Institute Presents Social and Health Profile of Schoolchildren

Dr. Orville M. Disdier, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, was a keynote speaker at the First Puerto Rican Summit on School Health Promotion. During his presentation, he provided an update on the social and health profile of schoolchildren in Puerto Rico, highlighting the impact of social determinants on inequalities.

Dr. Disdier explained that Puerto Rico is facing a school enrollment crisis linked to demographic changes, as well as significant socioeconomic vulnerability, evidenced by more than 50% of minors living below the poverty level. However, he emphasized that despite high income inequality and various health challenges, education remains the primary driver of social mobility and an essential path to economic advancement.

Access a copy of the presentation at: The Social and Health Profile of Schoolchildren in Puerto Rico.

The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics will provide guidance on how to access and interpret Puerto Rico's financial statistics in the "Financial Statistics" webinar this Thursday, May 21.

The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics announced it will host the "Financial Statistics" webinar, an educational initiative aimed at presenting and contextualizing the main indicators of Puerto Rico's financial system, as well as the official sources available for their analysis and interpretation.

The event will take place this Thursday, May 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., as part of the Institute's Academies and Workshops Program. The webinar will be offered virtually via the GoToWebinar platform, will include 1.5 contact hours and will be free of charge, although prior registration is required via the following link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8839159147111590485.

The speaker will be the Institute's statistical projects manager, Dr. Ronald G. Hernández Maldonado, who will discuss indicators published by entities such as the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions (OCIF), the Public Corporation for the Supervision and Insurance of Cooperatives of Puerto Rico (COSSEC), and the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics itself.

Topics to be discussed include the main data sources for financial statistics used in Puerto Rico, the interpretation of economic and financial indicators, and the official platforms where the public can access this information for analysis, research, and decision-making.

“Financial statistics provide a better understanding of the behavior of various economic sectors and facilitate informed decision-making in both public and private spheres. Access to and understanding of this data is fundamental for promoting more precise analyses of Puerto Rico's economic reality and strengthening the use of official and reliable information,” said Hernández Maldonado.

"Financial education based on empirical data is the first step towards more accurate decision-making, both personally and collectively. We encourage all citizens to participate in this free virtual event, designed to make financial statistics an accessible, useful, and highly valuable tool for everyone,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier Flores, Executive Director of the Institute.

The webinar is aimed at professionals, researchers, students, and individuals interested in the economic and financial analysis of Puerto Rico. As requirements, participants must have an internet connection and access to a computer or tablet.

To direct the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics to conduct a comprehensive and detailed investigation into the needs and deficiencies within the various areas of Puerto Rico's healthcare system, in order to more efficiently direct government efforts and resources towards the highest priority issues.

To order the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics to conduct a study on the cost of medical practice in Puerto Rico in order to provide data to justify before the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) the need for an adjustment in payments to healthcare providers under the Medicare Fee Schedule; and for other related purposes.

Carlos Feliciano Collazo, Statistical Projects Assistant at the Institute, presented an exploratory study on the relationship between urban form and socio-spatial inequality in San Juan, as part of the 2026 Research and Education Forum of the University of Puerto Rico's Medical Sciences Campus. The study challenges a commonly held premise, namely, that road design is neutral because it is merely a means to a specific purpose. Against this common assumption, the opposite was proposed: the configuration of space is not neutral, as its invention is the product of a social process. From this perspective, the question guiding the analysis was: to what extent does the physical structure of the city of San Juan influence the distribution of vulnerable areas? Explore the analysis and its findings at Institute's Census Data and Information site (SDC-PR).

The Institute of Statistics collaborated on a chapter of the Economic Report to the Governor.

The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics collaborated on the development of a chapter for the Economic Report to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly 2025, prepared by the Planning Board. As part of this project, the study titled “Lag Index for Puerto Rico” was included in Chapter VII of the report, integrating statistical evidence on social, economic, and demographic aspects of Puerto Rico's municipalities.

The Lag Index is an analysis and planning tool developed by the Institute to support public discussion and evidence-based decision-making. The study evaluates dimensions related to economic and demographic issues, offering a comprehensive look at the socioeconomic situation of Puerto Rico's municipalities.

The Economic Report to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly is one of the main official publications on Puerto Rico's economic performance. With decades of publication, this annual report compiles and analyzes information related to economic activity, the labor market, public finances, population, foreign trade, and other topics relevant to the planning and evaluation of Puerto Rico's economy.

You can access the report via the following link: Economic Report to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly 2025.