PRESS RELEASE

Study presents sociodemographic characteristics and contrasts between the Dominican and Puerto Rican populations

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute) presented the study: Dominican population in Puerto Rico: Sociodemographic characteristics and contrasts with the Puerto Rican population, 2015-2019, which focuses on detailing the sociodemographic traits that characterize the Dominican population living in Puerto Rico, as well as the differences between these by sex characteristics. As part of this research, various characteristics of the Dominican population compared to the Puerto Rican population were examined, providing contrasts between the sociodemographic scenarios of both populations.

The study begins by highlighting that the minority population with the highest presence among the inhabitants of Puerto Rico is the Dominican one with 59%, followed by the Cuban (13%), Mexican (9%), Colombian (4%) and Spanish (3%), being the five populations of non-Puerto Rican Hispanic origin that predominate in the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico.

The Institute's senior manager of Statistical Projects and author of this study, Alberto L. Velázquez Estrada, indicated that the data presented show, among others, that the Dominican population in general is older than the Puerto Rican population, which has been an old population for several decades. “This suggests a possible increase in the needs for health services that the Dominican population will require, due to conditions related to aging. In the near future, both the Dominican and Puerto Rican populations will be moving, in significant proportional terms, to seventy-year-old ages, which typically lead to the onset or worsening of certain health conditions,” Velázquez said. On the other hand, “the gender disparity in the Dominican population in terms of income, poverty and people outside the labor force is prominent. The differences point to a more complicated or difficult situation for Dominicans compared to Dominicans living in Puerto Rico,” added Velázquez.

For his part, the executive director of the Institute of Statistics, Dr. Orville Disdier, indicated that “for years the Dominican population has contributed significantly to the demographic diversity of Puerto Rico, so knowing data about their sociodemographic traits and their contrasts with the Puerto Rican population is important for the development of initiatives that improve the quality of life of both populations.”

Other data included in this study show that:

• Over the past three decades, the average annual number of air passengers from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico decreased from 335,000 (1990-1999) to 324,000 (2000-2009), and then to 214,000 in the most recent decade (2010-2019).
• The geographical distribution indicates a marked concentration in the northern area of San Juan, which is home to about 35% of the Dominican population.
• The Dominican population residing in Puerto Rico and born in the Dominican Republic comprised 90%, and those born in Puerto Rico were 7%.
• The majority of the Dominican population in Puerto Rico was female, being around 58% compared to 42% men.
• The median age of the Dominican population (49 years old) is 8 years older than the Puerto Rican population (41 years old).
• The total Dominican population was characterized by having the highest percentage of married marital status at 40%, followed by 32% never married, traits that are reversed in their order in contrast to the Puerto Rican population.
• The education attained and by sex of Dominicans showed:
  • Higher percentages in the trait of people with less than high school education, being higher in men (44%) than in women (38%).
  • In turn, there is a notable difference by sex in people with a high school level, with women accounting for 14% compared to men with 8%.

• With regard to the Dominican and Puerto Rican populations that achieved some post-secondary education, the data indicate that women in both populations are characterized by having a higher percentage of educational level attained.
• The percentage of Dominicans who were out of the labor force was much lower among men (26%) than among women (44%).
• In contrast to the Puerto Rican population, the percentage of people out of the labor force was much lower among the Dominican population than in the Puerto Rican population.
• Among the most common occupations of the Dominican population were household cleaners (9.2%), construction work (6.0%), janitors or building cleaners (4.4%), cooks (4.0%) and personal care assistants (3.6%).
• The Dominican population reflected a median income with a marked difference by sex of about four (4) thousand dollars ($4,011), being lower for Dominicans with a median of $10,842 compared to Dominicans with $14,853.
• This disparity of income by sex compared to the Puerto Rican population presents a similar pattern; Puerto Rican women reflected a lower median income than Puerto Rican men, in this case by about three (3) thousand dollars ($3,099).
• Just over half of the Dominican population in Puerto Rico (51%) was in poverty. Among Dominican residents, the percentage in poverty was higher than among Dominicans at 54% and 48%, respectively.
• Related to the health aspect, people with some difficulty hearing, seeing, cognitive, outpatient and/or self-care, reflected that out of every (10) Dominican people, two (2) of them have a disability, a finding quite similar to that shown by the Puerto Rican population.

To access the report, you can visit Publications.

About the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

To learn more about the Institute of Statistics, you can access the website: www.estadisticas.pr.gov. On social media through Facebook accounts (@statistics.pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR), Instagram (@institutodeestadisticas) and LinkedIn (Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics).

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Contact: Idia M. Martinez, R-28, 787-603-3200

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Dr. Orville M. Disdier, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics (PRIS), offered a presentation at a recent meeting of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

The Executive Director offered a presentation as part of a virtual expert group meeting on statistics for sustainable development ECLAC associate member countries. Dr. Disdier highlighted Puerto Rico's significant economic challenges, such as outmigration and high energy costs. He emphasized the importance of including Puerto Rico in a wide range of statistical products to effectively address these challenges and formulate informed public policies. PRIS, as an independent public agency, plays a critical role in ensuring access to comprehensive and reliable statistics.

Dr. Disdier underscored the gaps in federal statistical products, noting that Puerto Rico is included in only 81 of 449 federal statistical products.

PRIS has been instrumental in addressing various statistical issues, such as correcting mortality statistics and eliminating biases in economic indicators. The presentation highlighted the crucial role of international statistical reports in promoting informed decision-making and public accountability, and gaining economic insights.

Dr. Disdier proposed steps to enhance Puerto Rico's inclusion in international reports, emphasizing the need for a detailed list of existing reports, prioritizing reports by importance, and establishing contact with experts to ensure technical assistance.

#statisticsPR

#estadísticasPR

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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.

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For questions:

https://preguntas.estadisticas.pr/

e-mail: alberto.velazquez@estadisticas.pr

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