Federal Committee on Labor Statistics appointed Executive Director of the Institute

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IEPR
29 December 2025

Federal Committee on Labor Statistics appointed Executive Director of the Institute

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

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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For questions:

preguntas@estadisticas.pr

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute has just released the Puerto Rico Creative Industries Report 2019.

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute has just released the Puerto Rico Creative Industries Report 2019.

This is the fifth publication on the subject, and is being published in the International Year of the Creative Economy, as declared by UNESCO.

Learn more at:

Creative Industries 2021-2022

You can also access the following infographic:

https://infogram.com/industrias-creativas-2019-1h7g6k0mmj7x02o?live

Access the data sets at:

https://datos.estadisticas.pr/dataset/industrias-creativas-en-puerto-rico

Lack of certified people in libraries to provide technological assistance to people with disabilities

Press Release

Lack of people certified in libraries to provide technological assistance to people with disabilities

The data comes from a study carried out by the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

According to the report of the study on inclusive services and technological assistance in libraries in Puerto Rico by the Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico, 83% of the participating libraries do not have people certified in technological assistance to people with disabilities. Similarly, almost 40% of libraries indicated that they do not have computers or electronic equipment required to comply with a technological assistance program for people with disabilities.

The main objective of Law No. 63 of 2011 is to establish the Inclusive Library Services System for Technological Assistance in all libraries in Puerto Rico. In the same way, this law orders the government to “collect annual statistical data on Inclusive Library Services for Technological Assistance”. Since its approval, the government has not been able to fully comply with this mandate. It is for this reason that the Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico, in collaboration with the Technological Assistance Program of the University of Puerto Rico (PRATP), designed a collection system and a set of data so that the Government of Puerto Rico has the capacity to collect, analyze and disseminate data on the implementation of this law.

The data presented correspond to the calendar year 2019 and includes a sample of the libraries of the University of Puerto Rico system, private universities, higher education institutions and municipalities. This is the first report that Puerto Rico has made on statistics related to the implementation of Law No. 63 of 2011

“As a society we must and must guarantee all people access to education and information, and people with disabilities cannot be discriminated against. This study allows us, in addition to complying with the law, to determine where we should make the necessary adjustments to meet the access to information needs of people with disabilities,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier, lead author of the study and acting executive director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

Here are some of the study's most salient findings:

  • A total of 36 libraries completed the questionnaire, the largest of them from private universities (39%).
  • 36% of participating libraries do not have a plan to implement Act No. 63.
  • Most (83%) of participating libraries reported that they do not have people certified in technological assistance.
  • Only 8% of participating libraries indicated that the administration has plans to provide training on the use of technological assistance programs and equipment.
  • Nearly 40% of participating libraries indicated that they do not have computers or electronic equipment required to comply with a technological assistance program for people with disabilities.
  • Although 67% of participating libraries claimed that their library meets the requirements established by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regarding the accessibility of physical spaces for people with disabilities, all indicated that they do not have official certification for these purposes.
  • Among the reasons that participating libraries established for not complying with Act No. 63 of 2011 are: Lack of financial resources, lack of guidance, lack of support from the administration and lack of human resources.

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous governmental entity tasked with 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 accessible quickly and universally. To access this report or to learn more about the Institute of Statistics, you can access the website: www.estadisticas.pr.gov. On social media through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) accounts.

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Contacts:

Idia M. Martinez, R-28

787-603-3200

Lourdes Burgos, R-27

787-562-2932