Why Puerto Rico?

We have the ingredients to achieve it.

For decades, Puerto Rico has been the cradle and model of economic development in the region. Today, as part of the transformation of Puerto Rico, the Department of Economic Development and Commerce is redoubling efforts to strengthen the Island with a business ecosystem of worldwide category.

 Skilled, bilingual and highly educated workforce
Skilled, bilingual and highly educated workforce
 Incentives and resources to promote entrepreneurship
Incentives and resources to promote entrepreneurship
 Unmatched quality of life
Unmatched quality of life

General Facts

Capital City:
San Juan.

Main Cities:
Ponce, Mayagüez, Bayamón, Caguas y Guaynabo.

Population:
3,068,700 (Puerto Rico Statistics Institute)

Geography:
​Puerto Rico is located in the eastern Caribbean and is the smallest of the Greater Antilles. It está situado en el Caribe oriental y es la más pequeña de las Antillas Mayores. It is an island of almost rectangular shape, with an area that measures about 3,435 square miles (about 9,000 square kilometers)

Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico en el caribe

Dimensions 
100 x 35 miles (160 by 56 kilometers)

Climate
Tropical, 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28° C) annual average temperature

Time Zone
“Atlantic Standard Time”. For most of the year, due to "Daylight Savings Time", March through November has the same time as the East Coast of the USA.

Political system
Representative democracy with division of powers or functions. The Governor and his Cabinet make up the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch is bicameral made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives; the Supreme Court; the Court of Appeals and the courts of first instance make up the Judicial Branch.

Citizenship
U.S.

Currency
Dollar

GOOD LIVING

A comfortable, Affordable Lifestyle

Famed for its white, sandy beaches and lush tropical forests, Puerto Rico offers a comfortable lifestyle with all the modern comforts of major international locations. Steady trade winds create a near-perfect, year-round warm climate. The average temperature is 82°F with moderate humidity and an average annual rainfall of 56 inches.

There are 3.07 million U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico. The population is largely urban and suburban, with nearly 2 million people living in the cities. As one of the most densely populated islands in the world, Puerto Rico offers a vibrant cultural and racial mix of European, African and modern Caribbean influences.

Puerto Rico boasts a standard of living that is much more affordable than most comparable locations across the United States. Though the cost of living in San Juan parallels that of other major metropolitan areas, housing is abundant in Puerto Rico and property taxes are low. There is a wide array of housing options available, priced for all income levels.

In Puerto Rico, you’ll find the same supermarket chains, malls, upscale boutiques, top-notch restaurants and nightclubs, as in the U.S. mainland.

EDUCATION

Educational Excellence

Puerto Rico is dedicated to providing quality educational opportunities that allow students to achieve higher standards of excellence. The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Mayagüez Campus, for example, ranks 1st in graduating Hispanic engineers, 2nd in graduating women engineers, 1st in the number of graduated chemical engineers and 11th in granting chemical engineering master degrees among U.S. institutions.

  • Six out of every 10 college degrees awarded in science and engineering programs are awarded to women.
  • The UPR Mayagüez Campus ranks 17 among the top 20 engineering schools with bachelor degrees granted to women in undergraduate enrollment in the U.S.  This represents 31.4% of all bachelor degrees granted by the UPR Mayagüez Campus.
  • In chemical engineering awarded degrees, the UPR Mayagüez Campus ranks 15 among the top 20 chemical engineering schools in the US.
  • In civil engineering, the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico ranks 16 among the top 20 civil engineering schools.  The UPR Mayagüez Campus ranks in the 23rd position.  In electrical engineering, the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico also ranks in the 23rd position and 27th in computer engineering degrees awarded.
  • In Industrial/Manufacturing engineering awarded degrees, The UPR Mayagüez Campus, ranks 11, 25th in electrical engineering, 43rd in mechanical engineering and 14th in computer engineering degrees awarded.
  • Approximately 25,000 bachelor degrees and 5,000 post-graduate degrees in science are awarded annually.

The UPR Mayagüez Campus, ranks 17th in undergraduate enrollment by schools and the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico ranks 33rd.

K-12 school System

There are 1,120 schools in the Puerto Rico public school system, with another 500 private primary and secondary schools also located on the island.

K-12 school system enrollment

Kindergarten:
47,947

Elementary (1st-4th grade):
227,011

Middle school (5th-8th grade):
244,163

High School (9th to 12th grade):
252,223

TOTAL:
771,344

Higher education

With more than 50 institutions of post-secondary learning, including universities, colleges, community colleges and technical institutes, Puerto Rico offers a diverse array of higher education opportunities. The largest public university in Puerto Rico is the multi-campus University of Puerto Rico.

Higher Education Enrollment
2010-2011

College, undergraduate:
204,418

Graduate, professional school:
45,774

TOTAL:
250,192

RECREATION

Never a Dull Moment in Puerto Rico

Beautiful Beaches

With 270 miles of pristine beaches, the island offers everything from white sand and calm waters to world-champion surf sites. Boating, diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, fishing and other water sports are also readily available.

Natural Wonders

From a mountainous rainforest to underground caves and bioluminescent bays, Puerto Rico is home to a multitude of spectacular natural environments for exploring.

Golf and Tennis

Puerto Rico boasts 17 golf courses, designed by the biggest names in the game and more than 100 tennis courts.

Art and Culture

Puerto Rico has a vibrant arts and culture scene. San Juan's Center of Performing Arts Luis A. Ferré hosts symphony concerts, operas, ballets, theater and popular music concerts, while the Art Museum of Puerto Rico is regarded as the finest museum in the Caribbean. These events mostly take place at the Convention Center, the Convention District, the José M. Agrelot Coliseum ("Choli"), among others.

Dining and Nightlife

As an international destination, Puerto Rico offers a plethora of dining options ranging from upscale restaurants serving cuisine from around the world to local cafes serving traditional island dishes. Casinos, lounges, discos and nightclubs also abound in the metropolitan area.

Shopping

Shopping is regarded as the unofficial sport of Puerto Rico. The island offers a superb selection of major retailers, local shops and chain stores, as well as the third largest mall in Latin America, Plaza Las Américas, The Mall of San Juan, and others.