People and Population

The last US census estimate, from 2022, showed 3,098,423 people that inhabit the island of Puerto Rico make it one of the most densely populated islands in the world. There are about 904 people per square mile (349 per km²), a ratio higher than within any of the 50 states in the United States.

The island's population declined 11.8% From 2010 to 2020; and fell 1.14% from 2020 to 2021. The government stated that more than 800,000 people have left the island in the past two decades. The majority are settling in U.S. states including New York and Florida.

On August 2012, the number of Puerto Ricans on the U.S. mainland reached a record - 4.9 million. Had these people remained in Puerto Rico, the island would be so densely populated that there would be virtually no room for people to live. Because of the massive migration to the mainland, more Puerto Ricans are said to live in New York City than in San Juan.

On the island, one-third of the population is concentrated in the San Juan-Carolina-Bayamón metropolitan area. The largest city is San Juan, the island's capital. It has a population of 2,442,512 (2022 est.), San Juan is the 203th largest city in the world. The second largest city is Bayamón, with 185,187 people. Other major cities include Carolina (154,815), Ponce (137,491) and Caguas (127,244) (2020 U.S. Census).

What is the Puerto Rican population of the World?
It is estimated that the total Puerto Rican population is over 8.6 million. Recent estimates place Puerto Ricans living in the United States, the largest concentrations are in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, California, Illinois and Ohio.

Race and Ethnic Groups

The people of Puerto Rico represent a cultural and racial mix because of centuries of immigration and cultural assimilation. When the Spanish forced the Taíno people into slavery, the entire indigenous population was virtually decimated, except for a few Amerindians who escaped into the remote mountains. Eventually they inter-married with the poor Spanish farmers and became known as jíbaros. Because of industrialization and migration to the cities, few jíbaros remain.

Besides the slaves imported from Africa (Sudan, Kongo, Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leona, and the Gold, Ivory, and Grain coasts), other ethnic groups brought to work on the plantations joined the island's racial mix. Fleeing Simón Bolívar's independence movements in South America, Spanish loyalists fled to Puerto Rico - a fiercely conservative Spanish colony during the early 1800s. French families also flocked here from both Louisiana and Haiti. As changing governments or violent revolutions depressed the economies of Scotland and Ireland, many farmers from those countries also journeyed to Puerto Rico in search of a better life.

When the United States acquired the island in 1898, American influence was added to culture.

During the mid-19th century, labor was needed to build roads, initially, Chinese workers were imported for this task, followed by workers from such countries as Italy, France, Germany, and even Lebanon. American expatriates came to the island after 1898. Long after Spain had lost control of Puerto Rico, Spanish immigrants continued to arrive on the island. The most significant new immigrant population arrived in the 1960s, when thousands of Cubans fled from Fidel Castro's Communist state. The latest arrivals to Puerto Rico have come from the economically depressed Dominican Republic.

The new and the old merged, where two worlds and many culture fused, creating an island of sharp contrasts. Today, this mix of culture can be perceived in the island's architecture, which mixes Spanish colonial with ultra-modern, shown on the abundance of North American-style malls and fast-food restaurants that compete with small, family-run stores and restaurants.

Nationality: Puerto Rican

Noun
: a person born, raised, or living in Puerto Rico
: a person whose family is descended from the island of Puerto Rico
: any item deriving it's origin from the island of Puerto Rico
: any item relating to the people of Puerto Rico/Puerto Ricans

Puerto Rico is a territory (Commonwealth) of the United States of America and Puerto Ricans have common citizenship, currency and defense. Although Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, residents of Puerto Rico pay no federal income tax, nor can they vote in presidential elections. As citizens, Puerto Ricans do not require a work visa (also known as green cards) to live and/or work in the United States.

