World Factbook
Puerto Rico
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: five equal horizontal bands of red alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side has a large five-pointed white star in the center meaning: the star stands for the country; the three sides of the triangle stand for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters, red for the blood shed by warriors, and white for liberty, victory, and peace
note: design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
Capital
name
San Juan
etymology
Spanish explorer Juan PONCE de Leon named the city in 1511 both for himself and for his name saint, Saint John
time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
18 28 N, 66 07 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
note: residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Citizenship
see United States
Constitution
history
previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified by referendum 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952
amendment process
proposed by a concurrent resolution of at least two-thirds majority by the total Legislative Assembly membership; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and approval by a majority of voters in a special referendum; if passed by at least three-fourths Assembly vote, the referendum can be held concurrently with the next general election; constitutional articles such as the republican form of government or the bill of rights cannot be amended
Country name
etymology
Christopher COLUMBUS originally named the island San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) and the capital city and main port Cuidad de Puerto Rico (Rich Port City); over time, the names were shortened and transposed
abbreviation
PR
conventional long form
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form
Puerto Rico
Independence
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Legal system
civil law system based on the Spanish civil code, within the framework of the US federal system
Government type
unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; note - reference Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act, 2 March 1917, as amended by Public Law 600, 3 July 1950
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 8 associate justices)
subordinate courts
Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts
judge selection and term of office
justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by majority Senate vote; judges serve until compulsory retirement at age 70
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly
chief of state
President Donald J. TRUMP (since 20 January 2025)
election results
2024: Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN elected governor; percent of vote - Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN (PNP) 39.4%, Juan DALMAU Ramírez (PIP) 32.7%, Jesús Manuel ORTIZ (PPD) 21.1%, Javier JIMÉNEZ (PD) 6.7%, other 0.1% 2020: Pedro PIERLUISI elected governor; percent of vote - Pedro PIERLUISI (PNP) 32.9%, Carlos DELGADO (PPD) 31.6%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 14.2%, Juan DALMAU (PIP) 13.7%, other 7.6%
head of government
Governor Jenniffer GONZÁLEZ-COLÓN (since 2 January 2025)
most recent election date
5 November 2024
election/appointment process
president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of electors chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of Puerto Rico do not vote in elections for US president and vice president, but they can vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits)
expected date of next election
7 November 2028
National holiday
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Dependency status
unincorporated organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
National color(s)
red, white, blue
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the US entry
selected World Heritage Site locales
La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site
Political parties
Citizens' Victory Movement (Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana) or MVC Democratic Party of Puerto Rico New Progressive Party or PNP (pro-US statehood) Popular Democratic Party or PPD (pro-commonwealth) Project Dignity (Projecto Dignidad) or PD Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP (pro-independence) Republican Party of Puerto Rico
Legislative branch
note
note: Puerto Rico directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 4-year term as a commissioner to the US House of Representatives; the commissioner can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House but not when legislation is submitted for a 'full floor' House vote; election of commissioner last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)
term in office
4 years
legislature name
Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"The Star-Spangled Banner"
history
official anthem, as a US commonwealth
lyrics/music
Francis Scott KEY/John Stafford SMITH
National symbol(s)
Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog)
Administrative divisions
no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but 78 municipalities ( municipios , singular - municipio ) are considered second-order: Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives (Camara de Representantes)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
51 (directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/3/2020
expected date of next election
November 2024
percentage of women in chamber
19.6%
parties elected and seats per party
PPD (26); PNP (21); MVC (2); PIP (1); PD (1)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Senado)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
30 (directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/3/2020
expected date of next election
November 2024
percentage of women in chamber
48.1%
parties elected and seats per party
PPD (12); NP (10); MVC (2); PD (1); PIP (1); independent (1)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
International organization participation
AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WFTU (NGOs)