Puerto Rico
Americas Β· Capital: San Juan
How it is run: Puerto Rico is a territory or observer, so some decisions about it are made elsewhere. The research links below explain who is in charge.
Puerto Rico is home to 3.2 million people in Caribbean, where people speak English, Spanish.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
3.2 million people
That is about 393 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
8,870 kmΒ²
About the size of a small US state such as Vermont or New Hampshire.
ποΈ How crowded
About 359 people per square kilometre β busy towns with countryside in between.
π Size in its region
23rd most people in Americas
31st largest by land in Americas.
π£οΈ Official languages
English, Spanish
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
United States dollar ($)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
81.9 years on average
One of the healthier countries β good hospitals and clean water make a big difference.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$40,620
An upper-middle-income country: growing cities, and more families joining the middle class.
π’ Living in cities
94.3% of people
Mostly a city country β think buses, trains and apartment blocks.
π Kids under 15
11.2% of the population
An older country β there are more grandparents than schoolchildren.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+1
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.pr
π§ People here are called
Puerto Rican
π·οΈ Name at home
Puerto Rico
Also written: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Not a UN member
Neighbours & borders π€
Puerto Rico has no land borders at all. It is surrounded by water, so boats and planes are the way in and out.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Puerto Rico
French
Porto Rico
Arabic
Ψ¨ΩΩΨ±ΨͺΩΨ±ΩΩΩ
Chinese
ζ³’ε€ι»ε
Japanese
γγ¨γ«γγͺγ³
Russian
ΠΡΡΡΡΠΎ-Π ΠΈΠΊΠΎ
Portuguese
Porto Rico
German
Puerto Rico
Put it in perspective π
- United States β the most populated country in Americas β has about 107.3Γ as many people as Puerto Rico.
- Puerto Rico covers roughly 84 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Puerto Rico lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 1,592 km.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: The capital of Puerto Rico is San Juan β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
π·οΈ Official name
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
ποΈ Capital
San Juan
π Region
Americas Β· Caribbean
π€ Country code
PR
ποΈ UN status
Not a UN member state
π© Independence
Linked territory
More about Puerto Rico π
π§ Where on the map
18.3Β° N, 66.5Β° W
π Half of the world
Northern & Western hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC-4 β when it is noon in London it is about 08:00 in San Juan.
- Puerto Rico is not a full UN member state, so it doesn't get its own vote in the General Assembly.
- π΅π· is the flag of Puerto Rico. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is PR.
- The capital of Puerto Rico is San Juan β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- Puerto Rico shares its part of the world with Sint Maarten. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- Puerto Rico is a territory linked to another country, so some decisions are made elsewhere.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Puerto Rico has 2 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Puerto Rico can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Puerto Rico spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Puerto Rico?
San Juan
Which money do people spend in Puerto Rico?
United States dollar ($)
How many countries share a land border with Puerto Rico?
None β no land neighbours at all.
Roughly how many people live in Puerto Rico?
3.2 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.