Puerto Ricans consider themselves American but are fiercely proud of their island and their culture. They don't usually call themselves Americans or "Americanos", but "Puertorriqueños" or "Boricuas." To most Puerto Ricans, "my country" means "Puerto Rico", not the United States. Boricua, derived from the Taíno word Boriken is used to affirm Puerto Ricans devotion to the island's Taíno heritage. The word Boriken translates to "the great land of the valiant and noble Lord". Borikén was the original name used by the Taíno population before the arrival of the Spanish.

Race and Ethnicity (2020 U.S. Census)

White alone 61.6%
Black alone 12.4%
Hispanic 18.7%
Asian alone 6%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone 1.1%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone 0.2%
Some Other Race alone 8.4%; Two or More Races 10.2%

Vital Statistics

Population

3,057,311 (2023 est.)
3,098,423 (2022 est.)
3,285,874 (2020 U.S. Census)
3,189,068 (July 2020 est.)
3,725,789 (2010 U.S. Census)

Summary: 1980 to 2006 (PDF) (projections (PDF))

• 2010 Census: Puerto Rico Profile
• Census of Population and Housing (Spanish / English) (PDF)
• Economic and Social Statistics Summary - Census Bureau
• 1970-2000 Census City Comparison
• Population History, 1765-2000

Population Density: 904 density per sq mi/349 persons per sq km (2021 est.)

Puerto Rico's population density is among the world's highest - only Bangladesh, The Maldives, Barbados, Taiwan, South Korea and the city-states of Hong Kong and Singapore are more crowded. Puerto Rico population is equivalent to 0.05% of the total world population.

Population Split: Urban 71%; Rural 29%

Country Population Rank: 141rd (2020)

U.S. Population Rank: 31th (2021 est.)

% of World Pop: 0.04% (2020)

Population Growth Rate: -1.29% (2023 est.)

Population Doubling Time: 88 years (2002)

Primary Ethnicity: Hispanic

Ethnic Composition:
white 75.8%, black/African American 12.4%, other 8.5% (includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and others), mixed 3.3%
99% of the population is Latino (2010 est.)
The racial composition of Puerto Rico's population has not changed significantly. The first census by the United States in 1899 reported a population of 953,243 inhabitants, 61.8% of them classified as white, 31.9% as mixed, and 6.3% as black.

Migration:
According to the 1990 Census of Population and Housing, 2.7 million Puerto Ricans reside in the U.S., of which approximately one half are second and third generation, having been born in the mainland.

Net Migration Rate: 10.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Urbanization:
urban population: 93.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure:

0-14 years: 12.84% (male 199,933/female 192,690)

15-64 years: 62.98% (male 921,003/female 1,004,395)

65 years and over: 24.18% (2023 est.) (male 317,522/female 421,768)

Dependency ratios:

total dependency ratio: 56.3

youth dependency ratio: 21.3

elderly dependency ratio: 34.9

potential support ratio: 2.9 (2021 est.)

Median Age:

total: 43.6 years

male: 41.6 years

female: 45.3 years (2020 est.)

Sex Ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Marriage Rate: 9.2 per 1000 persons

Divorce Rate: 4.47 per 1000 persons (2004)

Housing

Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2012-2016: 68.6%

Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2012-2016: $118,600

Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2012-2016: $887

Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2012-2016: $154

Median gross rent, 2012-2016: $460

Families & Living Arrangements

Households, 2012-2016: 1,237,180

Persons per household, 2012-2016: 2.82

Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2012-2016: 92.8%

Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2012-2016: 94.5%

Family Average Size: 3.5 people

Health

Birth Rate: 7.84 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death Rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Major causes of death per 100,000 population: (1993)

142.6 heart and cardiovascular disease

95.4 cancers

55.1 diabetes

38.0 cerebrovascular disease

29.2 pneumonia and influenza

Currently married women (ages 15-49):
37.4% (2023 est.)

Contraceptive Use: 84.1% of women aged 18-44 (2002)

Maternal Mortality Rate: 21 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate:

total: 5.92 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth:

total population: 81.89 years

male: 78.69 years

female: 85.27 years (2023 est.)

Total Fertility Rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Gross reproduction rate: 0.61 (2023 est.)

