Thirty municipalities have more elderly populations than young people.

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IEPR
29 December 2025

Thirty municipalities have more elderly populations than young people.

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The pace of population aging in Puerto Rico has accelerated

The pace of population aging in Puerto Rico has accelerated

The pace of population aging in Puerto Rico has accelerated

This is indicated by the demographic features of the 2020 Census

San Juan, PR, May 25, 2023 — The U.S. Census Bureau today released data on population and housing characteristics based on the 2020 Decennial Census. The data covers a variety of demographics, race and Hispanic origin, household composition, and more. In turn, the data respond to another segment of the main tables that are usually published for each decennial census. The information is available for various geographic levels, such as the United States, states, Puerto Rico, municipalities in Puerto Rico, counties in the United States and census tracts. These statistics refer to April 1, 2020. Representing the U.S. Census Bureau's Census Data and Information Center Network (SDC-PR) in Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute) reported several findings from the new publication:

1) Compared to the 2010 Decennial Census, compared to the most recent list available Decennial Census 2020, both with a reference date of April 1, 2020, the data indicate that:

  • The median age of the total population in Puerto Rico increased by about eight (8) years, from 36.9 (2010) to 45.2 (2020) in the decade.
  • The increase reflected in Puerto Rico was markedly different from the rate of aging reflected in the same period in other jurisdictions, with the closest increases of three (3) years in the median age in the states of Arizona and Mississippi.
  • The median age by sex in Puerto Rico changed from 35.1 to 43.5 years for men and from 38.6 to 46.6 years for women.

2) With regard to the sex distribution of the population in Puerto Rico:

  • This went from 48% men and 52% women (Census 2010) to a distribution of 47% men and 53% women (Census 2020).
  • The ratio indicator for sex dropped from 92.0 (2010 Census) to 89.7 (2020 Census), which suggests that there were about 90 men per 100 women in Puerto Rico in 2020.

3) The tenure of total occupied housing in Puerto Rico (1,376,531) according to the 2020 Census, was shown to be comprised of 70.2% by landlords and 29.8% by renters.

“The published data are of the utmost importance. The breakdowns that were not available by age, sex and housing, according to the most recent enumeration, now make it possible to adjust the bases of estimates and projections, as well as to provide an updated framework for statistical sampling of households or populations at different geographical levels,” said Alberto L. Velázquez-Estrada, Senior Manager of Statistical Projects at the Institute.

The U.S. Census Bureau published an interactive summary that allows us to view various interesting published data from the 2020 Census, and provides a comparison with the previous Decennial Censuses 2000 and 2010. The visualization can be accessed at: https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/how-has-our-nations-population-changed.html.

All the tables published about the 2020 Census can be accessed in the data dissemination tool of the U.S. Census Bureau: data.census.gov. In addition, as the leading entity of the State Data Center of Puerto Rico, the Institute manages the SDC website, 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. The Puerto Rico SDC website 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.gov or write to preguntas@estadisticas.pr. They can also follow social networks through Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR), LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico) and Instagram (@institutodeestadisticas) accounts.

Some 67,000 people immigrated to the United States in 2016, the highest migration rate recorded in 12 years.

Some 67,000 people immigrated to the United States in 2016, the highest migration rate recorded in 12 years.

Just over 2% of the population emigrated in 2017

PRESS RELEASE

PUERTO RICO STATE DATA CENTER NETWORK (SDC-PR)

Just over 2% of the population emigrated in 2017

This is indicated by the net migratory balance in the most recent Migrant Profile

San Juan, PR, August 23, 2019 — During the calendar year 2017, it was estimated that around 2.4% of the population immigrated to other jurisdictions in the United States, translating into nearly 77,000 people in net terms. This was revealed by the Migrant Profile 2017, 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 2017. Within 13 years of information from the Community Survey of the U.S. Census Bureau, this figure marks the migratory peak of this source. In addition, the profile uses information on the net movement of air passengers from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and the Ports Authority. Here are the main findings:

  1. In 2017, Puerto Rico's migration indicators expanded, showing the effect of the impact of hurricanes: 97,000 people migrated to the United States, increasing the record level of Community Survey data from the previous year
    • 77,000 people migrated to the United States in net terms, a new mark compared to information from the Community Survey
    • 27,000 people immigrated to the United States with some post-secondary education in net terms, according to the Community Survey
    • 294 thousand air passengers to all destinations in net terms according to BTS
  2. The migratory trend intensified in the current decade (2010-2017); in net terms:
    • 458,000 people migrated to other jurisdictions in the United States, according to the Community Survey
    • 737,000 air passengers left for all destinations, according to BTS

3. The ten states with the highest emigration from Puerto Rico (2017), in descending order, were Florida, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio, Georgia, and North Carolina.

4. The median income of emigrants and immigrants between Puerto Rico and the United States fell by 11% and 2%, respectively.

5. By 2017, 37% of emigrants and 50% of immigrants were living in poverty, according to the Community Survey.

6. According to data from the Community Survey, the management and professional occupational group continued to have the highest proportion among emigrants, followed by service occupations. As for specific occupations:

    • It was estimated that between 657 and 4,043 emigrants were employed as packers and packers. From 1,072 to 3,416 they were employed as customer service representatives.
    • In turn, it was estimated that 924 to 3,170 were teachers and 774 to 2,676 were responsible for building maintenance and cleaning.

“The continuity in the publication of the Migrant Profile allows us to contrast the most recent estimates of the migrant population against the behavior of previous years. The various series show the trend and changes in the size and characteristics of migrants in demographic and socio-economic aspects. This new publication reflects the immediate effect of the impact of the hurricanes up to December 2017, maximizing the migratory flow to figures never before recorded in Puerto Rico. In the field of education, for the third consecutive year (2015-2017), more than 50% of emigrants aged 25 and over had some post-secondary education. On the other hand, the scenario is presented that more than a third of emigrants, once residing in a state, live below the poverty level.” said Alberto L. Velázquez-Estrada, Manager of Statistical Projects at the Institute.

See more details and information about the 2017 Migrant Profile, as well as previous publications, in the Publications section of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics: 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 SDC in Puerto Rico, 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 (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/.

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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Press Contact:

Idia Martínez

787-603-3200

imartinez@upfrontpr.net