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Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2007) - Puerto Rico (2008)

Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2007) z Puerto Rico (2008)

 British Indian Ocean Territory (2007)Puerto Rico (2008)
 British Indian Ocean TerritoryPuerto Rico
Administrative divisions - none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the 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
Age structure - 0-14 years: 21% (male 422,635/female 403,887)


15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,247,314/female 1,352,139)


65 years and over: 13.1% (male 223,508/female 294,776) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products - sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Airports 1 (2007) 29 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
total: 17


over 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 5 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 12


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 10 (2007)
Area total: 54,400 sq km


land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km


water: 54,340 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands
total: 13,790 sq km


land: 8,870 sq km


water: 4,921 sq km
Area - comparative land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Background Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following 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 providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status.
Birth rate - 12.79 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget - revenues: $6.7 billion


expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00)
Capital - name: San Juan


geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W


time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Coastline 698 km 501 km
Constitution - ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Country name conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico


conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Death rate - 7.78 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external - $NA
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London 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
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Disputes - international Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in 1967 and 1973 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; in May 2006, the High Court of London reversed U.K. Government's 2004 orders of council that banned habitation on the islands; a small group of Chagossians visited Diego Garcia in April 2006; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest viable island in the chain increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work
Economic aid - recipient - $NA
Economy - overview All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the native Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. The territory makes money by selling fishing licenses and postage stamps. Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million tourists in 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again in 2006-07.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 23.21 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military 24.96 billion kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m
Environment - current issues NA erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Ethnic groups - white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Exchange rates - the US dollar is used
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Leigh TURNER (since July 2006); Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); note - both reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January 2005)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature


elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)


election results: Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA elected governor; percent of vote - 48.4%
Exports - 10,580 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities - chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners - US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2006)
Fiscal year - 1 July - 30 June
Flag description white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 1%


industry: 45%


services: 54% (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - -1.2% (2007 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E 18 15 N, 66 30 W
Geography - note archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility 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
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports - 230,100 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities - chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Imports - partners - US 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2006)
Independence - none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Industrial production growth rate - NA%
Industries - pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Infant mortality rate - total: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 8.71 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 6.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 6.5% (2003 est.)
International organization participation - Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU
Irrigated land 0 sq km 400 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch - Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for all these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate)
Labor force - 1.3 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture: 3%


industry: 20%


services: 77% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
arable land: 3.69%


permanent crops: 5.59%


other: 90.72% (2005)
Languages - Spanish, English
Legal system the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice
Legislative branch - bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats - currently 29; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 43.4%, PPD 40.3%, PIP 9.4%; seats by party - PNP 17, PPD 9, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PNP 46.3%, PPD 43.1%, PIP 9.7%; seats by party - PNP 32, PPD 18, PIP 1


note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor, he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held in November 2008); results - percent of vote by party - PNP 48.6%, other 51.4%; seats by party - PNP 1
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 78.54 years


male: 74.6 years


female: 82.67 years (2007 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 94.1%


male: 93.9%


female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
Location archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Map references Political Map of the World Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine - total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 77,177 GRT/50,138 DWT


by type: roll on/roll off 3


foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)


registered in other countries: 1 (St Vincent and The Grenadines 1) (2007)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 defense is the responsibility of the US
Military branches - no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
National holiday - US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Nationality - noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)


adjective: Puerto Rican
Natural hazards NA periodic droughts; hurricanes
Natural resources coconuts, fish, sugarcane some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Net migration rate - -1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Political parties and leaders - National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP [Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood); Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA] (pro-commonwealth); Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)
Political pressure groups and leaders - Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s; in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in November 2004, there were approximately 4,000 UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia
3,944,259 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA%
Population growth rate - 0.393% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2005)
Railways - total: 96 km


narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
Religions - Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Sex ratio - at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.046 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.922 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.758 male(s)/female


total population: 0.923 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Telephone system general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability


domestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone service


international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
Telephones - main lines in use NA 1.038 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 3.354 million (2005)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 32 (2006)
Terrain flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation) mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Total fertility rate - 1.77 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate - 12% (2002)
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