Map of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a country in North America with its capital at San Juan, home to about 3.18 million people across 9,104 km². The interactive map below plots 4 cities and towns, 2 mountain summits and 11 ports recorded for Puerto Rico in YearMaps.
- Population
- 3.18 million
- Area
- 9,104 km²
- Capital
- San Juan
- Continent
- North America
Interactive Map of Puerto Rico
Centred on San Juan at 18.4400° N, 66.1300° W. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a self-governing Caribbean archipelago and island organized as an unincorporated territory of the United States under the designation of commonwealth. Located about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida, between the Dominican Republic in the Greater Antilles and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Lesser Antilles, it consists of the eponymous main island and numerous smaller islands, including Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. With approximately 3.2 million people, it is divided into 78 municipalities, of which the most populous is the capital municipality of San Juan, followed by those within the San Juan metropolitan area. Spanish and English are the official languages of its government, though Spanish predominates, as it is culturally part of Latin America.
Puerto Rico was settled by a succession of Indigenous peoples of the Americas beginning 2,000 to 4,000 years ago; these included the Ortoiroid, Saladoid, and Taíno. It was claimed by Spain following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1493 and subsequently colonized by Juan Ponce de León in 1508. Puerto Rico was contested by other European powers into the 18th century but remained a Spanish possession for the next 400 years. The decline of the Indigenous population, followed by an influx of Spanish settlers—primarily from the Canary Islands and Andalusia—and African slaves vastly changed the cultural and demographic landscape. Within the Spanish Empire, Puerto Rico played a strategically significant role. By the late 19th century, a distinct Puerto Rican identity began to emerge, centered on a fusion of European, African, and Indigenous elements. In 1898, following the Spanish–American War, Puerto Rico was acquired by the United States.
Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917 and can move freely between the archipelago and the U.S. Residents of Puerto Rico are disenfranchised from federal elections and pay federal taxes and Puerto Rico income taxes; most are exempt from federal income tax on personal income earned in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico sends a nonvoting representative to the U.S. Congress, called a resident commissioner, and participates in presidential primaries; as it is not a state, Puerto Rico does not have a vote in the U.S. Congress, which oversees it under the Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act of 1950. Congress approved a territorial constitution in 1952, allowing residents to elect a governor in addition to a senate and house of representatives.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Puerto Rico (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Puerto Rico
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, Puerto Rico was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 after Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted that provided for internal self-government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood. A referendum held in late 2020 showed a narrow preference for statehood. Economic recession on the island has led to a net population loss since about 2005, as large numbers of residents moved to the US mainland. In 2017, Hurricane Maria was the worst storm to hit the island in eight decades, and damage was estimated in the tens of billions of dollars.
- Location
- Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic.
- Climate
- Tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation.
- Terrain
- Mostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas.
- Highest point
- Cerro de Punta 1,338 m.
- Lowest point
- Caribbean Sea 0 m.
- Coastline
- 501 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 0 km.
- Natural resources
- Some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 19% (2023 est.); arable land: 5.7% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 1.8% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 11.6% (2023 est.); forest: 50.3% (2023 est.); other: 30.6% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Periodic droughts; hurricanes.
- Geographic note
- Important location along the Mona Passage, a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well-watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north.
- Languages
- Spanish, English.
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 56%, Protestant 33% (largely Pentecostal), other 2%, atheist 1%, none 7% (2014 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- White 75.8%, Black/African American 12.4%, other 8.5% (includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and others), mixed 3.3% (2010 est.)
- Economy
- US Caribbean island territorial economy; hit hard by COVID-19 and hurricanes; declining labor force and job growth after a decade of continuous recession; capital-based industry and tourism; high poverty; energy import-dependent.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Puerto Rico in Numbers
- Population
- 3.18 million
- GDP
- US$129.4 billion
- GDP per person
- US$40,620
- Life expectancy
- 81.9 years
- Population growth
- -0.55% a year
- Population density
- 361 per km²
- Urban population
- 94.3%
- Surface area
- 8,870 km²
- Forest cover
- 49.8%
- Arable land
- 6.6%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 87.3%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Puerto Rico in Depth
History
The history of Puerto Rico began with the settlement of the Ortoiroid culture, an Archaic population characterized by a hunter-gatherer subsistence strategy and a pre-ceramic material culture. Archaeological evidence suggests that these early populations may have been present in Puerto Rico as early as c. 4000 years before present.
