Updated data on femicide in Puerto Rico

Announcements
IEPR
19 December 2025

Updated data on femicide in Puerto Rico

Fifty-nine femicides were reported in Puerto Rico between 2021 and 2023

November 9, 2023. San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute), updated the data on femicide in Puerto Rico, presented in the section entitled “Femicide Statistics”, through its Platform for Statistics and Indicators on Gender Violence (See: https://estadisticas.pr/en/Comite-Pare). According to Mariluz Bezares, Manager of Statistical Projects at the Institute and Coordinator of the Puerto Rico Violent Death Notification System (PRVDRS), in 2023, six (6) of every 10 homicides of women were femicides (60%). Other highlights from this update include:

  • In 2023, 87% of intimate femicides were with firearms (In 2021, 61% of intimate femicides were with firearms and in 2022, 77% of intimate femicides were with firearms).
  • In 2023, 53% of intimate femicides occurred among women aged 25 to 44 (In 2021, 61% of intimate femicides occurred among women aged 25 to 44 and in 2022 54% were among women aged 45 to 64).
  • Thirteen (13) is the total number of femicides between 2021 and 2023 where the aggressor committed suicide after killing the victim.
    • Of these, thirteen (13) were in the context of intimate femicide and one (1) was in the context of family femicide. From January to September 2023, five (5) were in the intimate context.
  • As of September 2023, a total of nineteen (19) cases of femicide have been registered.
  • In 2023, 55 violent deaths of women were recorded (In 2021, 67 violent deaths of women and one (1) death of a trans person were recorded, and in 2022 there were 84 violent deaths of women).
  • In 2023, 52% of women's violent deaths were due to homicide, and 42% were due to suicide.
  • In 2023, 50% of female homicides occurred among women between 25 and 44 years old.

The data collected and presented by the Institute arise in part as a result of collaboration with various entities, including the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, the Institute of Forensic Sciences and the Demographic Registry of the Department of Health.

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is a governmental entity in the executive branch, with fiscal and administrative autonomy, whose main purpose is to ensure that Puerto Rico has complete, reliable statistics with quick and universal access. To learn more about the Institute of Statistics, you can access the website: www.estadisticas.pr. On social media through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR), Instagram (@institutodeestadisticas) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) accounts.

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Statistics Institute employees provide support in the 2017 Homeless Count

Statistics Institute employees provide support in the 2017 Homeless Count

Puerto Rico Statistics Institute publishes Strategic Plan 2022 - 2025

Puerto Rico Statistics Institute publishes Strategic Plan 2022 - 2025

The design took into account the opinion of employees in all sectors of the economy, employees of the Institute and the general public

September 28, 2022: Building on the achievements made in the previous Strategic Plan, the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute published its Strategic Plan 2022 - 2025. In order to achieve a comprehensive plan aligned with the current needs of society, the opinion of users of the Institute's products and services, as well as the opinion of the general public, was taken into consideration. In addition, an internal analysis process was carried out using the SWOT methodology (strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats).

“Among the most revealing findings of the analysis, the need for more budget and human resources capable of updating statistics more frequently, improving our technological platforms and achieving fiscal and administrative autonomy for the Institute stand out. We converted this input into goals within our strategic plan to advance our mission of continuing to publish reliable and important statistics for citizens and expanding their reach and dissemination,” said the president of the Institute's Board of Directors, Dr. Javier Hernández.

The new Strategic Plan focuses on the following 10 goals:

  • Maximize the participation and effectiveness of the Statistics Coordination Committee (CCE).
  • Establish and strengthen projects aimed at “filling the various empty spaces” in the various economic, social, environmental and cultural statistics.
  • Strengthen the management structure of statistical projects to expand the capacity to carry out statistical and oversight projects.
  • Strengthen the administrative structure that allows the proper functioning of internal processes.
  • Improve the capacity and quality of technology, information systems, and the Institute's portals.
  • Improve public exposure, marketing and education about our products and services.
  • Strengthen, expand and modernize the Academies and Workshops Program.
  • Establish and strengthen alliances with the scientific community and non-governmental entities.
  • Promote the strengthening of fiscal and administrative autonomy.
  • Move the Institute's physical facilities to a larger infrastructure appropriate to current needs.

Regarding additional services that the Institute could offer, respondents suggested that specialized workshops and training, scientific advice, multisectoral collaboration and community research, among others, be provided.

“Although the Institute already offers some of these services, the survey results indicate that these efforts need to be maintained and strengthened. Hand in hand with that, we must strengthen the Institute's marketing to better publicize the services we offer,” concluded Disdier.

You can access the Strategic Plan at:

Strategic Plan Statistics Institute of Puerto Rico 2022-2025.pdf

About the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

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

Puerto Rico's median age is 40.

Puerto Rico's median age is 40.