Share of population living in the capital city in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico: Share of population living in the capital city was 21.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
21.0%
World rank
62nd
of 170 countries
All-time high
25.4%
in 1990
All-time low
8.9%
in 1950
Years of data
15
1950–2020

Share of population living in the capital city in Puerto Rico, 1950–2020

101520251950198520201950: 8.9 %1955: 9.3 %1960: 9.7 %1965: 10.3 %1970: 10.9 %1975: 11.6 %1980: 13.1 %1985: 18.2 %1990: 25.4 %1995: 24.7 %2000: 24.3 %2005: 23.4 %2010: 23.1 %2015: 23.7 %2020: 21 %

Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2020, share of population living in the capital city in Puerto Rico stood at 21.0%.

The figure is down 9.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population living in the capital city in Puerto Rico peaked at 25.4% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 8.9%, in 1950.

That places Puerto Rico 62nd out of 170 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 the capital city in Puerto Rico, year by year

Annual values for Share of population living in the capital city in Puerto Rico, 1950 to 2020.
Year % Change
1950 8.9%
1955 9.3% +4.9%
1960 9.7% +4.0%
1965 10.3% +6.8%
1970 10.9% +5.8%
1975 11.6% +6.0%
1980 13.1% +13.3%
1985 18.2% +38.6%
1990 25.4% +39.6%
1995 24.7% -2.7%
2000 24.3% -1.7%
2005 23.4% -3.7%
2010 23.1% -1.1%
2015 23.7% +2.4%
2020 21.0% -11.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 9.1% 8.9% 9.3% 2
1960s 10.0% 9.7% 10.3% 2
1970s 11.3% 10.9% 11.6% 2
1980s 15.7% 13.1% 18.2% 2
1990s 25.1% 24.7% 25.4% 2
2000s 23.8% 23.4% 24.3% 2
2010s 23.4% 23.1% 23.7% 2
2020s 21.0% 21.0% 21.0% 1

Countries ranked near Puerto Rico

  1. 59 Belarus 21.1% compare
  2. 60 Jamaica 21.1% compare
  3. 61 Senegal 21.0% compare
  4. 63 Denmark 20.5% compare
  5. 64 Saudi Arabia 20.3% compare
  6. 65 Tunisia 20.2% compare

See the full ranking of 170 places →

More population data for Puerto Rico

All data for Puerto Rico →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population living in the capital city in Puerto Rico?
Share of population living in the capital city in Puerto Rico was 21.0% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Puerto Rico?
The highest recorded value was 25.4% in 1990.
What is the lowest share of population living in the capital city recorded in Puerto Rico?
The lowest recorded value was 8.9% in 1950.
How does Puerto Rico rank for share of population living in the capital city?
Puerto Rico ranks 62nd out of 170 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of population living in the capital city rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. 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 minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in the capital city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of population living in the capital city in Puerto Rico. Statizoid, drawing on European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-living-in-the-capital-city/puerto-rico-us/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population living in the capital city
Unit
%
Source
European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
170 places, 2,330 data points, 1950–2020
Last refreshed

Percentage of the total population living in the country's capital city. City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.