Around 500–200 BC, Saladoid populations originating from the Orinoco River basin migrated to Puerto Rico, introducing sedentary agriculture and ceramics. Genetic evidence suggests that this migration was associated with a major demographic transition in which Saladoid-related ancestry became predominant in later Ceramic Age populations that developed into the Taíno.
Geography
Puerto Rico consists of the main island and various smaller islands, including Vieques, Culebra, Mona, Desecheo, and Caja de Muertos. Of these, only Culebra and Vieques are inhabited year-round. Mona, which has played a key role in maritime history, is uninhabited most of the year except for employees of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. There are many other islets, like Monito, located near Mona, and Isla de Cabras and La Isleta de San Juan, both located on the San Juan Bay. The latter is the only inhabited islet with communities like Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra, which are connected to the main island by bridges.
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has an area of 3,515 square miles (9,100 km2), of which 3,459 sq mi (8,960 km2) is land and 56 sq mi (150 km2) is water.
Economy
Puerto Rico is classified as a high income economy by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. It is considered the most competitive economy in Latin America by the World Economic Forum and ranks highly on the Human Development Index. According to World Bank, gross national income per capita in Puerto Rico in 2020 was $21,740. Puerto Rico's economy is mainly driven by manufacturing (primarily pharmaceuticals, textiles, petrochemicals and electronics) followed by services (primarily finance, insurance, real estate and tourism); agriculture represents less than 1% of GNP. In recent years, it has also become a popular destination for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions), with a modern convention center district overlooking the Port of San Juan.
Demographics
The population of Puerto Rico reflects influences from initial Amerindian settlement, European colonization, slavery, economic migration, and the archipelago's status as unincorporated territory of the United States.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Puerto Rico (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Puerto Rico: Key Facts
| Currency | United States dollar |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Spanish, English |
| Head of government | Jenniffer González |
| Calling code | +1787 |
| Internet domain | .pr |
| Highest point | Cerro de Punta |
| Lowest point | Caribbean Sea |
| Established | 1898 |
Facts from Wikidata Q1183 (CC0).
History of Puerto Rico: Empires and States
The atlas records 3 polities whose mapped territory included part of Puerto Rico, from The Spanish Empire in 1516 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| The Spanish Empire | 1516–1899 CE | Most |
| Kingdom of Spain | 1519–1899 CE | Most |
| United States of America | 1900–2024 CE | Most |
Historical Maps of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island. Its white sandy beaches can compete with any in the world and vary from metropolitan cocktail heavens and bustling surfing hotspots to quiet island getaways. Easily accessible diving and snorkeling spots and the excellent bioluminescent bays offer great maritime experiences. Still, there's more to this tropical island than sunny beach life. The Spanish-American influences make for a fun melting pot of culture with an abundance of heritage to explore and some delightful food to enjoy.
As Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth, an insular area of the United States of America, it's a particularly hassle-free and therefore popular destination for US citizens, but well worth any trip to get there. It is known as the "Island of Enchantment".
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Puerto Rico (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Puerto Rico
4 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Juan | 2.48 million | — | Admin-1 capital |
| 2 | Mayagüez | 291,339 | — | Populated place |
| 3 | Ponce | 160,334 | — | Populated place |
| 4 | Arecibo | 69,307 | — | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Puerto Rico
2 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cerro de Punta | 1,338 m | 4,390 ft | North America |
| 2 | Pico El Yunque | 1,055 m | 3,461 ft | North America |
Cerro de Punta
Mountain · 1,338 m
Cerro de Punta is a mountain rising to 1,338 metres (4,390 ft) in Puerto Rico and the United States, in the North America region. The summit stands on the border between them. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..
