‍PRESS RELEASE

Statistics Institute asks government agencies

information stipulated by law

Statistical information was requested from 38 government agencies

San Juan, PR, August 5, 2020 — The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute) reported that it recently requested in writing from 38 government agencies specific statistical information, as established in multiple laws in Puerto Rico. The initiative aims to ensure compliance with Article 13 of the Institute's Organic Law, Act No. 209 of August 28, 2003, as amended, which provides that all government agencies have the obligation to regularly and constantly send to the Institute any publication of statistical products they produce, in order to be incorporated into the Inventory of Statistics and to make them available to all citizens.

The Inventory of Statistics, specified by Article 5 (f) of the Institute's Organic Law, is where most of the statistical information collected by the Institute is kept and made available to the public, and is located online at: Inventory-of-statistics. It is the main source for those looking for official statistical information that describes, estimates or analyzes the characteristics of Puerto Rico and its society. The Inventory contains all important statistical activities carried out or planned to be carried out by government agencies, as well as information on how to obtain statistical reports for Puerto Rico that are prepared by government agencies and public corporations in Puerto Rico, municipalities and any other jurisdiction in the United States. Statistical reports from the private sector are also included in the Inventory.

The deadline given to agencies to respond is 20 calendar days, but agencies can request an extension, particularly if they receive multiple requests for statistical information. This is the case of agencies to which numerous laws that specify the generation of statistical information that is of great legislative interest apply, such as the Department of Education, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, the Department of Health and the Department of Public Safety. However, most of the government agencies contacted will receive few requests for statistical information and are not considered less important by the Institute. It should be noted that the Institute has tried to make the process for submitting the requested statistical products as efficient as possible, making it one that can be carried out completely online.

“We urge all government agencies contacted to provide the requested statistical information. The collaboration of government agencies will help the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute expand and keep its Statistics Inventory up to date. In addition, since these are statistical products specified by legal provisions, the information requested is particularly relevant to the decision-making processes of the Government of Puerto Rico,” said Jacobo M. Orenstein-Cardona, special assistant to the Institute's executive director and coordinator of this initiative.

About the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous governmental entity tasked with 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 accessible quickly and universally.

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

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Puerto Rico paid $919,734,046 in tariffs during 2025

The current situation presents an opportunity to strengthen production in Puerto Rico and increase its presence in the U.S. market through reshoring strategies.

The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics presented estimates related to the scope of the tariff burden in Puerto Rico.  The data shows that the amount of tariffs on imports increased by 288.66% between 2024 and 2025.  In 2024, the total amount of tariffs was $236,641,688, while in 2025 it increased to $919,734,046.

Annual Tariffs 2010-2025

Between 2010 and 2025, the year 2025 showed the highest amount in tariffs.  These amounted to $919,734,046, representing an increase of $683,092,358 compared to 2024, equivalent to a year-over-year increase of 288.66%.  

On the other hand, an analysis of the effective tariff rate provided a clearer view of the impact of tariffs by directly relating the amount of tariffs in U.S. dollars (USD) to the total value of imports in USD.  In 2025, the effective tariff rate was 4.81%, representing an increase of 3.64 percentage points compared to 2024.

The impact of tariff regulations in 2025 can be observed in the monthly behavior of tariffs collected that year. These show a marked increase starting in April, reaching levels above $100 million in several months, while imports remained relatively stable. This imbalance between both variables directly translates into the observed increase in the effective tariff rate throughout 2025.  

Effective from April 2025, increases in tariff rates were observed, which aligns with the tariff policies applied in the same month.  During the second half of the year, significant increases were recorded, with November being the month with the highest effective tariff rate (7.61%) during 2025.

The full study can be accessed at: Tariffs in Puerto Rico 2025.