San Juan, Puerto Rico — November 6, 2025 — The Institute of Statistics released the results of the Backwater Index for Puerto Rico, a study that offers a comprehensive look at the social and economic situation of Puerto Rico's municipalities. This index constitutes an analysis and planning tool that seeks to promote dialogue, reflection and informed action for the benefit of Puerto Rico's socioeconomic development.
El Lagging Index measures a multidimensional phenomenon using a summary data that allows us to compare the relative performance of municipalities in two dimensions: Economic Mobility and Demography. Five main variables were considered in its design: the percentage of people below the poverty level, the unemployment rate, the percentage of high school graduates (in a population aged 18 and over), the dependency rate by age and the median age.
The index was calculated for two comparative periods: 2014-2018 and 2019-2023, allowing us to observe changes in scores and relative positions of municipalities over time. Index values fluctuate between 0 and 1, with a higher score representing a higher relative level of lagging.
The analysis reveals that 42 municipalities showed a decrease in their score of the Lagging Index, which suggests a relative improvement in the conditions measured by the indicator. Of these, 22 municipalities registered a reduction of more than 5%. In the same way, there are concentrations of municipalities with higher scores —indicating greater relative lagging— in the center, south, southwest and southeast regions of Puerto Rico, while several municipalities in the metropolitan area and adjacent to it showed progress compared to the rest of the archipelago.
The municipalities of Culebra, Toa Alta, Gurabo, Juncos, Dorado, Trujillo Alto, Santa Isabel, Canóvanas, Toa Baja and Las Piedras performed better in their relative index in the last period analyzed (2019-2023). However, the Institute stresses that the index is a relative measure and not an absolute measure, so the results must be analyzed within the context and used as a basis for the development of more specific analyses.
“The value of the index is not in pointing out which municipality is better or worse, but in providing an objective basis for analysis, planning and decision-making. It is an opportunity for mayors and officials who participate in decision-making to know their social and economic reality and to develop strategies that respond to the specific needs of their municipalities,” said Dr. Ronald Hernández, Manager of Statistical Projects at the Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico.
For the elaboration of the Lagging Index, the Institute applied rigorous statistical methods —including exploratory factor analysis, normalization and aggregation of variables—using data from the five-year estimates of the Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau And the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data
Table 1 shows the results of the Lagging Index at the municipal level for the periods 2014 - 2018 and 2019 - 2023. The table is ordered according to the position of the municipalities based on their index value for the period 2019 — 2023. The higher the index score, the worse or less favorable the outcome of the phenomenon.
Table 1: Lagging Index Results
According to Dr. Hernández, the results of the study highlight the need to design comprehensive public policies that address both the economic aspects and the demographic transformations of Puerto Rico. “The improvements seen in several municipalities are encouraging, but it is essential that socio-economic development efforts are integrated with strategies to respond to the ongoing demographic transition. This includes strengthening geriatric health services, care policies, retention of young people and urban planning adapted to long-lived communities,” said the Institute.”
Hernández indicated that, the Municipal Backwater Index seeks to promote an evidence-based dialogue between the different sectors of Puerto Rico. Its purpose is to serve as a planning and evaluation instrument, which facilitates the identification of areas of opportunity and guides investment decisions, municipal planning and public policy at the central and local levels.”
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 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.
PRESS RELEASE DR. MARIO MARAZZI‐SANTIAGO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
May 9, 2018
STATISTICS INSTITUTE PUBLISHES PUERTO RICO'S TOXIC EMISSIONS PROFILE
In this way, a contribution is made to facilitate access and knowledge of statistics on the toxic waste emitted by establishments in Puerto Rico, which are reported annually to the EPA.
San Juan, PR, May 9, 2018 — In Puerto Rico, 101 facilities handled a total of 33,165,925 pounds of toxic substances during 2016, some 4,330,512 pounds (13%) less than in 2015. Of these, 17,836,676 pounds (54%) were recycled, as revealed by the Puerto Rico Toxic Emissions Profile conducted by the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute).
The Puerto Rico Toxic Emissions Profile, the first of its kind carried out by the Institute, summarizes data from the Toxic Emissions Inventory (TRI) that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been published annually since 1987. Its purpose is to publicize what toxic waste establishments in Puerto Rico emit in order to help the public understand how their communities and environments may be affected.
The TRI emerged from the need for communities to know what toxic waste is being managed around them, and how it is available, so that people can prepare in the event of an environmental emergency. The information comes from estimates made by the facilities themselves based on production. They are reported on an annual form conducted by the EPA.
The federal law that creates the TRI, the Environmental Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), approved in 1986, represented a paradigm shift in environmental regulation, of an end-of-cycle type (end-of-pipe), whose focus is on remedying the production of pollutants, to an open data approach, where the public is given the tools to pressure companies to reduce their emissions.
Here are some of the findings from the publication:
Since 1987, toxic waste released in Puerto Rico has fallen by 87%.