Drinking water source:

improved: total: 100% of population

unimproved: total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Physicians density:
3.06 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

<1-- 2.89 physicians/1,000 population (2016) -->

Sanitation facility access:

improved: total: 97.2% of population

unimproved: total: 2.8% of population (2017 est.)

Population with a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2012-2016: 15.3%

Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years: 7.4%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 18,422, 68% men, 32% women (2012)
Puerto Rico ranked among the top 10 U.S. states or territories with the highest number of total AIDS cases among residents at the end of 2004.

Education

During the first three hundred years of Spanish rule education in the Island was limited to the teaching of Christian doctrine, arts, and grammar. The first text book published in the island was the "Catecismo de Doctrina Cristiana", which appeared during the 1850's written by Bishop Gil Esteve. Classes were held only in main cities (San Juan, Arecibo, San German and Coamo). Almost the entire population was illiterate. During the revolutionary period (1800-1840), the Spanish Government imposed a rigorous censorship on the colonies. Books were rare, importation was opposed by the authorities, who believed them to be instruments of sedition. This fact explains why, prior to 1840, there was very little printed matter in the Island.

After the American occupation in 1898 education was entirely provided in English with Spanish treated as a special subject. In 1915, under Commissioner of Education Dr. Paul G. Miller direction the method of teaching was changed, establishing Spanish as the medium of instruction in the four lower grades, English in the three higher grades, and both English and Spanish for the middle grades. This method was used until November 1934, when Commissioner José Padín ordered that instruction be given in Spanish in all elementary grades with English taught as a special subject from the first grade.

With the appointment of Dr. José M. Gallardo as Commissioner of Education in June 1937, a new school program was adopted with special stress placed on the teaching of English in accordance with the views of President Roosevelt, expressed in a letter addressed to Dr. Gallardo shortly after his appointment: "It is an indispensable part of American policy that the coming generation of American citizens in Puerto Rico grow up with complete facility in the English tongue. It is the language of our nation. Only through the acquisition of this language will Puerto Rican Americans secure a better understanding of American ideals and principles." Instruction is given in Spanish, with English as a subject.

In July 25, 1952 the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was approved indicting: 1) a public instruction system, free and no segregated and 2) instruction will be free and compulsory.

Today, education is a matter of high priority for Puerto Rico, it is evident in the island's overall literacy rate of 94 percent and its budget for education, approximately 40 percent. Puerto Rico also has one of the highest college education rates in the whole world.

Education is obligatory between 6 to 17 years old. Primary school consists of six grades; the secondary levels is divided into 2 cycles of 3 years each. The school term in public schools starts in August through mid-December and January through late May. As of 2013, there are 1,460 public schools and another 764 private schools throughout the island.

The school system is administered by the Department of Education and has several levels of learning. The language used in the schools is Spanish, however, English is taught from kindergarten to high school as part of the school curriculum. Some private schools provide English programs where all classes are conducted in English except for the Spanish class.

Puerto Rico has more than 50 institutions of higher education, including universities, colleges, community colleges and technical institutes. Puerto Rico has achieved one of the highest college education rates in the world (6th) with 56% of its college-age students attending institutions of higher learning, according to World Bank data.

High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2012-2016: 73.9%

Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2012-2016: 24.6%

Registered Students by Education Levels: (2007-08 academic year)

Elementary (pre-kindergarten grade 8) ........ 355,115

Secondary (grades 9-12) ........ 148,520

Registered Students by School Groups: (1999-2000 academic year)

Public Schools ....... 612,793

Private Schools ....... 149,000

Schools: 1,460 public schools, 764 private school and 65 universities. (2013)

Literacy Rate:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 92.4%

male: 92.4%

female: 92.4% (2017)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 16 years

male: 15 years

female: 18 years (2018)

Education expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:

total: 18.5%

male: 19.4%

female: 15.6% (2021 est.)

