Guánica lost 29% of its population according to the 2020 Census

Announcements
IEPR
29 December 2025

PRESS RELEASE

PUERTO RICO STATE DATA CENTER NETWORK (SDC-PR)

Guánica lost 29% of its population according to the 2020 Census

A comparison of the 2010-2020 Decennial Censuses also indicates that 74 of the 78 municipalities lost at least 5% of their population in the past decade

San Juan, PR, August 12, 2021 — The U.S. Census Bureau today released more results of the official population enumeration, also known as the 2020 Decennial Census. The published data are related to the information necessary to begin electoral redistribution work in the jurisdictions of the states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico. These contain a little more detail compared to the total population data released last April. The data includes the total population, by characteristics of race and Hispanic origin at the level of states, municipalities, by age 18 and over and for more specific geographical areas such as census tracts and others. The results are as of April 1, 2020, which is the reference date of the Decennial Census. As part of the State Data Center Network of the U.S. Census Bureau in Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute) presents several initial findings from the results of the 2020 Census:

  1. In a comparison between the 2010 Decennial Census and the 2020 Decennial Census, the results indicate that in percentage terms:
    • All municipalities in Puerto Rico reflected the loss of their resident population, with percentage changes ranging from -0.1% to 29.0%.
    • The municipalities with the highest population loss were Guánica (29%), Maricao (24%), Loíza (21%) and Yabucoa (20%).
    • On the other hand, the municipalities with the lowest population loss were Rincón (-0.1%), Culebra (1%), Naranjito and Barranquitas with about 4%.
    • In summary, some 74 municipalities showed a reduction in their resident population of at least 5% over the decade.
  1. In addition, the population aged 18 and over changed between the Decennial Censuses:
    • At the Puerto Rico level, from 2,822,494 (2010) to 2,724,903 (2020), translating into a reduction of 97,591 people or -3.5% within that age group.
    • At the level of municipalities:
      • 24 municipalities reflected an increase in this population group (18+) that ranged from 0.1% to 9.2%,
      • The remaining 54 municipalities reflected a population reduction (18+) of between -0.1% and -21.3%
      • Population reductions (18+) occurred in the following municipalities, Guánica (21%), Maricao (17%), Mayagüez (13%), Loíza (12%), Yabucoa and Yauco with 10%.
  2. Regarding housing units, the results published at the Puerto Rico level indicate the following totals:
    • 1,598,159 housing units
      • 1,340,534 were busy
      • 257,625 were vacant

“Broadly speaking, population changes in municipalities range from mild or moderate reductions to drastic reductions, with population losses of 10% or more, in most municipalities, in a single decade. The new publication of Census 2020 results begins to highlight changes that have occurred over the past decade. The data, in turn, give way to the beginning of countless possible analyses and comparisons that must be considered when making socioeconomic decisions in Puerto Rico, its regions and within municipalities,” said Alberto L. Velázquez-Estrada, Manager of Statistical Projects at the Institute.

Tables with published characteristics will not yet be published in the U.S. Census Bureau's data dissemination tool data.census.gov. Various data released today from the 2020 Census can be accessed through:

Visualizations available at:

https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/2020-visualizations.html

widget Quick Facts In:

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045219

In addition, as the leading entity of Puerto Rico's SDC, the Institute manages the SDC portal, which contains 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 and official statistics on Puerto Rico's decennial population and housing censuses, among others. The Puerto Rico SDC portal can be accessed through: censo.estadisticas.pr.

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.

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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preguntas@estadisticas.pr

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Statistics Institute publishes the Creative Industries report 2017

PRESS RELEASE

DR. ORVILLE M. DISDIER FLORES

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Statistics Institute publishes the Creative Industries report 2017

It reveals that the total number of establishments dedicated to Creative Industries was 2,054, the majority (41.7%) belonging to the Arts sector.

