No significant change in income in households and families in Puerto Rico

Announcements
IEPR
22 December 2025

No significant change in income in households and families in Puerto Rico

PRESS RELEASE

PUERTO RICO STATE DATA CENTER NETWORK (SDC-PR)

No significant change in income in households and families in Puerto Rico

Based on the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Community Survey

San Juan, PR, September 14, 2022 — During the calendar year 2022, the median household income in Puerto Rico increased slightly, about $76, while the median family income fell by $363 compared to what was reported in 2021. This is revealed by the most recent Community Survey data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, covering the 2022 calendar year. As a local liaison entity with the U.S. Census Bureau, the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics shared several findings from the new 2022 survey data:

  1. The estimated median income for households and families showed no significant change, from $24,036 to $24,112 in households, and from $29,907 to $29,544 in families. This represented a change in household income of 0.3% and -1.3% in families.
  2. Regarding the migratory indicators for Puerto Rico, the estimates for 2022 showed the following changes compared to the most recent year of available information (2021):
    • Nearly 16,000 people immigrated to other jurisdictions in the United States in net terms, a decrease compared to the previous available year (2021) where the net balance was close to 27,000 people emigrating.
    • Some 26,989 people immigrated from the United States, reflecting a slight decrease in immigrants of -1.4% compared to 2021, where an estimated immigration of 27,380 people was estimated.
    • In the other direction, some 42,990 people migrated from Puerto Rico to other jurisdictions in the United States, showing a decrease of 21.4% compared to the figure for 2021, which was 54,669 people.
  3. Compared to the previous year 2021, during 2022, the following selected socioeconomic characteristics of Puerto Rico reflected statistically significant changes:
    • The unemployment rate fell from 13.1% to 9.9%, while the labor force increased by about 3.4%.
    • On the other hand, the percentages related to poverty increased in individuals (40.5% to 41.7%), in those under 18 years of age (54.9% to 57.6%) and in families (36.7% to 38.8%).
    • The percentage of grandparents who are responsible for their grandchild or granddaughter under 18 increased about seven points from 31.8% to 38.8%.
    • Among the total population aged 25 and over, the percentage of people with a higher education level or higher increased (79.6% to 81.7%), as well as those with a baccalaureate level or higher (28.5% to 29.8%).

“The survey information provides us with a recent overview of our society. Several of the indicators contrast with the reduction in the unemployment rate, while incomes (in households and families) remained unchanged. On the other hand, net emigration estimates were reduced for the third consecutive year since the post-hurricane emigration peak of 2018,” said Alberto L. Velázquez-Estrada, Manager of Statistical Projects at the Institute.

The main difference between household income and family income is that household income is considered to be the income of the head of household and any other individual in the household aged 15 years or older, even if not related to the head of the household. Family income, on the other hand, considers the income of all individuals in the household aged 15 years or older than if they are related to the head of the household.

Velázquez also indicated that as the leading entity of the Puerto Rico SDC, the Institute manages the SDC page, 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 (Puerto Rico Community Survey) and official statistics on Puerto Rico's decennial population and housing censuses, among others.

For more details, data and information about the 2022 Community Survey and previous years, interested parties can access: data.census.gov. The Puerto Rico State Data Center (SDC) page can be accessed at: https://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.gov on social networks through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) accounts.

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First food safety study presented results

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Results from the first food safety study in Puerto Rico presented

Under the name Puerto Rico Food Security Survey 2015, and in collaboration with the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance, BRFSS) administered in Puerto Rico by the Department of Health, the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute) presented the results of the first study on this topic to be carried out in Puerto Rico. The BRFSS is a continuous epidemiological surveillance system that is carried out in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and its jurisdictions, including Puerto Rico. The study population was adults aged 18 and over and the response rate in Puerto Rico was 71.1%, placing us among the top 25 jurisdictions with the highest participation. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, food insecurity is a key factor that complements the undernourishment indicator and makes it possible to improve the characterization of hunger.

“The large amount of food imported into Puerto Rico, among other aspects, makes the population more vulnerable to food insecurity. This is why it is essential to know the statistics related to this aspect, as well as the risk behaviors, morbidities and health practices of vulnerable populations,” said the Institute's acting executive director, Dr. Orville M. Disdier.

From the most relevant data from this study, it is estimated that 33% of the population aged 18 and over in Puerto Rico were food insecure. Similarly, 21.7% of the people interviewed indicated that, in the 12 months before the study, there were times when they had to serve themselves less food or stop eating one of their daily meals due to lack of money. A quarter of these (25.8%) did so almost every month.

The study also revealed, among others, that the Arecibo region had the highest percentage of food insecurity with 40.6%, while the metropolitan area and Ponce were the regions with the lowest food insecurity with 31.8% and 31.4% respectively. 44.3% of food-insecure people perceived their health as regular or poor. This percentage was higher in women (47.6%) compared to men (38.7%). People diagnosed with a depressive disorder were 2.7 times more likely to belong to the food-insecure group than people who had not been diagnosed with a depressive disorder.

“One of the most revealing results is related to poverty and its impact on food insecurity. The study concluded that people with an income of less than $25,000 are 3.3 times more likely to belong to the food insecure group than people with an income of $25,000 or more,” said Myribel Santiago, Project Manager of the Institute and lead author of the study.

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous entity, created by Act No. 209 of August 28, 2003, as amended, in order to promote changes in the systems for the collection and analysis of the information that is generated, so that it is complete, reliable and has quick and universal access. The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is responsible for establishing criteria and standards for the collection and analysis of information from government agencies, and for supporting those private sectors that are interested in demonstrating and giving public evidence of the objectivity of statistical data. To access the study you can visit Publications.

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Contact: Lourdes Burgos, R-27

lburgos@upfrontpr.net 787-562-2932

Puerto Rican receives prestigious award for contribution to statistics

Puerto Rican receives prestigious award for contribution to statistics