Puerto Rico

State

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2019 Population

3.19M

0.0457% 1-year decline

2019 Median Age

43.1

0.466% 1-year increase

2019 Poverty Rate

44.1%

1.1% 1-year decrease

2019 Median Household Income

$20,474

0.877% 1-year growth

2019 Median Property Value

$110,300

0.451% 1-year decline

2019 Employed Population

933,001

3.44% 1-year growth

About

In 2019, Puerto Rico had a population of 3.19M people with a median age of 43.1 and a median household income of $20,474. Between 2018 and 2019 the population of Puerto Rico declined from 3.2M to 3.19M, a −0.0457% decrease and its median household income grew from $20,296 to $20,474, a 0.877% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Puerto Rico are White (Hispanic) (63%), Other (Hispanic) (15.7%), Black or African American (Hispanic) (12.3%), Two+ (Hispanic) (7%), and White (Non-Hispanic) (1.33%). 0% of the households in Puerto Rico speak a non-English language at home as their primary language.

The largest universities in Puerto Rico are National University College (9,632 degrees awarded in 2020), Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus (2,717 degrees), and University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras (2,535 degrees).

In 2019, the median property value in Puerto Rico was $110,300, and the homeownership rate was 68.6%. Most people in Puerto Rico drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 29.1 minutes. The average car ownership in Puerto Rico was 2 cars per household.

Puerto Rico borders .

Photo by Breezy Baldwin

United States

Diversity

In 2019, there were 4.02 times more White (Hispanic) residents (2.01M people) in Puerto Rico than any other race or ethnicity. There were 500k Other (Hispanic) and 392k Black or African American (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Puerto Rico

White (Hispanic)
2.01M ± 16.9k
Other (Hispanic)
500k ± 15.5k
Black or African American (Hispanic)
392k ± 10.9k

98.2%

Hispanic Population

3.13M people

98.2% of the people in Puerto Rico are hispanic (3.13M people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Puerto Rico as a share of the total population.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 0.2

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 1.7

In 2019, the median age of all people in Puerto Rico was 43.1. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 43, were generally younger than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 54. But people in Puerto Rico are getting getting older. In 2018, the average age of all Puerto Rico residents was 43.

Global Diversity

Most Common Origin

Dominican Republic
51,729 ± 5,539 people
Cuba
9,424 ± 2,380 people
Colombia
5,020 ± 1,738 people

In 2019, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Puerto Rico was Dominican Republic, the natal country of 51,729 Puerto Rico residents, followed by Cuba with 9,424 and Colombia with 5,020.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
25,308 ± 2,398
Korea
11,368 ± 1,617
Gulf War (2001-)
9,861 ± 1,741

Puerto Rico has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 2.23 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

Median household income in Puerto Rico is $20,474. In 2019, the county with the highest Median Household Income in Puerto Rico was Guaynabo Municipio, PR with a value of $37,499, followed by Trujillo Alto Municipio, PR and Toa Alta Municipio, PR, with respective values of $32,244 and $28,440.

Males in Puerto Rico have an average income that is 1.13 times higher than the average income of females, which is $30,511. The income inequality in Puerto Rico (measured using the Gini index) is 0.466, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Puerto Rico employs 933k people. The largest industries in Puerto Rico are Restaurants & Food Services (68,697 people), Elementary & secondary schools (68,252 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (44,267 people), and the highest paying industries are Internet publishing, broadcasting & web search portals ($68,921), U. S. Army ($66,180), and U. S. Air Force ($62,319).

Wages

Median Household Income

$20,474

2019 value

± $382

0.877%

1 Year Growth

± 2.78%

Households in Puerto Rico have a median annual income of $20,474, which is less than the median annual income of $65,712 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $20,296 in 2018, which represents a 0.877% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Puerto Rico compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Sex in Common Jobs

$34,540

Average Male Salary in Puerto Rico

± $1,650

$30,511

Average Female Salary in Puerto Rico

± $1,376

In 2019, full-time male employees in Puerto Rico made 1.13 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the sex-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Puerto Rico by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in Puerto Rico

Asian
$49,403 ± $36,490
American Indian
$40,161 ± $31,668
White
$28,996 ± $1,173

In 2019 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Puerto Rico workers was Asian. These workers were paid 1.23 times more than American Indian workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in Puerto Rico.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Puerto Rico by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

0.466

2019 Wage GINI in Puerto Rico

0.442

2018 Wage GINI in Puerto Rico

In 2019, the income inequality in Puerto Rico was 0.466 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 5.5% growth from 2018 to 2019, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Puerto Rico was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Puerto Rico in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Puerto Rico across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

In 2019, the county with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Puerto Rico was Guaynabo Municipio, PR with a value of $37,499, followed by Trujillo Alto Municipio, PR and Toa Alta Municipio, PR, with respective values of $32,244 and $28,440.

The following map shows all of the counties in Puerto Rico colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Poverty by Age and Sex

Females 25 - 34

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

44.1% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Puerto Rico (1.45M out of 3.29M people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.3%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 25 - 34, followed by Females 55 - 64 and then Females 35 - 44.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

Hispanic
1,433,527 ± 7,563
White
906,541 ± 6,492
Other
284,826 ± 4,158

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Puerto Rico is Hispanic, followed by White and Other.

