Carolina, Puerto Rico. May 12, 2025. The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute held the forum “From Violence to Dialogue: Understanding and Preventing the Social Crisis”, an event that brought together leading professionals from various disciplines to analyze, from an evidence-based approach, the multiple expressions of violence faced by Puerto Rico.

The program included presentations on armed violence, drug trafficking, intimate partner violence, femicide, education, social inequality and suicide. Each presentation was based on statistical evidence and proposals to strengthen public policies aimed at prevention.

The keynote speech was given by Dr. César A. Rey Hernández, who presented a sociological perspective on the links between inequality, education and violence. In his presentation “Whoever opens a school door closes a prison”, Dr. Rey highlighted that Puerto Rico is facing a profound crisis of school dropout, youth migration, child poverty and the deterioration of the social fabric. He said that in Puerto Rico there are more drug outlets than public schools, reflecting the limited opportunities available to young people and the impact of an expanding informal and illegal economy. Dr. Rey emphasized the urgency of an educational project with a humanistic approach, capable of responding to the ethical and social challenges of the present.

Another of the forum's outstanding topics was suicide prevention, in which demographer Raúl Figueroa Rodríguez, consultant to the Commission for Suicide Prevention, offered an analysis of recent trends, revealing that Puerto Rico reports an annual average of 265 suicides, of which 85% are men, pointing out that the highest rates are recorded in municipalities in central Puerto Rico and in its island municipalities, and that more than 50% of cases are among people over 50 years of age. Figueroa presented the Puerto Rico Socioeconomic Vulnerability Index for Suicide (IVSS-PR), a tool developed to guide community interventions, resource allocation and evidence-based public policy formulation.

During the event, issues such as domestic violence, feminicide, possession of weapons, drug trafficking and the role of public health in preventing violence were also addressed. The program included the participation of experts in epidemiology, criminal justice, demography and officials from state and federal agencies, who shared updated data and multisectoral strategies.

“The purpose of this forum was to provide in-depth and rigorous analysis that serves as a basis for making informed decisions. Our responsibility as an Institute is to ensure that data is at the service of the life, security and dignity of all people in Puerto Rico,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier Flores, Executive Director of the Institute of Statistics, who added that “this forum reinforces the Institute's commitment to continue generating and disseminating reliable information that allows us to understand the roots of violence, promote social dialogue and strengthen the formulation of evidence-based public policies.”

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous governmental entity responsible for coordinating the Government's statistical production service to ensure that the data collection and statistics systems, on which public policies are based, are complete, reliable, and have quick and universal access.

For more information you can write to preguntas@estadisticas.pr. They can also follow social networks through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), X (@EstadisticasPR), LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) and Instagram (@institutodeestadisticas) accounts.

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Date: May 12, 2025 P. of C. 561: To amend Article 3 of Law No. 209-2003, as amended, known as the “Puerto Rico Statistics Institute Act”, and Article 5 of Law No. 3-2017, as amended, known as the “Act to Address the Economic, Fiscal and Budgetary Crisis to Ensure the Functioning of the Government of Puerto Rico”, in order to preserve and guarantee the administrative and fiscal autonomy of the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute; update certain legal provisions and make some technical corrections.

Forum “From Violence to Dialogue: Understanding and Preventing the Social Crisis”
On May 12, 2025, the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics held the forum entitled “From Violence to Dialogue: Understanding and Preventing the Social Crisis”, an event that brought together renowned experts from various disciplines to analyze, based on data, the multiple expressions of violence currently faced by Puerto Rico. The main objective of the meeting, held in Carolina, was to promote an informed dialogue that contributes to the understanding and prevention of violence in all its forms. The forum program included presentations on topics such as armed violence, drug trafficking, intimate partner violence, feminicide, education, social inequality and suicide. Each paper was supported by rigorous statistical evidence, as well as proposals aimed at strengthening public policies aimed at preventing these social problems.

