Puerto Rico Population Growth Rate
This table presents Puerto Rico's population figures and annual growth rates from 1950 through 2024, revealing key demographic trends and historical shifts over more than seven decades:
- 1950s–1960s: Steady growth with peak rates reaching nearly 2% annually, reflecting post-war population booms and improvements in healthcare and infrastructure.
- 1970s–1980s: Continued but gradually slowing growth, with rates falling below 1.5% by the mid-1980s as migration to the mainland U.S. increased.
- 1990s–Early 2000s: Stabilization and modest growth, followed by a plateau and the beginning of decline around 2005.
- 2005–2010: Start of consistent population decline, driven by economic challenges and outward migration.
- 2010–2017: Accelerating population loss with growth rates turning sharply negative, culminating in a -3.64% drop in 2017—reflecting the impact of Hurricane Maria.
- 2018–2024: Continued decline, though the pace of loss slowed slightly in recent years, with the population falling from over 3.5 million in 2005 to just over 3 million by 2024.
This timeline offers important insight into Puerto Rico’s demographic changes influenced by economic conditions, natural disasters, migration trends, and social transformations.
| Year | Population | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,019,450 | -1.2% |
| 2023 | 3,057,311 | -1.29% |
| 2022 | 3,098,423 | -1.38% |
| 2021 | 2,828,255 | -1.14% |
| 2020 | 2,860,853 | -2.47% |
| 2019 | 2,933,408 | -3.49% |
| 2018 | 3,039,596 | -3.92% |
| 2017 | 3,163,667 | -3.64% |
| 2016 | 3,283,125 | -2.91% |
| 2015 | 3,381,518 | -2.09% |
| 2014 | 3,453,672 | -1.43% |
| 2013 | 3,503,858 | -0.93% |
| 2012 | 3,536,572 | -0.65% |
| 2011 | 3,559,861 | -0.56% |
| 2010 | 3,579,841 | -0.46% |
| 2009 | 3,596,540 | -0.32% |
| 2008 | 3,608,032 | -0.23% |
| 2007 | 3,616,340 | -0.21% |
| 2006 | 3,623,780 | -0.22% |
| 2005 | 3,631,889 | -0.28% |
| 2004 | 3,642,006 | -0.32% |
| 2003 | 3,653,658 | -0.29% |
| 2002 | 3,664,328 | -0.16% |
| 2001 | 3,670,296 | 0.04% |
| 2000 | 3,668,960 | 0.25% |
| 1999 | 3,659,723 | 0.44% |
| 1998 | 3,643,679 | 0.60% |
| 1997 | 3,621,899 | 0.72% |
| 1996 | 3,596,088 | 0.80% |
| 1995 | 3,567,696 | 0.87% |
| 1994 | 3,536,795 | 0.95% |
| 1993 | 3,503,472 | 0.99% |
| 1992 | 3,469,068 | 0.98% |
| 1991 | 3,435,253 | 0.94% |
| 1990 | 3,403,154 | 0.88% |
| 1989 | 3,373,378 | 0.83% |
| 1988 | 3,345,576 | 0.81% |
| 1987 | 3,318,834 | 0.82% |
| 1986 | 3,291,742 | 0.88% |
| 1985 | 3,263,179 | 0.93% |
| 1984 | 3,233,175 | 0.98% |
| 1983 | 3,201,865 | 1.06% |
| 1982 | 3,168,343 | 1.18% |
| 1981 | 3,131,499 | 1.32% |
| 1980 | 3,090,691 | 1.48% |
| 1979 | 3,045,600 | 1.63% |
| 1978 | 2,996,828 | 1.73% |
| 1977 | 2,945,851 | 1.77% |
| 1976 | 2,894,674 | 1.75% |
| 1975 | 2,844,927 | 1.73% |
| 1974 | 2,796,663 | 1.70% |
| 1973 | 2,749,855 | 1.63% |
| 1972 | 2,705,834 | 1.49% |
| 1971 | 2,666,162 | 1.31% |
| 1970 | 2,631,707 | 1.08% |
| 1969 | 2,603,712 | 0.86% |
| 1968 | 2,581,387 | 0.79% |
| 1967 | 2,561,040 | 0.92% |
| 1966 | 2,537,570 | 1.20% |
| 1965 | 2,507,537 | 1.54% |
| 1964 | 2,469,566 | 1.82% |
| 1963 | 2,425,352 | 1.98% |
| 1962 | 2,378,374 | 1.92% |
| 1961 | 2,333,658 | 1.69% |
| 1960 | 2,294,982 | 1.38% |
| 1959 | 2,263,829 | 1.07% |
| 1958 | 2,239,841 | 0.83% |
| 1957 | 2,221,476 | 0.65% |
| 1956 | 2,207,048 | 0.53% |
| 1955 | 2,195,516 | 0.40% |
| 1954 | 2,186,794 | 0.22% |
| 1953 | 2,181,905 | -0.05% |
| 1952 | 2,183,077 | -0.48% |
| 1951 | 2,193,619 | -1.10% |
| 1950 | 2,218,000 | 0.00% |
