Puerto Rico

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Puerto Rico

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Puerto Rico has sometimes been said to have a White majority, an extinct Amerindian population, persons of mixed ancestry, Africans and a small Asian minority. However, broad US census categories have disallowed the mixed ancestry of most Puerto Rican's to be officially acknowledged; and most on the island tend to agree that what is "Puerto Rican" is generally a mixture between Spanish, Amerindian, and African genetic heritage.

Related Topics:
Amerindian - US census

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During the 1800's hundreds of Corsican, French, and Portuguese, along with a large amount of immigrants from the Canary Islands and numerous Spanish loyalists from Spain's former colonies in South America, arrived in Puerto Rico. Other settlers have included Irish, Scots, Germans, and many others who were granted land from Spain during the Cedula de Gracias of 1815, which allowed European Catholics to settle in the island with a certain amount of free land.

Related Topics:
Corsica - French - Portuguese - Irish - Scots - Germans

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Emigration has been a major part of Puerto Rico's recent history as well. Starting in the Post-WWII period, due to poverty, cheap air fare, and promotion by the island government, waves of Puerto Ricans moved to the mainland United States, particularly New York City. This continued even as Puerto Rico's economy improved and the birth rate declined. Emigration continues at the present time, and this, combined with Puerto Rico's greatly lowered birth rate, suggests that the island's population will age rapidly and start to decline sometime within the next couple of decades.

Related Topics:
Emigration - WWII - New York City

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According to the 2000 US Census, 95% of the population consider themselves of Puerto Rican descent (regardless of race or skin color), making Puerto Rico one of the most culturally homogenous societies in the world {{ref|USCensus_95}}. Since its colonization, Puerto Rico has become the permanent home of over 100,000 legal residents who immigrated from not only Spain, but from Latin America as well. Cubans, Dominicans, Colombians, Panamanians, Curacaoans, and Santomeños can also be accounted for as settlers. The variety of surnames which exist in Puerto Rico suggests widespread immigration to the island from many regions.

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Languages

The official languages of the island are Spanish and English. Spanish has been spoken as their first language and is the primary language

Related Topics:
Spanish - English

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in business and government. English is taught as a foreign language in schools.

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Religion

The Roman Catholic religion has been historically dominant and is the religion of the majority of Puerto Ricans, although the presence of Protestant, Mormon and Jehovah's Witnesses denominations has increased under American sovereignty, making modern Puerto Rico an interconfessional country.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic - Protestant - Mormon - Jehovah's Witnesses

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Taíno religious practices have to a degree been rediscovered/reinvented by a few handfuls of advocates. Kongo belief, known as Mayombe or Palo, has been around since the days of the arrival of enslaved Africans. Although, Santeria (stronger and more organized in Cuba) is practiced by some, Palo Mayombe (an African belief system which originated with Bantu tribes brought into Puerto Rico as slaves for over 500 years) finds more adherence among individuals who practice some form of Afican Traditional Religion.

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See also Protestants in Puerto Rico.

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