The initiative:
The forum “From Violence to Dialogue: Understanding and Preventing the Social Crisis” focused on the importance of creating a space in which the context of current violence in Puerto Rico was addressed, where the intersection of various types of violence requires a comprehensive and evidence-based analysis. This multidisciplinary meeting not only allowed us to examine the different manifestations of violence, but it also established an important precedent in the use of statistical data for the development of public prevention policies. The participation of experts in different fields contributed to a deeper understanding of the magnitude of violence and the social challenges faced by Puerto Rico for the development of effective strategies that promote a safer and more equitable society.

Special Guest Presentations:

• Raúl Figueroa Rodríguez, A Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention in Puerto Rico
• Dr. Eduardo J. Zavala-Mendoza, Structural Violence and Psychoactive Substances in Puerto Rico
• Dr. Rafael A. Boglio Martínez, Firearms, Violence and Gender
• Captain Aymée Alvarado Cardona and Myribel Santiago Torres, MPH, NPPR-Domestic Violence in Puerto Rico, 2014-2024
• Prosecutor Laura Hernández Gutierrez, Strangulation Protocol

Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

• Dr. Diego E Zavala, Context of Violent Deaths in Puerto Rico Using the Typology of Violence in OMS.pdf
• Mariluz Bezares Salinas, Beyond the Visible Tertiary Deaths Due to Intimate Partner Violence in Puerto Rico
• Manuel Mangual, Femicide Data Collection System

Materials:

Agenda

Pics

Press Release

Video Summary

Forum “From Violence to Dialogue: Understanding and Preventing the Social Crisis”
On May 12, 2025, the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics held the forum entitled “From Violence to Dialogue: Understanding and Preventing the Social Crisis”, an event that brought together renowned experts from various disciplines to analyze, based on data, the multiple expressions of violence currently faced by Puerto Rico. The main objective of the meeting, held in Carolina, was to promote an informed dialogue that contributes to the understanding and prevention of violence in all its forms. The forum program included presentations on topics such as armed violence, drug trafficking, intimate partner violence, feminicide, education, social inequality and suicide. Each paper was supported by rigorous statistical evidence, as well as proposals aimed at strengthening public policies aimed at preventing these social problems.

The initiative:
The forum “From Violence to Dialogue: Understanding and Preventing the Social Crisis” focused on the importance of creating a space in which the context of current violence in Puerto Rico was addressed, where the intersection of various types of violence requires a comprehensive and evidence-based analysis. This multidisciplinary meeting not only allowed us to examine the different manifestations of violence, but it also established an important precedent in the use of statistical data for the development of public prevention policies. The participation of experts in different fields contributed to a deeper understanding of the magnitude of violence and the social challenges faced by Puerto Rico for the development of effective strategies that promote a safer and more equitable society.

Special Guest Presentations:

• Raul Figueroa Rodriguez, A Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention in Puerto Rico
• Dr. Eduardo J. Zavala-Mendoza, Structural violence and psychoactive substances in Puerto Rico
• Dr. Rafael A. Boglio Martinez, Firearms, violence and gender
• Captain Aymée Alvarado Cardona and Myribel Santiago Torres, MPH, NPPR-Domestic Violence in Puerto Rico, 2014-2024
• Attorney Laura Hernández Gutierrez, Strangulation Protocol

Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

• Dr. Diego E Zavala, Context of Violent Deaths in Puerto Rico Using the Typology of Violence in OMS.pdf
• Mariluz Bezares Salinas, Beyond the Visible: Tertiary Deaths Due to Intimate Partner Violence in Puerto Rico
• Manuel Mangual, Femicide Data Collection System

Materials:

Agenda

Pics

Video Summary

Press Release

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San Juan, Puerto Rico. May 6, 2025. The number of graduates in creative disciplines in Puerto Rico increased by 26.4% between 2021 and 2022, according to the Puerto Rico Creative Industries Report 2021-2022 published by the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics. The report notes that 1,930 people graduated in 2022 from programs related to art, design, technology and media, with baccalaureate being the most common degree (56.2%), and graphic design the discipline with the most graduates (20.6%). This compared to 1,527 who graduated in 2021.

