The pace of population aging in Puerto Rico has accelerated

The pace of population aging in Puerto Rico has accelerated

This is indicated by the demographic features of the 2020 Census

San Juan, PR, May 25, 2023 — The U.S. Census Bureau today released data on population and housing characteristics based on the 2020 Decennial Census. The data covers a variety of demographics, race and Hispanic origin, household composition, and more. In turn, the data respond to another segment of the main tables that are usually published for each decennial census. The information is available for various geographic levels, such as the United States, states, Puerto Rico, municipalities in Puerto Rico, counties in the United States and census tracts. These statistics refer to April 1, 2020. Representing the U.S. Census Bureau's Census Data and Information Center Network (SDC-PR) in Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute) reported several findings from the new publication:

1) Compared to the 2010 Decennial Census, compared to the most recent list available Decennial Census 2020, both with a reference date of April 1, 2020, the data indicate that:

• The median age of the total population in Puerto Rico increased by about eight (8) years, from 36.9 (2010) to 45.2 (2020) in the decade.
• The increase reflected in Puerto Rico was markedly different from the rate of aging reflected in the same period in other jurisdictions, with the closest increases of three (3) years in the median age in the states of Arizona and Mississippi.
• The median age by sex in Puerto Rico changed from 35.1 to 43.5 years for men and from 38.6 to 46.6 years for women.

2) With regard to the sex distribution of the population in Puerto Rico:

• This went from 48% men and 52% women (Census 2010) to a distribution of 47% men and 53% women (Census 2020).
• The ratio indicator for sex dropped from 92.0 (2010 Census) to 89.7 (2020 Census), which suggests that there were about 90 men per 100 women in Puerto Rico in 2020.

3) The tenure of total occupied housing in Puerto Rico (1,376,531) according to the 2020 Census, was shown to be comprised of 70.2% by landlords and 29.8% by renters.

“The published data are of the utmost importance. The breakdowns that were not available by age, sex and housing, according to the most recent enumeration, now make it possible to adjust the bases of estimates and projections, as well as to provide an updated framework for statistical sampling of households or populations at different geographical levels,” said Alberto L. Velázquez-Estrada, Senior Manager of Statistical Projects at the Institute.

The U.S. Census Bureau published an interactive summary that allows us to view various interesting published data from the 2020 Census, and provides a comparison with the previous Decennial Censuses 2000 and 2010. The visualization can be accessed at: https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/how-has-our-nations-population-changed.html.

All the tables published about the 2020 Census can be accessed in the data dissemination tool of the U.S. Census Bureau: data.census.gov. In addition, as the leading entity of the State Data Center of Puerto Rico, the Institute manages the SDC website, 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 (Puerto Rico Community Survey) and official statistics on Puerto Rico's decennial population and housing censuses, among others. The Puerto Rico SDC website 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 the website: www.estadisticas.pr.gov or write to preguntas@estadisticas.pr. They can also follow social networks through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR), LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) and Instagram (@institutodeestadisticas) accounts.

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The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is successfully complying with the “Protocol for Suicide Prevention”

On January 12 of this year, the Commission for Suicide Prevention (Department of Health) certified that the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute met all the requirements regarding the creation and implementation of a “Protocol for Suicide Prevention” in the agency.

The Institute is part of the 52 agencies or entities of the Executive Branch (out of a total of 121) that complied with this protocol.

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‍More than 4,300 Homicides and 1,600 Suicides Since 2017: Digital Platform Allows Exploration of Violent Deaths in Puerto Rico

From 2017 to 2023, Puerto Rico has recorded 4,304 homicides and 1,685 suicides.These figures reflect a complex phenomenon that impacts families, communities, and public safety and health throughout the archipelago.

With the goal of promoting a deeper and more accessible understanding of this reality, the Puerto Rico Violent Death Reporting System (PRVDRS) developed a digital platform that allows for a detailed and contextualized examination of the data.

“The public policy formulation process requires reliable data and rigorous analysis. This tool allows us to measure the magnitude of violent deaths in Puerto Rico and better understand the circumstances surrounding these incidents. Evidence-based decision-making is fundamental to effectively addressing this public health and safety issue,” expressed Planner Mario O. Font Martin, Statistical Projects Manager and Coordinator of the PRVDRS.

Data to Help Understand the Phenomenon

The PRVDRS integrates information from multiple official sources, including the Puerto Rico Police, the Institute of Forensic Sciences, and the Demographic Registry of the Department of Health. By combining these sources into an anonymized database, the system allows for the analysis of not only how many deaths occur but also the circumstances surrounding them.

From the start of data collection in 2017 through 2023, the system has documented:

• 4,304 homicides
• 1,685 suicides

This integration allows for the identification of patterns and trends that are not always visible in individual reports.

What Does the Digital Platform Offer?

The tool allows citizens to:

• Explore historical trends since 2017.
• Analyze data through interactive visualizations and maps.
• Examine the classification of violence (e.g., community or collective).
• Identify the type of weapon involved.
• Review circumstances associated with the incidents.

Currently, the platform presents official consolidated data through 2023, along with preliminary data from 2024 to 2026, which will be updated monthly.

A Nationally Integrated Effort

The PRVDRsis part of the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The PRVDRS collects information documented by the Puerto Rico Police, the Institute of Forensic Sciences, and death certificates from the Department of Health's Demographic Registry into an anonymous database with over 600 variables. For more information on the NVDRS, you can access the following link: National Violent Death Reporting System.

This methodology allows for an understanding of not only the cause of death but also the circumstances and factors related to each case, facilitating comparisons with other U.S. jurisdictions.

Public Access

The platform is available through the official portal of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics: Puerto Rico Violent Death Notification System (PRVDRS) interactive tool

Open access to this data strengthens transparency and fosters informed conversations regarding violence prevention and public policy. Understanding the data is an essential step toward addressing one of the most complex challenges facing Puerto Rico in an informed manner.

About the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

The Institute is an autonomous government entity responsible for coordinating the production of government statistics to ensure that the data collection systems upon which public policies are based are complete, reliable, and provide rapid and universal access.

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