Cerro de Punta or Cerro Punta (Spanish for 'point hill' or 'hill point', respectively) is the highest peak in Puerto Rico, rising to 1,338 meters (4,390 ft) above sea level. The mountain is part of the Cordillera Central and is located on the municipal boundary between Ponce and Jayuya in the central region of the main island of Puerto Rico.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Cerro de Punta (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 1,338 m (4,390 ft)
- Global rank
- #516 of 641 indexed
- Region
- North America (#102)
- Subregion
- West Indies
- Countries
- Puerto Rico, United States
- Coordinates
- 18.1700°, -66.5900°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Cerro de Punta ranks #516 by elevation, below Ben Nevis (1,343 m) and above Haltiatunturi (1,328 m).
- Ranges:
- Wilhelmina Gebergte (South America), Tumuc-Humac Mountains (South America)
More about Cerro de Punta
Geology
Unlike many Caribbean mountains, Cerro de Punta is not a volcano but simply the highest point in the Cordillera Central. Cordillera Central is the central mountain range that divides the island by running in an east–west fashion.
Location
The mountain is part of the Cordillera Central and is located on the border between the municipalities of Ponce and Jayuya. The access road to the point closest to the highest elevation is from PR-143 on the borders of those municipalities. It is located within the boundaries of the Toro Negro State Forest and Nature Reserve, and it has been described as "an alpine runt." The mountain is just north of east-to-westbound Route 143. It is located at coordinates 18.172458 and -66.591839W. The nearest populated place to Cerro de Punta is Urbanización Vega Linda, located 3.3 miles (5.3 km) away.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Cerro de Punta (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Cerro de Punta: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 1,338 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Cordillera Central |
Facts from Wikidata Q2714342 (CC0).
Ports in Puerto Rico
11 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bahia de Jobos | 53 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 2 | Bahia de Fajardo | 49.4 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | point_of_interest |
| 3 | Ensenada Honda | 42.1 m | Minor | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 4 | Arroyo | 42.1 m | Small | Caribbean Sea | point_of_interest |
| 5 | Mayaguez | 42.1 m | Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 6 | Las Mareas | 38.4 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 7 | Playa de Guayanilla | 38.4 m | Minor | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 8 | Playa de Guanica | 38.4 m | Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
| 9 | Playa de Humacao | 34.7 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | medium vessels |
| 10 | Puerto Yabucoa | 27.4 m | Very Small | Caribbean Sea | large vessels |
The other 1 (channel depth, class, sea, max vessel)
- Aguadilla · 12.8 m · Very Small · Caribbean Sea · large vessels
Largest Islands of Puerto Rico
2 islands recorded. Ranked by mapped area. An island divided between countries is listed under each, with the area of the whole island.
| # | Name | Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Antilles | 694,191 km² | Island group |
| 2 | Puerto Rico | 8,885 km² | Island |
Puerto Rico
Island · 8,885 km²
Puerto Rico is an island in North America (West Indies), covering an estimated 8,885 km². It extends across Puerto Rico and the United States. About 97% of the island belongs to Puerto Rico, and the rest to the United States.
Puerto Rico (abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a self-governing Caribbean archipelago and island organized as an unincorporated territory of the United States under the designation of commonwealth. Located about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida, between the Dominican Republic in the Greater Antilles and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Lesser Antilles, it consists of the eponymous main island and numerous smaller islands, including Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. With approximately 3.2 million people, it is divided into 78 municipalities, of which the most populous is the capital municipality of San Juan, followed by those within the San Juan metropolitan area. Spanish and English are the official languages of its government, though Spanish predominates, as it is culturally part of Latin America.