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

933k

2019 Value

3.44%

1 Year growth

± 3.44%

From 2018 to 2019, employment in Puerto Rico grew at a rate of 3.44%, from 902k employees to 933k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Puerto Rico, are Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive (44,944 people), Cashiers (39,928 people), and Retail salespersons (31,356 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Puerto Rico.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Puerto Rico, by number of employees, are Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive (44,944 people), Cashiers (39,928 people), and Retail salespersons (31,356 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other states, Puerto Rico has an unusually high number of residents working as Food preparation and serving related workers, all other (6.87 times higher than expected), Telephone operators (6.01 times), and Sewing machine operators (5.81 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Puerto Rico, by average salary, are Chemical engineers ($191,068), Physicians ($108,596), and Business operations specialists, all other ($102,966).

Industries

Employment by Industries

933k

2019 Value

3.44%

1 Year growth

± 3.44%

From 2018 to 2019, employment in Puerto Rico grew at a rate of 3.44%, from 902k employees to 933k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Puerto Rico, are Restaurants & Food Services (68,697 people), Elementary & secondary schools (68,252 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (44,267 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Puerto Rico, though some of these residents may live in Puerto Rico and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Most Common

The most common industries in Puerto Rico, by number of employees, are Restaurants & Food Services (68,697 people), Elementary & secondary schools (68,252 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (44,267 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other states, Puerto Rico has an unusually high number of Retail bakeries (7.47 times higher than expected), Pharmaceutical & medicine manufacturing (6.59 times), and Other general government & support (5.73 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Puerto Rico, by average salary, are Internet publishing, broadcasting & web search portals ($68,921), U. S. Army ($66,180), and U. S. Air Force ($62,319).

Education

In 2020, universities in Puerto Rico awarded 49,505 degrees. The student population of Puerto Rico is skewed towards women, with 77,057 male students and 117,363 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Puerto Rico are Hispanic or Latino (47,529 and 96.1%), followed by Unknown (809 and 1.64%), Black or African American (434 and 0.878%), and White (423 and 0.855%).

The largest universities in Puerto Rico by number of degrees awarded are National University College (9,632 and 19.5%), Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus (2,717 and 5.49%), and University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras (2,535 and 5.12%).

The most popular majors in Puerto Rico are Registered Nursing (4,404 and 8.9%), Accounting (1,240 and 2.5%), and General Cosmetology (1,199 and 2.42%).

The median tuition costs in Puerto Rico are $4,920 for private four year colleges, and $3,968 and $4,216 respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

Registered Nursing
3,355 degree-majorss awarded
General Biological Sciences
1,130 degree-majorss awarded
Accounting
900 degree-majorss awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Puerto Rico was Registered Nursing with 3,355 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Puerto Rico according to their major.

Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

National University College
9,632 degrees awarded
Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo Campus
2,717 degrees awarded
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
2,535 degrees awarded

$3,968

Median In-State Public

$4,920

Median Private

In 2020, the Puerto Rico institution with the largest number of graduating students was National University College with 9,632 degrees awarded.

Student Sex for Common Institutions

19,539

Degrees Awarded to Men

29,966

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2020, 19,539 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Puerto Rico, which is 0.652 times less than the 29,966 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the sex disparity between the institutions in Puerto Rico by degrees awarded.

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino
47,529 degrees awarded
Unknown
809 degrees awarded
Black or African American
434 degrees awarded

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions in Puerto Rico was Hispanic or Latino students. These 47,529 degrees mean that there were 58.8 times more degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Unknown, with 809 degrees awarded.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Puerto Rico was $110,300 in 2019, which is 0.459 times smaller than the national average of $240,500. Between 2018 and 2019 the median property value increased from $110,800 to $110,300, a 0.451% decrease. The homeownership rate in Puerto Rico is 68.6%, which is higher than the national average of 64.1%. People in Puerto Rico have an average commute time of 29.1 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Puerto Rico is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$110,300

2019 Median

± $1,108

$110,800

2018 Median

± $1,053

In 2019, the median property value in Puerto Rico declined from to $110,300 from the previous year's value of $110,800.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Puerto Rico compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Puerto Rico the largest share of households have a property value in the $100k - $125k range.

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$20,474

Median Household Income

± $382

1.17M

Number of Households

± 17,149

In 2019, the median household income of the 1.17M households in Puerto Rico grew to $20,474 from the previous year's value of $20,296.

The following chart displays the households in Puerto Rico distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

Property Taxes

None

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Puerto Rico distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Puerto Rico the largest share of households pay taxes in the None range.

Rent vs Own

68.6%

2019 Homeownership

67.3%

2018 Homeownership

In 2019, 68.6% of the housing units in Puerto Rico were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 67.3%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is higher than the national average of 64.1%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Puerto Rico compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

29.1 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Puerto Rico have a longer commute time (29.1 minutes) than the normal US worker (26 minutes). Additionally, 3.79% of the workforce in Puerto Rico have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Puerto Rico compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2019

Drove Alone (84.3%)
Carpooled (7.73%)
Walked (2.8%)

In 2019, 84.3% of workers in Puerto Rico drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (7.73%) and those who walked to work (2.8%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Puerto Rico distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Puerto Rico have 2 cars, followed by false.

Health

92.2% of the population of Puerto Rico has health coverage, with 23.1% on employee plans, 43.6% on Medicaid, 13.2% on Medicare, 11.4% on non-group plans, and 0.917% on military or VA plans.

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Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Coverage

7.76%

Uninsured

23.1%

Employer Coverage

43.6%

Medicaid

13.2%

Medicare

11.4%

Non-Group

0.917%

Military or VA

Between 2018 and 2019, the percent of uninsured citizens in Puerto Rico grew by 21.3% from 6.4% to 7.76%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Puerto Rico changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Health Risks

Data available at the county level.

Most at risk counties

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N/A
N/A

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The following map shows the prevalence of diabetes in false by county over multiple years.

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