Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health. BRFSS Prevalance and Trends Data [online]. 2025. [accessed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:40:15 GMT].

URL: https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/brfssprevalence.

Graphic: Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

Note: Adults 18 years of age or older.

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Today, March 4th, World Obesity Day, is an opportunity to reflect on a public health challenge that continues to grow in many parts of the world, including Puerto Rico.

According to data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the prevalence of obesity in Puerto Rico shows an upward trend over the last decade among adults aged 18 and over, going from 26.3% in 2011 to 36.2% in 2024.

The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics promotes access to information that allows us to better understand the challenges we face as a society and to support informed decision-making.

On World Obesity Day, we're sharing this graphic to promote informed conversation and analysis of available data.

Learn more about this day at: https://www.worldobesityday.org

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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.

The Puerto Rico Violent Death Reporting System (PRVDRS), affiliated with the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, published today its most recent informative bulletin detailing preliminary data on violent deaths that occurred in the archipelago between January and March 2026.

First Quarter (Q1) Summary

During these first 90 days of the year, a total of 167 violent deaths were preliminarily registered. This represents an average of approximately two violent deaths per day (1.8). The system defines a violent death as one caused by the intentional use of physical force or power against oneself (suicides), another person, or against a group or community (homicides).

Findings on Homicides

70.0% of the violent deaths registered in this period (117 cases) were homicides. Regarding the demographic profile, it stands out that 97% of the victims were men, with the population aged 20 to 39 being the most affected (for both men and women). Firearms remained the primary instrument, used in 93.0% of the reported homicides.

Findings on Suicides

23.0% of the violent deaths corresponded to suicides, for a total of 38 cases. Approximately 8 out of 10 of these victims were men. The 40 to 59 age group accounted for half of the cases (50.0%). During this first quarter, the overall suicide rate stood at 1.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.

About the PRVDRS

Established in 2016 with the support of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the PRVDRS collects and consolidates data from the Institute of Forensic Sciences, the Puerto Rico Police Department, and the Demographic Registry. This provides a clear and precise view of violence in the archipelago to help formulate informed prevention strategies.

Public Access

We invite citizens and health and safety professionals to explore the annual reports, quarterly bulletins, and other statistical products through our interactive digital magazine and portals:

• Digital Magazine: Sistema de Notificación de Muertes Violentas de Puerto Rico (PRVDRS) | PDF to Flipbook

• Interactive Tool: PRVDRS Dashboard

• Linktree: PRVDRS | Linktree

• Official Portal: Puerto Rico Statistics | Puerto Rico Violent Death Notification System