From the world’s oldest colony to the largest and deepest in the Atlantic, these are the most interesting facts about Puerto Rico.
Fast facts
Official name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Population: 3,019,450
Area: 9,104 sq km
Capital city: San Juan
Major languages: Spanish, English
Major religions: Christianity (56% Catholic, 33% Protestant)
Time zone: UTC-4 (Atlantic Standard Time)
Interesting facts about Puerto Rico
1. Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island, borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
2. Puerto Rico is an archipelago composed of a main island and two smaller populated islands, Culebra and Vieques. There are more than 100 deserted islands and cays.
3. Puerto Rico is the world’s oldest colony, which started in 1508.
4. Puerto Rico was originally settled by the Taino Indians from South America by 1000 CE.
5. Christopher Columbus arrived in Puerto Rico on his second voyage in 1493, and the country was claimed by the Spanish crown.
6. African slaves were brought during the colonization, and slavery was not abolished until 1873.
7. After 400 years of colonization and the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US in 1898 under the Treaty of Paris.
8. Puerto Rico received US citizenship in 1917.
9. The flag of Puerto Rico is a rectangle featuring five horizontal stripes in alternating red and white. On the hoist side, an isosceles triangle with a white star lies in the center. The red stripes symbolize the blood nourishing the three branches of government, while the white stripes stand for liberty and human rights. The triangle’s blue color represents the sky and ocean, and the star represents the Commonwealth. There is no official shade of blue. The design is influenced by the Cuban flag, with the red and blue colors swapped.
10. The Spanish Virgin Islands, which includes Puerto Rico and a group of smaller islands, is an unincorporated territory of the US. This unique status means that Puerto Rico has its own government, but are dual citizens and use the US dollar currency.
11. US citizens don’t need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands.
12. Like any Caribbean paradise, Puerto Rico is known for its beaches. Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that Puerto Rico has approximately 1,225 beaches throughout the almost 800-mile coastline.
13. Puerto Rico is the largest territory and 3rd largest island in the United States. Only Hawaii and Kodiak Island are bigger.
14. Puerto Rico lies on the Caribbean and North Atlantic plates, which gives the island a deformed appearance and causes small earthquakes on the island.
15. Puerto Rico experiences an estimated average of 7-8 earthquakes per day, with a 1.5 magnitude or greater. This is taking into account the last 365 days’ worth of data from Earthquake Track.
16. Puerto Rico got its name “Rich Port” due to its location and plentiful gold found in the rivers by the Spanish.
17. Puerto Rico contains the third busiest container port among the Caribbean countries, known as the Port of San Juan.
18. Puerto Rico is situated between the US mainland and South American countries such as Colombia and Peru, which makes it a major transshipment point for illegal drugs.
19. The Mona Island off Puerto Rico is home to 10 vertebrate species that cannot be found anywhere else, including the Mona ground iguanas.
20. Puerto Rico has no large wild animals.
21. The coqui is a small tree frog but very loud. It can be heard all over the island. It is considered unofficially as a national animal.
22. The piña colada hails from San Juan, Puerto Rico. The original recipe contains white rum, coconut cream, heavy cream, pineapple juice and ice.
23. About 60% of Puerto Rico is covered in mountains.
24. The Puerto Rico Trench is the largest and deepest trench in the Atlantic. It is 1,090 miles (1,750 km) long and 60 miles (100 km) wide, with a depth of 28,215 feet (8,600 meters).
25. Puerto Rico claims to be “The Rum Capital of The World.” The world’s largest rum distillery, known as Casa BACARDÍ, or The Cathedral of Rum, is located in Cataño, Puerto Rico.
26. Puerto Rico is home to iconic fortifications built by the Spanish, the most iconic of which is Castillo San Felipe del Morro, also known as El Morro. Found at the Bay of San Juan, this six-level fortress was used to attack enemy ships.
27. In later years, El Morro served as an active military base during the First and Second World Wars. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
28. Puerto Rico has no natural lakes.
29. Puerto Rico is home to three bioluminescent bays: Mosquito Bay, located on the island of Vieques, Laguna Grande, northeast of Puerto Rico, and La Parguera, located in southwest Puerto Rico. A bioluminescent bay is a body of water that glows due to the single-cell marine plankton.
30. Generally speaking, rainforests receive 60-80 inches of rain annually, but not El Yunque National Forest. This rainforest in Puerto Rico receives about 200 inches (5.08 meters) of rainfall every year and is seldom dry.
31. By comparison, the driest part of the island, Guanica Biosphere Reserve and State Forest, only receives 31.1 inches (79 cm) of rainfall per year.
Every effort has been made to verify these facts about Puerto Rico using primary sources. However, if you find an error or have any questions, please contact us.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. A teacher for seven years, she has been committed to providing students with the best learning opportunities possible, both domestically and abroad. Dedicated to unlocking students' potential, Caitriona has taught English in several countries and continues to explore new cultures through her travels.