Borinquen, as the Island was first named, was inhabited by several Indian tribes including the Taíno Indians, before Christopher Columbus' visit on his second voyage in 1493. The Island was renamed San Juan before it was called Puerto Rico.. Following the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Island became part of the United States. Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens in 1917.

Puerto Rico is the easternmost of the Greater Antilles, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. It is 110 by 35 miles in size. By air, Puerto Rico is 2 1/2 hours southeast of Miami, 3 1/3 hours from New York, 4 1/2 hours from Chicago, and 7 1/2 hours from Los Angeles.

Puerto Rico's climate is among the most pleasant in the world, with an average temperature of 83 degrees Fahrenheit (22.7 degrees Celsius) in the winter, and 85ºF (29.4ºC) in the summer with year-round pleasant sea breezes. In the mountains, it is about 10 degrees cooler during both summer and winter. Average humidity is 55 percent by day, 80 percent by night. Average annual rainfall is 52 inches. The rainy season is at its peak in August; average monthly rainfall is seven inches (18cm.).

As the Caribbean’s most industrially developed Island, Puerto Rico’s economy is strongly oriented toward manufacturing. The Island is a major producer and exporter of manufactured goods, pharmaceuticals and high technology equipment. Puerto Rico has been a major exporter of rum since the 19th century. Today, approximately 83 percent of the rum sold on the U.S. mainland comes from Puerto Rico. Gross domestic product (GDP) exceeds $48 million and a GDP per capita is $12,212, the highest in Latin America. The service sector, including tourism, also plays a key role in the economy with 37 percent of the GDP. Tourism currently represents 7 percent of the gross national product (GNP) and is growing rapidly.

The total Island population is close to 3.7 million, including about 1.5 million people who live in San Juan and its suburbs. Other major urban centers are Ponce, Mayagüez, Caguas, Arecibo and Aguadilla. Average life expectancy is 73.8 years. Spanish and English are both official languages.