Language

Spanish and English are the official languages of Puerto Rico, but Spanish is without a doubt the dominant language. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that, in 2010, 94.9% of people spoke a language other than English at home. The U.S. Census Bureau also reports that only around 30% can speak English very well. In general, English is spoken by about 1/4 of the population-with limited capabilities. English is required in all federal matters and is spoken in all major tourist areas (80% Spanish, 20% other).

How do I say...?

Religion

Religious freedom for all faiths is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Churches of many denominations can be found throughout the island, with Christianity being the majority religion.

Religion plays a very important role in the lives of Puerto Ricans.

According to one of the most recent surveys conducted by the Pew Research Center (2010), the majority of Puerto Ricans identified as Christians (96.7%), with a religious breakdown of: Catholics (69.7%), Protestants (25.1%), non-religious (1.9%), and others (3.3%).

Catholicism

Historically, Puerto Ricans have been mostly Roman Catholic (69.7%) since the colonial era. Catholicism was brought to the island by the Spanish during their settlement that began in the early 1500s. Christian colonizers believed they had the right to conquer and colonize the New World to bring Christianity to the Native Americans. In 1511, Pope Julius II created a diocese in Caparra, the island's first settlement.

Gradually Catholicism became the dominant religion in Puerto Rico. Although Catholicism in Puerto Rico stray away from some traditional dogma, rituals, and practices of Spain and Italy churches to combine elements Indian and African beliefs. Some islanders ascribe to Espiritismo, which combines elements of the Catholic religion and Indian beliefs in nature-dwelling spirits that can be called on to effect change in one's life. Others practice the Yoruba beliefs of Santería, introduced to the island by Yoruba slaves from West Africa.

Today, each town has at least one Catholic Church and generally located at the plaza or town center.

Protestantism

Following the United States acquisition of the island in 1898, Protestantism began to grow on the island. It is now the second largest religious group in the island (25.1%).

The first Protestant church in Puerto Rico was Iglesia de la Santisima Trinidad, established in Ponce by the Anglican Diocese of Antigua in 1872. It was also the first non-Roman Catholic Church in the entire Spanish Empire in the Americas.

In recent decades, Pentecostal fundamentalism has developed in the island. Today, there are about 1,500 Evangelical churches in the island. There are Protestant services for Baptists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, and Presbyterians, and there are other interdenominational services.

Puerto Rico is also home to the largest Jewish community in the Caribbean. There is a Jewish Community Center in Miramar, and there's a Jewish Reformed Congregation in Santurce.

Other Christian Denominations

Other Christian denominations can include other churches and sects, like Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Defenders of the Faith, and Assemblies of God (1.9%).

Other Religions

Other religions practiced in the island include Islam, Judaism, indigenous religions, and African-based religions (1.4%).

Non-religious

The non-religious demographic includes individuals who identify as agnostic, atheist, not affiliated, and unsure (1.9%).

Other Resources

• 1990 Census of Population and Housing - Summary Population and Housing Characteristics
• QuickFacts Puerto Rico
• Bureau of the Census
• Census 2000 Data for Puerto Rico
• Census 2000: Puerto Rico Profile (PDF)
• Fierce fashion from 19th century Puerto Rico
• "Hispanic" versus "Latino" versus "Latin"
• The History of Puerto Rico by R.A. Van Middeldyk
• How Puerto Rico Became White: An Analysis of Racial Statistics in the 1910 and 1920 Censuses (PDF)
• Geographic Distribution of the Population, 1765-1980
• The History of Puerto Rico by R.A. Van Middeldyk
• Migrating to a New Land
• Population, Health, and Human Well-Being-- Puerto Rico by EarthTrends Country Profiles (PDF)
• Population of Puerto Rico, urban and rural:1765 to 1950 (PDF)
• Profiles of General Demographic Characteristics 2000 - Issued May 2001, U.S. Census Bureau (PDF)
• Population of Puerto Rico, urban and rural:1765 to 1950 (PDF)
• Puerto Rico Population Clock
• U.S. Cities with the Largest Puerto Rican Population