014/Informacin%20General/Proceso%20Presupuestario.pdf |date=25 May 2017 }}</ref>

Once the budget is approved, the Department of Treasury disburses funds to the Office of Management and Budget which in turn disburses the funds to the respective agencies, while the [[Puerto Rico Government Development Bank]] (the government's intergovernmental bank) manages all related banking affairs including those related to the government-owned corporations.

===Cost of living===
[[File:Map-of-jones-act-carrier-routes-for-puerto-rico.png|thumb|upright=1.6|A map of [[Merchant Marine Act of 1920|Jones Act]] carrier routes for Puerto Rico]]
The cost of living in Puerto Rico is high and has increased over the past decade.{{efn|MRGI (2008) "Many female migrants leave their families behind due to the risk of illegal travel and the high cost of living in Puerto Rico."<ref name="refworld.org"/>}}<ref>[https://archive.today/20140618035840/http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/pls/psgprod/f?p=132:CONTENT:618940367579001::NO::P4_INST_ID,P4_INST_TYPE:4150,INSTALLATION "Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico"]. ''Military Installations''. Department of Defense. Retrieved June 17, 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/29/puerto-ricos-cost-of-livi_n_4013350.html |title=Puerto Rico's Cost of Living Skyrockets |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=September 29, 2013 |accessdate=April 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313113741/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/29/puerto-ricos-cost-of-livi_n_4013350.html |archivedate=March 13, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/09/us/economy-and-crime-spur-new-puerto-rican-exodus.html?_r=0 |work=The New York Times |first=Lizette |last=Alvarez |title=Economy and Crime Spur New Puerto Rican Exodus |date=February 8, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.elnuevodia.com/sigueenaumentoelcostodevidaenpuertorico-1585599.html |title=Home – El Nuevo Día |publisher=Elnuevodia.com |date=August 31, 2013 |accessdate=April 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208121032/http://www.elnuevodia.com/sigueenaumentoelcostodevidaenpuertorico-1585599.html |archivedate=February 8, 2014 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208121032/http://www.elnuevodia.com/sigueenaumentoelcostodevidaenpuertorico-1585599.html |date=8 February 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticias/gobierno-politica/nota/midaconcluyealtocostodevidaeslapreocupacionmayordelboricua-399279/ |title=MIDA concluye alto costo de vida es la preocupación mayor del boricua |publisher=Primerahora.com |date=February 13, 2013 |accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dougherty |first=Conor |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB118705864479596908 |title=Puerto Rico's Economic Slump Weighs Hard on Consumers |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date=August 14, 2007 |accessdate=April 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Coto |first=Danica |url=http://nbclatino.com/2013/09/29/life-in-puerto-rico-becomes-costlier-amid-crisis/ |title=Life in Puerto Rico becomes costlier amid crisis |publisher=Nbclatino.com |date=September 29, 2013 |accessdate=April 14, 2014 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413160122/http://nbclatino.com/2013/09/29/life-in-puerto-rico-becomes-costlier-amid-crisis/ |url-status=dead }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413160122/http://nbclatino.com/2013/09/29/life-in-puerto-rico-becomes-costlier-amid-crisis/ |date=13 April 2014 }}</ref> San Juan's in particular is higher than [[Atlanta]], [[Dallas]], and [[Seattle]] but lower than [[Boston]], [[Chicago]], and [[New York City]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mercer.com/press-releases/1420615 |title=Worldwide Cost of Living Survey 2011 |publisher=Mercer.com |date= |accessdate=April 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410174442/http://www.mercer.com/press-releases/1420615 |archivedate=April 10, 2014}}</ref> One factor is hou(contracted; show full)n ports, a practice known as [[cabotage]].<ref name="erg-trade">{{cite web |url=http://graduados.uprrp.edu/planificacion/facultad/elias-gutierrez/ERGTRADE.pdf |title=Impact of the Coastwise Trade Laws on the Transportation System of the United States of America |first=Elías |last=Gutierrez |accessdate=September 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002122312/http://graduados.uprrp.edu/planificacion/facultad/elias-gutierrez/ERGTRADE.pdf |archivedate=October 2,
 2013 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002122312/http://graduados.uprrp.edu/planificacion/facultad/elias-gutierrez/ERGTRADE.pdf |date=2 October 2013 }}</ref> Because of the Jones Act, foreign ships inbound with goods from [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]], [[Western Europe]], and [[Africa]] cannot 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 distributors [[break bulk cargo|break bulk]] and send Puerto Rico-bound manufactured goods to Puerto Rico across the ocean by U.S.-flagged ship(contracted; show full)(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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html |title=CIA FactBook |publisher=Cia.gov |accessdate=February 6, 2011 |archive-date=8 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108113942/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html |url-status=dead }}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108113942/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rq.html |date=8 January 2019 }}</ref> 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.