San Juan, PR, December 17, 2018 — The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute) today released its report of Creative Industries in Puerto Rico 2017, as part of public policy aimed at supporting the development of this sector, in accordance with Law No. 173 of October 13, 2014, also known as the Act to Promote Creative Industries. This law summarizes creative industries into the following groups:

  • Design (graphic, industrial, fashion and interiors)
  • Arts (music, visual and performing arts and publications)
  • Media (application development, video games, online media, digital content and multimedia)
  • Creative Services (architecture and creative education)

Here are some of the publication's key findings:

  1. The total number of establishments dedicated to Creative Industries totaled 2,054. With 41.7% of the establishments, the Arts sector had the largest number of Creative Industries. Within this sector, the specific industries of Computer Systems Design were the one with the highest number with 195 establishments (10.2%).
  2. The largest number of establishments (59.3%) was characterized by being in the category of 1 to 4 employees.
  3. In terms of the number of employees per Creative Industry, the Media sector accounted for 46% (8,454) of the people employed in Creative Industries.
  4. The largest number of employees is in the Computer Systems Design industry with 2,154 employees.
  5. The Creative Industries were numerically dominated by the male population. The number of male population totaled 34,542 (63%) people, while the employed female population was estimated at 20,323 (37%) people.
  6. The average annual wage for all industries was $28,680, the median was $23,650 and the minimum was $6,492.
  7. The highest average annual wage was for the Software Publishing-related industry at $118,200.
  8. The highest average annual salary, by occupation, was System Software Developers with $62.120.

Francisco Pesante González, author of the report, stated that “despite the fact that Puerto Rico has been in recession for more than 10 years, and has had to face the effects of hurricanes Irma and María, the 2017 indicators reveal consistent growth in exports from creative industries.”

For his part, Dr. Orville M. Disdier, Acting Executive Director, said: “With this third report prepared and published by the Institute of Statistics, we reiterate our commitment to join forces with the Institute of Culture and the Trade and Export Company, aimed at continuing the promotion and support of Creative Industries in Puerto Rico.”

To access the full report you can visit: Creative industries.

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 Institute 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.

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

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Statistics Institute tool provides official data on imports and exports in Puerto Rico

San Juan, Puerto Rico. April 9, 2025 — Faced with growing public interest in issues related to international trade and tariffs, the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute reminded citizens that, on its official website, www.estadisticas.pr, the “External Trade Interface” tool is available, where they can access official data on imports and exports of goods in Puerto Rico.

The Foreign Trade section of the portal contains monthly statistics on the value and volume of goods entering and leaving the jurisdiction. This information allows us to know what products Puerto Rico exports, to which countries they are going and, in turn, which products are imported and from which countries they come. This data is useful for identifying business opportunities abroad, as well as within Puerto Rico. In addition, they are an important input for the preparation of Puerto Rico's Gross Domestic Product statistics.

“At a time when issues of international trade and tariffs are an active part of the public conversation, it is essential that citizens have access to official and reliable information that allows them to carry out adequate analyses and make informed decisions,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier Flores, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

The statistics are collected and processed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection And the U.S. Census Bureau, using customs and export declaration forms that are completed when importing or exporting goods. The Institute downloads, processes, transforms and organizes data so that information is available exclusively for Puerto Rico with its business partners.

As part of his commitment to statistical education, Dr. Ronald Hernández, Manager of Statistical Projects at the Institute, indicated that those interested in learning more about this tool can access a Webinar free of charge that explains in detail how to access, interpret and use foreign trade data. The video is available at the following link: https://youtu.be/2yuAh9X6qK4.

The Foreign Trade section allows you to filter the search and download of data since July 2002, according to different classifications used in economic analysis and international trade. These classifications include HTS systems and Schedule B, aimed at the classification of goods, including their tariff component; the SITC, used for the comparative analysis of trade by type of product; and the NAICS, which allows aggregation by sector or industry of origin or destination.

To access the External Trade Interface, you can visit www.estadisticas.pr and access the Foreign Trade section under the “Applications” tab. For the best experience, we recommend that you use the Firefox browser.

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.

For more information you can write to preguntas@estadisticas.pr. They can also follow social networks through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), X (@EstadisticasPR), LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) and Instagram (@institutodeestadisticas) accounts.

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Statements by the Executive Director of the Institute, Dr. Mario Marazzi-Santiago, on the report of the Congressional Task Force

Statements by the Executive Director of the Institute, Dr. Mario Marazzi-Santiago, on the report of the Congressional Task Force