Puerto Rico was settled by a succession of Indigenous peoples of the Americas beginning 2,000 to 4,000 years ago; these included the Ortoiroid, Saladoid, and Taíno. It was claimed by Spain following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1493 and subsequently colonized by Juan Ponce de León in 1508.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Puerto Rico (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Feature class
- Island
- Mapped extent
- 8,885 km²
- Size rank
- #158 of 445 islands
- Region
- North America
- Subregion
- West Indies
- Countries
- Puerto Rico, United States
- Coordinates
- 18.1975°, -66.2166°
- Summits:
- Cerro de Punta (1,338 m)
- Ranges:
- Wilhelmina Gebergte (South America), Tumuc-Humac Mountains (South America)
More about Puerto Rico
Geography
Puerto Rico consists of the main island and various smaller islands, including Vieques, Culebra, Mona, Desecheo, and Caja de Muertos. Of these, only Culebra and Vieques are inhabited year-round. Mona, which has played a key role in maritime history, is uninhabited most of the year except for employees of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources. There are many other islets, like Monito, located near Mona, and Isla de Cabras and La Isleta de San Juan, both located on the San Juan Bay. The latter is the only inhabited islet with communities like Old San Juan and Puerta de Tierra, which are connected to the main island by bridges.
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has an area of 3,515 square miles (9,100 km2), of which 3,459 sq mi (8,960 km2) is land and 56 sq mi (150 km2) is water.
History
The history of Puerto Rico began with the settlement of the Ortoiroid culture, an Archaic population characterized by a hunter-gatherer subsistence strategy and a pre-ceramic material culture. Archaeological evidence suggests that these early populations may have been present in Puerto Rico as early as c. 4000 years before present.
Around 500–200 BC, Saladoid populations originating from the Orinoco River basin migrated to Puerto Rico, introducing sedentary agriculture and ceramics. Genetic evidence suggests that this migration was associated with a major demographic transition in which Saladoid-related ancestry became predominant in later Ceramic Age populations that developed into the Taíno.
Demographics
The population of Puerto Rico reflects influences from initial Amerindian settlement, European colonization, slavery, economic migration, and the archipelago's status as unincorporated territory of the United States. Puerto Ricans are characterized by a high degree of ethnic and cultural diversity, as well as a long history of intermarriage and acculturation among different demographics; racial and ethnic identity is subsequently complex and often nebulous, shaped by the broader attitudes and policies of the Spanish colonial period, 20th century American racial politics, and modern trends in cultural and identity in the 21st century United States.
According to the most recent 2020 United States census, Puerto Rico had 3,285,874 residents, an 11.8% decrease since 2010.
Economy
Puerto Rico is classified as a high income economy by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. It is considered the most competitive economy in Latin America by the World Economic Forum and ranks highly on the Human Development Index. According to World Bank, gross national income per capita in Puerto Rico in 2020 was $21,740.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Puerto Rico (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Puerto Rico: Key Facts
| Area | 9,104 km² |
|---|---|
| Population | 3,285,874 (2020) |
| Highest point | Cerro de Punta |
| Surrounded by | Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea |
Facts from Wikidata Q1183 (CC0).
Visiting Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island. Its white sandy beaches can compete with any in the world and vary from metropolitan cocktail heavens and bustling surfing hotspots to quiet island getaways. Easily accessible diving and snorkeling spots and the excellent bioluminescent bays offer great maritime experiences. Still, there's more to this tropical island than sunny beach life. The Spanish-American influences make for a fun melting pot of culture with an abundance of heritage to explore and some delightful food to enjoy.
As Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth, an insular area of the United States of America, it's a particularly hassle-free and therefore popular destination for US citizens, but well worth any trip to get there. It is known as the "Island of Enchantment".
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Puerto Rico (CC BY-SA 4.0).
More Maps in North America
Puerto Rico: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Puerto Rico?
- The capital of Puerto Rico is San Juan.
- What is the population of Puerto Rico?
- Puerto Rico has a population of about 3.18 million, the #135 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Puerto Rico?
- Puerto Rico covers 9,104 km², ranking #171 by area, with about 350 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Puerto Rico in?
- Puerto Rico is in North America.
- What is the largest city in Puerto Rico?
- San Juan is the largest city in Puerto Rico, with a metropolitan population of about 2.48 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Puerto Rico?
- The highest summit recorded for Puerto Rico in YearMaps is Cerro de Punta at 1,338 m (4,390 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.