Puerto Rico: flag, capital, currency and history
Puerto Rico, officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is an unincorporated territory of the United States in Caribbean, the Americas. Its capital is San Juan. The currency is the United States dollar. Languages spoken include English and Spanish.
Quick facts about Puerto Rico
- Official name
- Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
- Capital
- San Juan
- Region
- Americas, Caribbean
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD, $)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Calling code
- +1
- Internet domain
- .pr
- Area
- 8,870 km² (3,425 sq mi)
- Land borders
- None (island or surrounded by water)
- Demonym
- Puerto Rican
Flag of Puerto Rico
Download the flag of Puerto Rico as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇵🇷.
History of Puerto Rico
The island was inhabited by the Taino people when Christopher Columbus reached it in 1493. Spain colonised it from the early sixteenth century, and it remained a Spanish possession for about four centuries. After the Spanish-American War, Spain ceded it to the United States in 1898. Residents were granted United States citizenship in 1917. In 1952 it adopted a constitution as a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States. Its political status, whether commonwealth, statehood or independence, remains a matter of public debate. San Juan is the capital.
Key dates
- 1493Christopher Columbus reaches the island on his second voyage.
- 1508Juan Ponce de Leon founds the first Spanish settlement, Caparra.
- 1898Spain cedes the island to the United States after the Spanish-American War.
- 1917The Jones Act grants United States citizenship to Puerto Ricans.
- 1952The Commonwealth constitution takes effect.
A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.
Currency of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico uses the United States dollar (USD, $). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Puerto Rico?
The capital of Puerto Rico is San Juan.
What currency does Puerto Rico use?
Puerto Rico uses the United States dollar (USD, symbol $).
What languages are spoken in Puerto Rico?
Languages used in Puerto Rico include English and Spanish.
What is the calling code of Puerto Rico?
The international calling code of Puerto Rico is +1. Its internet domain is .pr.
Which countries border Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico has no land borders and is surrounded by water.
On which continent is Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico is in Caribbean, part of the Americas, in the region of Caribbean.
More countries in Caribbean
Country data from the open mledoze/countries dataset (ODbL), with corrections. Flags from flag-icons (MIT).