(contracted; show full) victims are gang members and drug traffickers with about 80% of homicides in Puerto Rico being drug related.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=345039&CategoryId=14092 |title=Latin American Herald Tribune – 80% of Puerto Rico Murders Called Drug-Related |website=Laht.com |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-date=23 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123055804/http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=345039&CategoryId=14092 |url-status=dead }}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123055804/http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=345039&CategoryId=14092 |date=23 November 2016 }}</ref>

[[Carjackings]] happen often in many areas of Puerto Rico. In 1992, the FBI made it a Federal crime and rates decreased per statistics,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/31/us/after-carjacking-surge-puerto-rico-is-wary-behind-the-wheel.html|title=After Carjacking Surge, Puerto Rico Is Wary Behind the Wheel|first=Mireya|last=Navarro|date=July 31, 1994|accessdate=June 23, 2019|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> but as of 2019, the problem continued in municipaliti(contracted; show full)/news/who-is-monica-puig-the-puerto-rico-puerto-rican-tennis-player-at-rio-2016-olympic-games |title=Who is Mónica Puig the Puerto Rico player who won the gold medal in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games women's tennis final? |date=August 14, 2016 |publisher=Rio2016.com |accessdate=August 14, 2016 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826095633/https://www.rio2016.com/en/news/who-is-monica-puig-the-puerto-rico-puerto-rican-tennis-player-at-rio-2016-olympic-games |archivedate=August 26,
 2016 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826095633/https://www.rio2016.com/en/news/who-is-monica-puig-the-puerto-rico-puerto-rican-tennis-player-at-rio-2016-olympic-games |date=26 August 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/26/sports/tennis/monica-puig-puerto-rico-olympics-gold-medalist.html |title=Monica Puig, Puerto Rico's Favorite Daughter (and Only Gold Medalist) |first=David |last=Waldstein |date=August 25, 2016 |website=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

===Folklore===
(contracted; show full)Hernández Airport]] in Aguadilla, and 27 local airports. The Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is the largest aerial transportation hub in the Caribbean.<ref name=PRPA2008-07-28>{{cite web |url=http://www.prpa.gobierno.pr/APMain.aspx |title=Aeropuertos Internacionales y Regionales (Spanish) |publisher=Puerto Rico Ports Authority |accessdate=February 6, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007181239/http://www.prpa.gobierno.pr/apmain.aspx |archivedate=October 7, 2009
 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007181239/http://www.prpa.gobierno.pr/apmain.aspx |date=7 October 2009 }}</ref>

[[File:Tren Urbano in Bayamón (Puerto Rico).jpg|thumb|The [[Tren Urbano]] system at Bayamón Station]]

Puerto Rico has nine [[port]]s in different cities across the main island. The [[San Juan Port]] is 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.<ref name=PRPA2008-07-28 /> The second largest port is the [[Port of the Americas]] in Ponce, currently under expa(contracted; show full)ower distribution]] in Puerto Rico.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.presupuesto.gobierno.pr/PresupuestosAnteriores/af2008_2009/Tomo_II/suppdocs/baselegal/169/169.pdf |title=Ley de la Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico |website=Presupuesto.gobierno.pr |accessdate=August 26, 2017 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924081627/http://www.presupuesto.gobierno.pr/PresupuestosAnteriores/af2008_2009/Tomo_II/suppdocs/baselegal/169/169.pdf |url-status=dead }}
 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924081627/http://www.presupuesto.gobierno.pr/PresupuestosAnteriores/af2008_2009/Tomo_II/suppdocs/baselegal/169/169.pdf |date=24 September 2015 }}</ref> PREPA is the only entity authorized to conduct such business in Puerto Rico, effectively making it a [[government monopoly]]. The Authority is ruled by a governing board appointed by the governor with the [[advice and consent]] of the [[Senate of Puerto Rico]], and is run by an executive director.

(contracted; show full)
[[Category:Spanish West Indies]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1898]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:1493 establishments in the Spanish West Indies]]
[[Category:1898 disestablishments in the Spanish West Indies]]
[[Category:Small Island Developing States]]<noinclude>

<small>This page was moved from [[:en:Puerto Rico]]. Its edit history can be viewed at [[Puerto Rico/edithistory]]</small></noinclude>