Press Release

Exhortation to the deaf community and their families to complete registration to strengthen the information available on this population in Puerto Rico

 San Juan, Puerto Rico — March 18, 2026. The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute), in collaboration with the Deaf Community Liaison Office and several agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico, urged deaf people, people with partial hearing loss, deafblind people and their families to participate in an online registry that will allow the collection of key information about this population in Puerto Rico.

The initiative is developed in accordance with Executive Order OE-2026-002, issued by the governor of Puerto Rico, Jennifer A. González Colón, which instructs the Institute of Statistics, in collaboration with the Department of Health, the University of Puerto Rico, the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration, the Deaf Community Liaison Office and other entities, to carry out a formal effort to collect information about the deaf community in Puerto Rico and its characteristics, including the communication methods used.

As explained by the executive director of the Institute, Dr. Orville M. Disdier, community participation is essential for reliable information to guide public decision-making and the development of initiatives aimed at this population. “Having reliable information is essential to be able to develop public policies and services that respond to the real needs of the community. That's why we invite deaf people, those with hearing loss and their families to participate in this registry. Their participation will strengthen knowledge about this population and support informed decisions for the benefit of the deaf community in Puerto Rico,” said Disdier.

It takes three to five minutes to complete the registration. Participation is encouraged to:

• Deaf people
• People with partial (mild to moderately severe) hearing loss
• Deafblind people
• Families and caregivers who support people with these conditions

Interested persons can complete the registration at the following link: surveymonkey.com/r/deafspr

Information and guidance

Individuals or organizations interested in receiving guidance or collaborating in the dissemination of this information can contact:

Deaf Community Liaison Office (OECS)
Phone: 787-725-2333 ext. 203
VRS: 787-773-1487
Email: oecs@dpi.pr.gov
Website: www.dpi.pr.gov

Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics
Telephone: 787-819-0730
Email: preguntas@estadisticas.pr

‍

San Juan, Puerto Rico- May 27, 2024. Data from the Institute of Statistics indicate that, so far this year, 23 murders of women have occurred in Puerto Rico, 10 of which were femicides and, of these 10, eight were committed by their partners. These were some of the data presented during the Second Symposium on Statistics on Gender-based Violence in Puerto Rico from the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics. During the day, the importance of addressing all manifestations of violence, including economic and emotional violence, as well as child abuse, which is often used as a form of pressure on victims, was also highlighted. In addition, the importance of statistical data in the formulation of public policies was highlighted and reflections were presented on the impact of violence on educational processes.

The Second Symposium on Statistics on Gender Violence brought together more than a hundred representatives from public and private sectors and non-profit organizations, who had the opportunity to deepen the analysis of statistics and different situations related to gender-based violence. The event brought together 14 experts in different areas related to gender-based violence, who shared statistical data and offered fundamental perspectives to understand the complexity of this phenomenon. Among the issues addressed are the design of public policies to eradicate gender-based violence, the social impact of violence, and the health approach to combat it.

“This Second Symposium on Statistics on Gender Violence has become a fundamental space for the exchange of knowledge and the promotion of concrete actions to address this serious problem affecting our society. The commitment of different sectors is essential to achieve significant progress in the eradication of gender-based violence in Puerto Rico. On behalf of the Institute, we will continue to work on the generation and collection of data that aid in knowledge, but particularly in the prevention of gender-based violence,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

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.

To access the presentations and incidents of the Second Symposium on Statistics on Gender Violence in Puerto Rico, visit the following link: https://estadisticas.pr/en/segundo-simposio-estadisticas-violencia-de-genero.

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.

Authorized by the Office of the Electoral Controller OCE-SA-2024-08568

‍

96% of municipalities in Puerto Rico have a population decrease

This is indicated by the estimates for the year 2023 of U.S. Census Bureau

(Approved by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner: OCE-SA-2024-05533)

San Juan, PR, March 18, 2024 — The U.S. Census Bureau released the most recent Annual Population Estimates data for municipalities in Puerto Rico, as well as for counties in the United States. These statistics refer to July 1, 2023 and include estimates of the total population for each municipality and the population change in the current decade. On behalf of the U.S. Census Bureau's Network of Data and Census Information Centers (SDC-PR) in Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute) reported several findings from the new publication of population estimates for 2023:

1. Compared to the 2020 Decennial Census with a reference date of April 1, 2020, compared to the most recent year available, July 1, 2023, estimates indicate that:
   • Changes in the population of residents in municipalities ranged from 1.6% to -10.0%.
   • In 96% of the municipalities, a population decrease was estimated. Meanwhile, in the municipalities of Rincón, Naranjito and Barranquitas, a slight increase (0.1% - 1.6%) was estimated.
   • Some seven municipalities reflected an estimated reduction equal to or greater than five percent (5%) within the comparative period.
   • The total population of all of Puerto Rico is estimated to have fallen by 2.4 percent, translating to nearly 80,000 fewer residents than in April 2020.

2. With regard to the geographical dimension between municipalities, on the estimated change in the total population up to the year 2023, The interactive map provides the geographical distribution.

In this map it can be identified that:

• • The seven municipalities with the highest percentage of population decline were Guánica (-10.0%), Loíza (-5.9%), Guayanilla (-5.5%), Ponce (-5.3%), Yauco (-5.2%), Guayama (-5.0%) and Yabucoa (-5.0%).
    • Five of the seven municipalities are located in southern Puerto Rico, Loíza and Yabucoa in the Northeast and Eastern regions respectively.
  • The seven municipalities with the lowest percentage of population decline were Aibonito (-0.1%), Isabela (-0.3%), Moca (-0.4%, Dorado (-0.5%), Corozal (-0.6%), Camuy (-0.6%) and Adjuntas (-0.7%).

“The general trend of population decline continues in municipalities, an aspect that began in the jurisdiction for nearly two decades (2005). The phenomenon of reduction is more cautious in several municipalities where the rate is indicated to be five percent or more in just three years of this decade, according to new estimates,” said Alberto L. Velázquez-Estrada, Senior Manager of Statistical Projects at the Institute.

As an interactive summary, the Institute published a visualization that allows us to see the new series of estimates at the municipal level, facilitating geographical comparison within Puerto Rico. This visualization can be accessed at: https://censo.estadisticas.pr/node/517.

The tables with the annual population estimates for Puerto Rico and its municipalities can be accessed at: https://censo.estadisticas.pr/EstimadosPoblacionales, as well as in the data dissemination tool of the U.S. Census Bureau: data.census.gov.

As the leading entity of the State Data Center of Puerto Rico, the Institute manages the SDC portal, which contains the main statistical reports and publications of the U.S. Census Bureau about 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 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 the website: www.estadisticas.pr Or 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.

‍