72,000 net passengers returned on domestic flights in the first 4 months of the year

Announcements
IEPR
26 December 2025

72,000 net passengers returned on domestic flights in the first 4 months of the year

The data confirms the return of people after the passage of Hurricane Maria

San Juan, PR, July 13, 2017 — The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute) today released updated data on the movement of air passengers on domestic flights up to the month of April 2018, as reported by airlines to U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). Here's a summary of the most striking results:

  • In the last 4 months of last year (September to December 2017), during the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, about -200,000 net passengers departed on domestic flights.

  • In contrast, in the first 4 months of the year (January to April 2018), about 72,000 people arrived in Puerto Rico in net terms on domestic flights.

  • This represents a notable change from previous years. For example, for the same period last year (January to April 2017), instead of experiencing a net passenger arrival, almost -40,000 net air passengers had departed.

  • In the first 10 months of fiscal year 2017-18, there was a net movement of air passengers on domestic flights of almost -155 thousand air passengers. In the last 3 calendar years (2014, 2015 and 2016), the net movement of air passengers on domestic flights was an average departure of -89,000 passengers per year.

“We have been trying to identify a return pattern after Hurricane Maria for some time. Finally, these data confirm that trend. Although the figure does not indicate that a similar number of people have returned among those who left after the Hurricane, the data suggests that this return process has begun. We will have to see how the movement of passengers behaves during this summer to get a more complete picture. But, for now, these data suggest that for fiscal year 2017-18 there will be a net migration of approximately -150 to -170 thousand people. If so, this will represent an increase in the migratory wave that Puerto Rico had been experiencing before the Hurricane, which was around -90,000 people a year before the passage of Hurricane Maria. But, at the same time, it will represent a substantially lower increase than the -250,000 people that had been projected in the last Fiscal Plan,” said Dr. Mario Marazzi-Santiago, executive director of the Institute.

Data on the net movement of air passengers can be downloaded from: https://indicadores.pr/dataset/vuelos-pasajeros-aereos-y-carga-puerto-rico.

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. The IEPR has in its inventory, accessible through www.estadisticas.pr.gov, over 300 statistical products. In addition, it is a custodian and provides access to over 100 data sets or “data sets” through www.data.pr.gov and to over 40 tables and more than 6 thousand indicators through: www.indicadores.pr.

In addition, as the leading entity of the Puerto Rico SDC, the IEPR manages the SDC portal, where you can find the main statistical reports and publications of the U.S. Census Bureau on Puerto Rico, specifically those that are most in demand, such as annual population estimates; the Puerto Rico Community Survey (Puerto Rico Community Survey) and official statistics on Puerto Rico's 10-year population and housing censuses, among others. The Puerto Rico SDC portal can be accessed through: https://censo.estadisticas.pr/.

For more information you can visit our website: www.estadisticas.pr.gov. In addition, you can follow us on social networks through Facebook (estadisticas.pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) accounts.

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Press Contact: Sandra Morales Blanes (787) 688-0401

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Statistics Institute's COVID-19 Indicator Platform updated

PRESS RELEASE

Statistics Institute's COVID-19 Indicator Platform updated

April 23, 2020: The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute reported that it has already completed the update of its COVID-19 Indicator Platform in Puerto Rico, after receiving the revised data from the Department of Health. The platform includes graphic representations based on information from single positive cases, using molecular tests, reported since March 9 and purified by that agency, said the executive director of the Institute, Dr. Orville M. Disdier.

The platform has graphs of positive cases, epidemic curve based on molecular tests, daily growth factor based on the date of the molecular test, demographic characteristics and cases by municipality.

“The data provided by the platform will serve as a basis for researchers to carry out their own statistical analysis and generate projections, and that the government can take the actions required to control infections. However, it is important to clarify that the graphs do not reflect all the unique cases, because, as recognized by the Department of Health, there were flaws in the methodology and data collection,” said Disdier.

As he noted, the Department of Health's commitment is to continue sending them daily purified data so that the Institute continues to update the graphics.

“As we have said before this pandemic was declared, at the Institute of Statistics we are in the best position to do everything in our power and in accordance with what the law empowers us, to contribute to transparency in the dissemination of data about this virus,” he said.

The COVID-19 Indicator Platform can be accessed through the following link: Covid-19

To learn more about the Institute of Statistics, you can access the website: www.estadisticas.pr.gov. On social media through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) accounts.

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Contact: Idia M. Martinez, Lic. R-28, 787-603-3200, imartinez@upfrontpr.net

Puerto Rico Institute Statistics launches Digital Platform for the Violent Death Notification System

More than 4,300 Homicides and 1,600 Suicides Since 2017: Digital Platform Allows Exploration of Violent Deaths in Puerto Rico

From 2017 to 2023, Puerto Rico has recorded 4,304 homicides and 1,685 suicides.These figures reflect a complex phenomenon that impacts families, communities, and public safety and health throughout the archipelago.

With the goal of promoting a deeper and more accessible understanding of this reality, the Puerto Rico Violent Death Reporting System (PRVDRS) developed a digital platform that allows for a detailed and contextualized examination of the data.

