π΅π·Puerto Rico Political Stability: 44.1/100
Puerto Rico scores 44.1 out of 100 on the Political Stability Index, rated "Moderate" based on World Bank 2023 Worldwide Governance Indicators across six governance dimensions.
Composite score is the unweighted average of six governance dimensions, each measured on a 0-100 percentile scale.
Puerto Rico is an archipelago consisting of the main island and several smaller islands, with a total area of 3,515 square miles. The terrain is predominantly mountainous, featuring the Cordillera Central mountain range, which includes the highest peak, Cerro de Punta at 4,390 feet. The climate is mostly tropical rainforest, with warm temperatures year-round and a wet season from April to November.
As of the 2020 census, Puerto Rico has a population of 3,285,874, reflecting a decline from previous years due to emigration and low birth rates. The population is predominantly Hispanic or Latino, making up 98.9% of residents, with a significant portion identifying as multiracial. The largest city is San Juan, with a population of 342,259.
Governance Indicators
Governance Profile: Puerto Rico
World Bank governance: rule of law 55th percentile, corruption control 38th percentile, political stability 50th percentile.
Puerto Rico's strongest governance dimension is Rule of Law at 55/100, placing it in the upper half globally. This reflects relatively strong confidence in contract enforcement, property rights, police, and courts.
The weakest dimension is Government Effectiveness at 17/100. Limited government effectiveness can mean inconsistent public services and gaps in policy implementation.
A notable 38-point gap between Rule of Law and Government Effectiveness reveals uneven governance. Some institutions function well while others lag significantly. Travelers should be aware that the quality of government services and protections may vary depending on the context.
Puerto Rico's moderate governance scores suggest travelers should prepare for some institutional inconsistency. Public services may be unreliable in certain areas, and regulatory enforcement can be uneven. Travel insurance and advance planning are recommended.
The U.S. State Department currently rates Puerto Rico as Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions). This aligns with a governance profile that, while not without challenges, provides a baseline of institutional functioning.
NA Governance Comparison
Top governance performers in NA based on the corruption composite ranking (weighted: 60% corruption control, 25% rule of law, 15% government effectiveness).
| Country | Score |
|---|---|
| π¨π¦Canada | 87.2 |
| πΊπΈUnited States | 79.6 |
| π§π§Barbados | 68.9 |
| π¬π±Greenland | 68.1 |
| π§πΈBahamas | 65.8 |
| π΅π·Puerto Rico | 39.1 |
Common Questions About Puerto Rico's Political Stability
What is Puerto Rico's political stability score?+
What do the World Bank governance indicators measure?+
How does Puerto Rico's stability affect travel safety?+
How does Puerto Rico compare to other countries in NA?+
When was this data last updated?+
More Puerto Rico Data
Safety ratings, regional breakdown, and entry requirements.
Free β 90/100 on the Freedom House index.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.