During the calendar year 2019, it was estimated, in net terms, that nearly 35,000 people immigrated to other jurisdictions in the United States. This is revealed by the most recent data from the Community Survey.

Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau covers the 2019 calendar year. The new data has been published through the new platform data.census.gov. As the local entity liaising with the U.S. Census Bureau, the Institute of Statistics shares several findings from the new 2019 data:

1. In 2019, Puerto Rico's migration indicators showed the following changes compared to previous years:
   • Around 35,000 people immigrated to other jurisdictions in the United States in net terms, representing a decrease compared to previous years (2011-2018) where the net balance ranged from 49,000 to 113,000 people migrating annually based on information from the Community Survey.
   • 31,144 people immigrated from the United States to Puerto Rico, contrasting with an increase in immigrants of 49% compared to 2018, where an estimated immigration of 20,900 people was estimated.
   • 66,021 people immigrated to other jurisdictions in the United States, showing a decrease from the record number in 2018, which amounted to 133,451 people.
2. Regarding various socioeconomic characteristics for Puerto Rico during 2019:
   • Some 684,655 people or 21.6% of the population (3,169,528) reported having a disability.
   • Around 77,000 grandparents live with their grandson or granddaughter under 18 and 32.2% of these are responsible for them.
   • For the population aged 25 and over (2,301,735):
     • 78.8% had a higher education or higher education
     • 27.2% had an education attained at the baccalaureate level or higher
   • 39.5% and 43.5% of families and individuals, respectively, are below the poverty line.
   • The median household income was $20,474.
   • The median household income was $25,388.
   • The GINI index, which measures income inequality, where the value of 0 indicates that there is perfect equality and the value 1 total inequality, places Puerto Rico with an indicator of 0.5509, being the highest when compared to the states.
   • As for households (1,170,982), it was estimated that:
     • 76.3% had a computer
     • 68.2% had access to an internet subscription (broadband)

“In terms of migration, published data for 2019 point to a reduction in net migration compared to previous years. However, the fact that nearly 35,000 people have emigrated means that 1% of Puerto Rico's population declined through emigration in a single year, which has been the drastic trend throughout the decade 2010-2020,” said Alberto L. Velázquez-Estrada, Manager of Statistical Projects at the Institute.

See more details, data and information about the 2019 Community Survey at: data.census.gov. In addition, you can consult about the transition to the new platform for accessing census data, available at the following links, webinars: https://cutt.ly/Cw7v9fI, SDC-PR and tutorials: https://www.census.gov/data/academy/data-gems/2019/visualize-data.html.

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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.

PRESS RELEASE June 26th, 2018
DR. MARIO MARAZZI-SANTIAGO
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

AUTHORIZED STATEMENTS BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF STATISTICS REGARDING THE APPROVAL OF P. C. 1403 BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF PUERTO RICO

We are waiting to hear the results of the conference committees so that we can know what will be approved. However, we take the liberty of making some statements in general terms about our feelings.

We are struck by the lack of legislation to advance the transparency agenda in this session. Added to that is the possible approval of P. de la C. 1403 with which, far from promoting greater transparency, the Legislative Assembly would seem to take several steps backwards on that important agenda.

In recent days, we have seen how municipal governments, on their own, have begun to take steps towards greater transparency in the way they manage public funds. It leaves deafening silence the months and years that the central government has ignored the possibility of participating free of charge in the same Puerto Rico Financial Transparency System, which municipal governments are now beginning to adopt.

In the same way, even though there is a virtual global scientific consensus in favor of allowing the Institute of Statistics to continue to carry out its functions independently, the Government also seems to ignore it.

On this occasion, not only in Puerto Rico but in the world, they are observing the steps taken by the Legislative Assembly in the coming days with respect to P. de la C. 1403. With the recent experience of the incomplete count of deaths caused by Hurricane Maria, the Government's commitment to transparency will once again be called into question with the approval of P. de la C. 1403.

It's important for me to stress that:

1. This issue has nothing to do with this server but with the defense of the institution's independence. If the Governor were available for dialogue and to desist from his intention to amend the Institute's Organic Law, this servant would leave the Executive Directorate of the Institute immediately.
2. The Institute has 2 administrative jobs. There is no way to achieve savings by merging administrative aspects, when the Institute maintains such a small administrative workforce.
3. There is no political partisanship in the Institute. For years, the Board of Directors with members of different ideologies have been able to work together, just like the professionals they are. This year, for reasons beyond our control, an attempt was made for the first time to introduce partisan politics into the Institute, but so far the Institute has successfully rejected this attempt.
4. In these 10 years, the Institute has achieved significant improvements in Puerto Rico's statistics, despite the obstacles presented by the government apparatus and partisan politics. The reorganization of the Institute will take us back to the last century, and there will be little that the federal government can do to remedy the situation.
5. Thousands of people, 47 world-renowned scientific organizations, 16 congressmen, the Private Sector Coalition, the Transparency Network, the National Academy for the Advancement of the Sciences, the American Statistical Association, the Royal Statistical Society and the Fiscal Oversight Board, among many others, have recommended that the Institute be maintained as an autonomous entity of the Government of Puerto Rico and independent, free from political intervention.

The approval of P. de la C. 1403 is a serious mistake. The Legislative Assembly should not participate in eliminating what it once created to protect the same legislators from being manipulated with erroneous or incomplete information that the Executive Branch controls to ensure that the measures that the current Government wishes are approved. Legislators have the floor.

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

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