PRESS RELEASE

PUERTO RICO STATE DATA CENTER NETWORK (SDC-PR)

New York was not among the main destinations for emigrants

This is indicated in the most recent Migrant Profile 2018-2019

San Juan, PR, June 1, 2021 — During the calendar year 2019, data from the Community Survey for the first time (in 15 years) indicate that the state of New York was not among the top five destinations for emigrants who left Puerto Rico, a characteristic that used to be a constant of emigration from Puerto Rico. This was revealed in the 2018-2019 Migrant Profile, which was published today by the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, and which presents an overview of the migratory movement in Puerto Rico in the calendar year 2018 and 2019. In fact, New York did not rank among the top 10 destination states either, dropping to the eleventh position. Here are several key findings:

1. In 2018, Puerto Rico's migration indicators showed that:
   • 133,000 people immigrated to United States states, increasing the previous year's mark based on the Community Survey
   • 113,000 people migrated to United States states in net terms, a new mark compared to information from the Community Survey
   • 40,000 people immigrated to U.S. states with some post-secondary education in net terms, according to the Community Survey
   • 89,000 air passengers from all destinations to Puerto Rico in net terms according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
2. The five states with the highest emigration from Puerto Rico in 2018 were Florida, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York and Texas.
3. In 2018, 36% of emigrants and 53% of immigrants lived in poverty, according to data from the Community Survey.

4. In 2019, Puerto Rico's migration indicators reflected that:
   • 66,000 people immigrated to United States states, reducing the record of Community Survey data from the previous year (2018)
   • 35,000 people immigrated to United States states in net terms, the lowest figure since 2010 compared to information from the Community Survey
   • 13,000 people immigrated to U.S. states with some post-secondary education in net terms according to the Community Survey
   • 10,000 air passengers from Puerto Rico to all destinations in net terms according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
5. The five states with the highest emigration from Puerto Rico in 2019 were Florida, Texas, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
6. By 2019, 30% of emigrants and 42% of immigrants were living in poverty, according to data from the Community Survey.
7. During the year 2018 to 2019, the median income of immigrants from Puerto Rico (residing in the United States) increased from $15,239 to $16,976, which was about 11% higher in 2019.
8. The migratory trend was strengthened, in the decade (2010-2019), in net terms:
   • 607,000 people migrated to the states, according to the Community Survey
   • 655,000 air passengers departed from Puerto Rico to all destinations according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
9. Among the specific occupations:
   • In 2018, it was estimated that 3,156 (+/- 1,638) emigrants were employed as retailers, 2,842 (+/- 1,305) were employed as teachers and tutors, and 2,769 (+/- 1,177) were employed as cashiers.
   • In 2019, it was estimated that some 1,727 (+/-1,030) emigrants were employed as cashiers and 900 (+/- 497) employed as teachers and tutors.

“The new publication shows the increase in the emigration movement in 2018, where estimates suggest that about 3% of the population moved from residence to outside of Puerto Rico. In terms of migratory destinations, New York did not rank, for the first time, among the top ten destination states in 2019. The change requires follow-up with new data, as they are published, to examine whether this trait will be the beginning of a change in the geographical trend of emigration from Puerto Rico, where other states in the southern and eastern regions of the United States will now continue to be those with the highest movement of migrants.” said Alberto L. Velázquez-Estrada, Manager of Statistical Projects at the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

See more details and information about the 2018-2019 Migrant Profile, as well as previous publications, in the Publications section of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics through the following link: Publications.

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. In addition, as the leading entity of the Puerto Rico SDC, the Institute manages the Puerto Rico State Data Center (SDC) page, which contains products containing data and census information from U.S. Census Bureau about Puerto Rico, specifically those that are most in demand. The Puerto Rico SDC website can be accessed at: https://censo.estadisticas.pr/.

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.

##

For questions:

https://preguntas.estadisticas.pr/

e-mail: alberto.velazquez@estadisticas.pr

‍