Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 28.2% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Puerto Rico, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Puerto Rico is 28.2%, measured in 2020.
That represents a change of down 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Puerto Rico peaked at 34.5% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 18.5%, in 1950.
Puerto Rico ranks 151st of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 18.5% | — |
| 1955 | 19.4% | +4.9% |
| 1960 | 20.2% | +4.0% |
| 1965 | 21.5% | +6.8% |
| 1970 | 22.8% | +5.8% |
| 1975 | 26.0% | +14.0% |
| 1980 | 24.8% | -4.7% |
| 1985 | 28.7% | +15.9% |
| 1990 | 33.9% | +18.1% |
| 1995 | 34.5% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 33.9% | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 31.5% | -7.2% |
| 2010 | 31.1% | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 31.0% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 28.2% | -8.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 18.9% | 18.5% | 19.4% | 2 |
| 1960s | 20.9% | 20.2% | 21.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 24.4% | 22.8% | 26.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 26.7% | 24.8% | 28.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 34.2% | 33.9% | 34.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 32.7% | 31.5% | 33.9% | 2 |
| 2010s | 31.0% | 31.0% | 31.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 28.2% | 28.2% | 28.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
- 148 Poland 28.6% compare
- 149 Brunei Darussalam 28.5% compare
- 150 North Macedonia 28.4% compare
- 152 Croatia 27.5% compare
- 153 Mozambique 27.4% compare
- 154 Hungary 27.3% 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)
- World population growth -2.3% (2100)
- Population density 112.25 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 23,218 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -2.3% (2100)
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas, annual growth rate -0.1217 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Puerto Rico?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Puerto Rico was 28.2% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 34.5% in 1995.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.5% in 1950.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Puerto Rico ranks 151st out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Puerto Rico data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.