“The public policy formulation process requires reliable data and rigorous analysis. This tool allows us to measure the magnitude of violent deaths in Puerto Rico and better understand the circumstances surrounding these incidents. Evidence-based decision-making is fundamental to effectively addressing this public health and safety issue,” expressed Planner Mario O. Font Martin, Statistical Projects Manager and Coordinator of the PRVDRS.

Data to Help Understand the Phenomenon

The PRVDRS integrates information from multiple official sources, including the Puerto Rico Police, the Institute of Forensic Sciences, and the Demographic Registry of the Department of Health. By combining these sources into an anonymized database, the system allows for the analysis of not only how many deaths occur but also the circumstances surrounding them.

From the start of data collection in 2017 through 2023, the system has documented:

  • 4,304 homicides
  • 1,685 suicides

This integration allows for the identification of patterns and trends that are not always visible in individual reports.

What Does the Digital Platform Offer?

The tool allows citizens to:

  • Explore historical trends since 2017.
  • Analyze data through interactive visualizations and maps.
  • Examine the classification of violence (e.g., community or collective).
  • Identify the type of weapon involved.
  • Review circumstances associated with the incidents.

Currently, the platform presents official consolidated data through 2023, along with preliminary data from 2024 to 2026, which will be updated monthly.

A Nationally Integrated Effort

The PRVDRsis part of the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The PRVDRS collects information documented by the Puerto Rico Police, the Institute of Forensic Sciences, and death certificates from the Department of Health's Demographic Registry into an anonymous database with over 600 variables. For more information on the NVDRS, you can access the following link: National Violent Death Reporting System.

This methodology allows for an understanding of not only the cause of death but also the circumstances and factors related to each case, facilitating comparisons with other U.S. jurisdictions.

Public Access

The platform is available through the official portal of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics: Puerto Rico Violent Death Notification System (PRVDRS) interactive tool

Open access to this data strengthens transparency and fosters informed conversations regarding violence prevention and public policy. Understanding the data is an essential step toward addressing one of the most complex challenges facing Puerto Rico in an informed manner.

About the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

The Institute is an autonomous government entity responsible for coordinating the production of government statistics to ensure that the data collection systems upon which public policies are based are complete, reliable, and provide rapid and universal access.

Collective Action for Violence Prevention

Collective action and data drive the conversation about violence prevention in Puerto Rico

Experts analyzed statistics showing over 30 million controlled substance dispensations to nearly 2 million unique patients in Puerto Rico since 2019

The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics hosted the symposium "Collective Action for Violence Prevention: Transforming Realities Through Prevention and Collective Action," a gathering that brought together researchers, public health professionals, justice system representatives, community organizations, and government officials to analyze trends, risk factors, and strategies aimed at preventing violence in Puerto Rico.

During the event, presentations and panels were held, including "Current Landscape of Violence Among Infants and Youth: Data and Trends," "Public Policy and Substance Use Prevention: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?," and "Multi-sectoral Action for the Protection of Women and the Eradication of Sexual Violence," all of which addressed various factors contributing to violence and opportunities for its prevention through multi-sector collaboration.

Among the data presented during the symposium, it was highlighted that since 2019, over 30 million controlled substance dispensations have been recorded for nearly 2 million unique patients in Puerto Rico. Participants also discussed statistics related to homicides, gun violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and substance use prevention, as well as early intervention strategies and community action.

In the panel on substance use prevention, it was highlighted that benzodiazepines currently account for 66.2% of controlled substance dispensations in Puerto Rico, while opioids make up 15.9%. Furthermore, the recorded growth in prescribed fentanyl dispensations was discussed, as well as the role of the Controlled Substance Monitoring Program (PDMP) as a tool to promote responsible prescribing, strengthen prevention, and support informed decision-making in the healthcare system.

Presentations on violence among infants and youth revealed that between 2017 and 2024, 4,813 homicides were reported in Puerto Rico, and 92.3% of the victims were men. Experts also highlighted that firearm homicides are the leading cause of death among youth aged 1 to 19 in Puerto Rico. It was also reported that 54% of homicides among men aged 15 to 44 are related to manifestations of collective violence, including organized crime and drug trafficking.

Meanwhile, the panel on the protection of women and the eradication of sexual violence presented statistics showing that during 2024 and 2025, the Puerto Rico Police investigated 17,695 incidents of domestic violence. Furthermore, it was highlighted that, according to the Risk Assessment Form, one in four female complainants evaluated during the second half of 2024 faced an imminent risk of death, and nearly one in five had survived a non-fatal strangulation episode, one of the main indicators associated with the risk of femicide.

Participating experts agreed that many manifestations of violence are rooted in adverse childhood experiences, including abuse, emotional neglect, and early exposure to trauma. They also emphasized the importance of strengthening early interventions, mentorship, community programs, and coordination among health, education, security, and justice systems to address the causes of violence before it occurs.

"This symposium reaffirms the importance of using data to better understand the challenges we face as a society and to guide concrete prevention actions. Violence cannot be addressed by a single sector. It requires collaboration, evidence, and the commitment of multiple stakeholders to identify its causes, intervene promptly, and protect our communities," said Dr. Orville M. Disdier, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.