Key Homicide Data in Puerto Rico: An Analysis in the International Context

The Puerto Rico Violent Death Reporting System (PRVDRS), attached to the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, has published a new information capsule with 2024 data analyzing the archipelago's situation compared to the rest of the world.

Below, we highlight the most relevant findings regarding the incidence of homicides in Puerto Rico and worldwide:

Puerto Rico's Position in the Region

- Homicide Rate: Puerto Rico recorded a crude rate of 15.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.

- Caribbean Ranking: Among the 11 countries and jurisdictions analyzed in the Caribbean region, Puerto Rico ranks 10th, placing below jurisdictions such as the Turks and Caicos Islands (103.2), Haiti (64.3), Trinidad and Tobago (41.5), and Jamaica (40.4).

- Compared to the Regional Average: Although Puerto Rico's figure (15.2) sits below the Latin America and Caribbean average (19.3), it remains nearly three times higher than the global homicide average (5.1 per 100,000 inhabitants).

Firearm Prevalence: Puerto Rico – The Second Highest Figure in the Region

- 89.2% of Homicides Involve Firearms: Nearly 9 out of 10 homicides in the archipelago are committed using a firearm.

- Regional Leader: Alongside Saint Kitts and Nevis (89.3%), Puerto Rico presented the highest proportion of firearm homicides in all of Latin America and the Caribbean.

- International Contrast: This figure far exceeds the global average for firearm homicides (67.2%). The document emphasizes that a large portion of these incidents in Puerto Rico is related to organized crime.

Comparison by Gender and Racial Groups (Puerto Rico vs. United States)

When adjusting rates by age and comparing Puerto Rico's population with various groups in the U.S., significant disparities by sex are observed:

- Men: Men in Puerto Rico present the second-highest homicide risk rate (32.5 per 100,000 inhabitants), surpassed only by Black men in the U.S. (41.5). This figure is considerably higher than that of Hispanic men (8.6) and White men (3.6) in the U.S.

- Women: The adjusted rate for women in Puerto Rico is 3.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, placing below the risk level observed in Black women (6.9) and Native American women (5.9) in the U.S.

For more information, download the information capsule in the Access the Document section.

About the Data Source

The PRVDRS was established in 2016 with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The system consolidates and validates information from the Bureau of Forensic Sciences, the Puerto Rico Police, and the Demographic Registry of the Department of Health to generate rigorous and internationally comparable statistics.

Links of interest: Puerto Rico Violent Death Reporting System

Season 2 has started!

Access Episode 1 of the new season of “The Institute of Statistics: The Podcast” (video version) and discover the demographic characteristics of Puerto Ricans living in the state of Florida.

In this episode, Dr. Orville M. Disdier, Executive Director of the Institute, and Dr. Fernando Rivera, of the Puerto Rico Research Hub, discuss the factors of attraction and drive, in addition to analyzing current challenges.

Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/WXaty7W9XX8?si=XPF8HOCpyrBpCx8X.

We are thrilled and excited about the signing of the collaboration agreement between the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics and the American Red Cross Puerto Rico Chapter! This partnership will provide us with access to valuable information that will further strengthen our planning and decision-making processes during disasters and emergencies.

Representing the Institute were Executive Director Dr. Orville Disdier and Deputy Executive Director Dr. Idania Rodríguez. Representing the American Red Cross Puerto Rico Chapter were Regional Executive Lee Vanessa Feliciano and Regional Disaster Officer Joseph Guzmán.