This educational growth, together with a 5% increase in the number of creative establishments that reached 2,227 in 2022, outlines a dynamic landscape for this key sector in Puerto Rico's economic diversification and innovation. However, the report also documents an 11.3% drop in employment in these industries, with 14,550 people employed in 2022 compared to 16,415 in the previous year. Other findings from the report include:

Creative Establishments

• 68.5% of the establishments are small businesses with between 1 and 4 employees.
• Distribution by sector: Art (36.3%), Media (30.6%) and Creative Services (26.4%).

Opportunities

• The increase in graduates and new businesses reflects a growing academic offering and greater interest in creative careers.
• Sectors such as technology and advertising offer competitive salaries to attract and retain talent.

Identified Challenges

• 86% of establishments are micro-enterprises with less than 10 employees.
• Gender gaps persist, especially in high-paying sectors, where female representation is low.
• There is a geographical concentration of companies in municipalities with greater purchasing power, with peripheral areas lagging behind.
• Trade deficit: the value of imports triples that of exports, although there are signs of improvement.

Despite the challenges, the report highlights significant opportunities, such as a robust academic offering and competitive salaries in technological and advertising areas.

“Creative industries integrate culture, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, making them a strategic economic sector for Puerto Rico,” said Francisco Pesante, Manager of Statistical Projects and author of the report. “This report puts into perspective the need to strengthen public policies, invest in specialized training and support small businesses in the creative sector, to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and promote Puerto Rico's competitiveness,” said Dr. Pesante.

The full report is available at: Creative-Industries-In-Puerto Rico-2021-2022

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous governmental entity responsible for coordinating the Government's statistical production service to ensure that the data collection and statistics systems, on which public policies are based, are complete, reliable, and have quick and universal access.

For more information you can write to preguntas@estadisticas.pr. They can also follow social networks through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), X (@EstadisticasPR), LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) and Instagram (@institutodeestadisticas) accounts.

‍

San Juan, Puerto Rico. May 6, 2025. The number of graduates in creative disciplines in Puerto Rico increased by 26.4% between 2021 and 2022, according to the Puerto Rico Creative Industries Report 2021-2022 published by the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics. The report notes that 1,930 people graduated in 2022 from programs related to art, design, technology and media, with baccalaureate being the most common degree (56.2%), and graphic design the discipline with the most graduates (20.6%). This compared to 1,527 who graduated in 2021.

This educational growth, together with a 5% increase in the number of creative establishments that reached 2,227 in 2022, outlines a dynamic landscape for this key sector in Puerto Rico's economic diversification and innovation. However, the report also documents an 11.3% drop in employment in these industries, with 14,550 people employed in 2022 compared to 16,415 in the previous year. Other findings from the report include:

Creative Establishments

• 68.5% of the establishments are small businesses with between 1 and 4 employees.
• Distribution by sector: Art (36.3%), Media (30.6%) and Creative Services (26.4%).

Opportunities

• The increase in graduates and new businesses reflects a growing academic offering and greater interest in creative careers.
• Sectors such as technology and advertising offer competitive salaries to attract and retain talent.

Identified Challenges

• 86% of establishments are micro-enterprises with less than 10 employees.
• Gender gaps persist, especially in high-paying sectors, where female representation is low.
• There is a geographical concentration of companies in municipalities with greater purchasing power, with peripheral areas lagging behind.
• Trade deficit: the value of imports triples that of exports, although there are signs of improvement.

Despite the challenges, the report highlights significant opportunities, such as a robust academic offering and competitive salaries in technological and advertising areas.

“Creative industries integrate culture, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, making them a strategic economic sector for Puerto Rico,” said Francisco Pesante, Manager of Statistical Projects and author of the report. “This report puts into perspective the need to strengthen public policies, invest in specialized training and support small businesses in the creative sector, to ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and promote Puerto Rico's competitiveness,” said Dr. Pesante.

The full report is available at: Creative Industries 2021-2022

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous governmental entity responsible for coordinating the Government's statistical production service to ensure that the data collection and statistics systems, on which public policies are based, are complete, reliable, and have quick and universal access.

For more information you can write to preguntas@estadisticas.pr. They can also follow social networks through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), X (@EstadisticasPR), LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) and Instagram (@institutodeestadisticas) accounts.

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