USA Puerto Rico - The People : USA  

USA Puerto Rico - The People - Travel guide

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USA Puerto Rico - The People

The People

The 3.950 million people that inhabit the island of Puerto Rico make it one of the most densely populated islands in the world. There are about 1,000 people per square mile, a ratio higher than within any of the 50 states in the United States. It is estimated that some 2 million Puerto Ricans have migrated to the United States. Had these people remained in Puerto Rico, the island would be so densely populated that there would be virtually no room for people to live. Because of the massive migration to the mainland, more Puerto Ricans are said to live in New York City than in San Juan. In recent years, many Puerto Ricans have returned to their island home, in large part because of inadequate economic opportunity in the United States.

On the island, one-third of the population is concentrated in the San Juan-Carolina-Bayamón metropolitan area.

The July 2002 census put Puerto Rico's population at 3,858,806. Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States. The chief of state is the President of the United States of America. The head of government is an elected Governor. There are two legislative chambers: the House of Representatives, 51 seats, and the Senate, 27 seats.

The Capital City is San Juan, other Major Cities or Towns include Carolina, Levittown, Caguas, Mayagüez, Aguadilla, Ponce.