Annual population growth in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Annual population growth was 1,050 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1,050
Change on year
up 108.6%
World rank
167th
of 236 countries
All-time high
50,880
in 1979
All-time low
-104,130
in 2017
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual population growth in Puerto Rico, 1951–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Puerto Rico recorded 1,050 for annual population growth in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 108.6% on the previous year and up 102.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual population growth in Puerto Rico peaked at 50,880 in 1979 and was at its lowest, -104,130, in 2017.
That places Puerto Rico 167th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual population growth in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 18,437 | — |
| 1952 | 16,125 | -12.5% |
| 1953 | 14,226 | -11.8% |
| 1954 | 13,231 | -7.0% |
| 1955 | 12,376 | -6.5% |
| 1956 | 11,401 | -7.9% |
| 1957 | 9,845 | -13.6% |
| 1958 | 8,476 | -13.9% |
| 1959 | 8,861 | +4.5% |
| 1960 | 21,844 | +146.5% |
| 1961 | 37,257 | +70.6% |
| 1962 | 40,071 | +7.6% |
| 1963 | 39,329 | -1.9% |
| 1964 | 38,471 | -2.2% |
| 1965 | 37,602 | -2.3% |
| 1966 | 37,199 | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 36,670 | -1.4% |
| 1968 | 35,275 | -3.8% |
| 1969 | 32,638 | -7.5% |
| 1970 | 35,995 | +10.3% |
| 1971 | 43,547 | +21.0% |
| 1972 | 46,396 | +6.5% |
| 1973 | 46,765 | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 47,067 | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 47,909 | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 48,854 | +2.0% |
| 1977 | 49,488 | +1.3% |
| 1978 | 49,704 | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 50,880 | +2.4% |
| 1980 | 48,645 | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 42,889 | -11.8% |
| 1982 | 39,358 | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 36,726 | -6.7% |
| 1984 | 34,545 | -5.9% |
| 1985 | 32,114 | -7.0% |
| 1986 | 29,462 | -8.3% |
| 1987 | 28,365 | -3.7% |
| 1988 | 27,932 | -1.5% |
| 1989 | 26,940 | -3.6% |
| 1990 | 29,036 | +7.8% |
| 1991 | 32,623 | +12.4% |
| 1992 | 32,724 | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 30,814 | -5.8% |
| 1994 | 28,872 | -6.3% |
| 1995 | 27,515 | -4.7% |
| 1996 | 26,361 | -4.2% |
| 1997 | 25,628 | -2.8% |
| 1998 | 24,978 | -2.5% |
| 1999 | 23,918 | -4.2% |
| 2000 | 15,389 | -35.7% |
| 2001 | 3,141 | -79.6% |
| 2002 | -2,294 | -173.0% |
| 2003 | -4,672 | +103.7% |
| 2004 | -7,384 | +58.0% |
| 2005 | -10,247 | +38.8% |
| 2006 | -12,192 | +19.0% |
| 2007 | -13,131 | +7.7% |
| 2008 | -13,959 | +6.3% |
| 2009 | -14,116 | +1.1% |
| 2010 | -20,180 | +43.0% |
| 2011 | -31,123 | +54.2% |
| 2012 | -37,288 | +19.8% |
| 2013 | -39,650 | +6.3% |
| 2014 | -41,406 | +4.4% |
| 2015 | -43,556 | +5.2% |
| 2016 | -45,803 | +5.2% |
| 2017 | -104,130 | +127.3% |
| 2018 | -81,810 | -21.4% |
| 2019 | -2,041 | -97.5% |
| 2020 | -12,227 | +499.1% |
| 2021 | -22,590 | +84.8% |
| 2022 | -12,238 | -45.8% |
| 2023 | 1,050 | -108.6% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 1,050 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,163, 33% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 1,050 is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5,220, 20% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual population growth in Puerto Rico changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -499.1% | -2,041 | -12,227 |
| 2002 | -173.0% | 3,141 | -2,294 |
| 1960 | +146.5% | 8,861 | 21,844 |
| 2017 | -127.3% | -45,803 | -104,130 |
| 2023 | +108.6% | -12,238 | 1,050 |
| 2019 | +97.5% | -81,810 | -2,041 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12,553 | 8,476 | 18,437 | 9 |
| 1960s | 35,636 | 21,844 | 40,071 | 10 |
| 1970s | 46,660 | 35,995 | 50,880 | 10 |
| 1980s | 34,698 | 26,940 | 48,645 | 10 |
| 1990s | 28,247 | 23,918 | 32,724 | 10 |
| 2000s | -5,946 | -14,116 | 15,389 | 10 |
| 2010s | -44,699 | -104,130 | -2,041 | 10 |
| 2020s | -11,501 | -22,590 | 1,050 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
- 164 Guam 1,329 compare
- 165 Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba 1,266 compare
- 166 Andorra 1,147 compare
- 168 Gibraltar 862 compare
- 169 French Polynesia 737 compare
- 170 Faroe Islands 699 compare
More population data for Puerto Rico
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -2.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -30.47 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -2.24 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -2.06 % change on previous year (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7905 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -2.26 (2100)
- Population density 112.25 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 23,218 (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -2.26 (2100)
- Urbanization vs gdp, annual growth rate 0.0918 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual population growth in Puerto Rico?
- Annual population growth in Puerto Rico was 1,050 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual population growth recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 50,880 in 1979.
- What is the lowest annual population growth recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was -104,130 in 2017.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for annual population growth?
- Puerto Rico ranks 167th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual population growth rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 102.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Puerto Rico data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Annual population growth. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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