Of the total toxic waste handled in 2016, just over half (54%) was recycled.
Of the total toxic waste emitted, 81% was emitted inside the facilities, and of this, 98% was emitted into the air.
Of the total toxic waste emitted within the facilities, about a third was sulfuric acid, 100% of which came from the industrial sector of generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy.
In addition, the report details that the 101 facilities in Puerto Rico that reported data to the TRI during 2016 cover a total of 43 municipalities and are generally located close to coastal areas. Guaynabo, Manati and San Juan had the highest number of facilities participating in the TRI in 2016. However, if municipalities are grouped by amount of toxic emissions, Guayama, Salinas and Manati rank in the first three places.
It is important to clarify that the data presented do not contain all the toxic waste managed, nor all the facilities that handled such waste in Puerto Rico during 2016, since the TRI only requires information from those facilities that meet three main criteria. These are: having at least 10 full-time employees; being federal facilities, or classified under one of the industrial sectors to which the TRI requires them to report; being manufacturing sectors that handle over 25,000 pounds of any of the substances for which the TRI requires reporting data and, if they belong to a non-manufacturing sector, must exceed 10,000 pounds.
In addition to publishing the Toxic Emissions Profile, fulfilling its function of facilitating access to the statistics related to this report, the Institute contributes by making available the complete historical series of the TRI in https://datos.estadisticas.pr/dataset/tri and through the Internet of Toxic Emissions application in your Community http://emisionestoxicaspr.org.
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. The IEPR has in its inventory, accessible through https://estadisticas.pr.gov, about 300 statistical products. In addition, it is a custodian and provides access to over 100 data sets or “data sets” through https://data.pr.gov and to over 40 tables and more than 6 thousand indicators through: https://www.indicadores.pr.
In addition, as the leading entity of the Puerto Rico SDC, the IEPR manages the SDC portal, where you can find 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 10-year population and housing censuses, among others. The Puerto Rico SDC portal can be accessed through: https://censo.estadisticas.pr.
Collective action and data drive the conversation about violence prevention in Puerto Rico
Experts analyzed statistics showing over 30 million controlled substance dispensations to nearly 2 million unique patients in Puerto Rico since 2019
The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics hosted the symposium "Collective Action for Violence Prevention: Transforming Realities Through Prevention and Collective Action," a gathering that brought together researchers, public health professionals, justice system representatives, community organizations, and government officials to analyze trends, risk factors, and strategies aimed at preventing violence in Puerto Rico.
During the event, presentations and panels were held, including "Current Landscape of Violence Among Infants and Youth: Data and Trends," "Public Policy and Substance Use Prevention: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?," and "Multi-sectoral Action for the Protection of Women and the Eradication of Sexual Violence," all of which addressed various factors contributing to violence and opportunities for its prevention through multi-sector collaboration.
Among the data presented during the symposium, it was highlighted that since 2019, over 30 million controlled substance dispensations have been recorded for nearly 2 million unique patients in Puerto Rico. Participants also discussed statistics related to homicides, gun violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and substance use prevention, as well as early intervention strategies and community action.
In the panel on substance use prevention, it was highlighted that benzodiazepines currently account for 66.2% of controlled substance dispensations in Puerto Rico, while opioids make up 15.9%. Furthermore, the recorded growth in prescribed fentanyl dispensations was discussed, as well as the role of the Controlled Substance Monitoring Program (PDMP) as a tool to promote responsible prescribing, strengthen prevention, and support informed decision-making in the healthcare system.
Presentations on violence among infants and youth revealed that between 2017 and 2024, 4,813 homicides were reported in Puerto Rico, and 92.3% of the victims were men. Experts also highlighted that firearm homicides are the leading cause of death among youth aged 1 to 19 in Puerto Rico. It was also reported that 54% of homicides among men aged 15 to 44 are related to manifestations of collective violence, including organized crime and drug trafficking.
Meanwhile, the panel on the protection of women and the eradication of sexual violence presented statistics showing that during 2024 and 2025, the Puerto Rico Police investigated 17,695 incidents of domestic violence. Furthermore, it was highlighted that, according to the Risk Assessment Form, one in four female complainants evaluated during the second half of 2024 faced an imminent risk of death, and nearly one in five had survived a non-fatal strangulation episode, one of the main indicators associated with the risk of femicide.
Participating experts agreed that many manifestations of violence are rooted in adverse childhood experiences, including abuse, emotional neglect, and early exposure to trauma. They also emphasized the importance of strengthening early interventions, mentorship, community programs, and coordination among health, education, security, and justice systems to address the causes of violence before it occurs.
"This symposium reaffirms the importance of using data to better understand the challenges we face as a society and to guide concrete prevention actions. Violence cannot be addressed by a single sector. It requires collaboration, evidence, and the commitment of multiple stakeholders to identify its causes, intervene promptly, and protect our communities," said Dr. Orville M. Disdier, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.
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