Puerto Rico is aging at a fast pace
Index shows 41% rise in 5 years
By THE STAR STAFF
Puerto Rico’s population is aging at a rapid pace, with new data from the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics showing a 41% increase in the island’s Aging Index between 2020 and 2025. The finding is part of the agency’s 2025‑2026 Results Report, which also highlights shifts in migration patterns, declining birth rates, and emerging public health concerns that are reshaping the demographic profile of the U.S. territory.
According to the Institute, Puerto Rico’s Aging Index rose from 168 in 2020 to 237 in 2025, meaning there are now roughly 237 adults aged 65 or older for every 100 children under 15. The increase occurred across all 78 municipalities and coincides with a sustained reduction in the population of younger and working‑age residents.
The island’s total population was estimated at 3,184,835 as of July 1, 2025. Most regions continue to lose residents in prime working years, while vital statistics point to a deepening demographic contraction. Births in Puerto Rico have fallen 70% since 2000, dropping from 59,460 to 18,003 in 2025. Since 2016, deaths have consistently outnumbered births, resulting in negative natural population growth.
“These data show a Puerto Rico very different from just a few years ago,” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier Flores, executive director of the Institute of Statistics. “An accelerated aging process, combined with changes in population composition and needs, requires us to rethink how we plan health services, elder care, and community development. Reliable statistics allow us to anticipate these changes and make evidence‑based decisions.”
The report also highlights a rise in type 1 diabetes among adolescents aged 15 to 19. Using data from 2009 to 2024 compiled through the Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes platform -- developed with the Pediatric Diabetes Foundation -- the Institute identified an upward trend in incidence rates. The findings were presented at ENDO 2026, the annual conference of the Endocrine Society in Chicago.
More data, more ‘useful knowledge’
Other health and safety indicators also received expanded analysis. The Institute broadened its Gender Violence Statistics Platform and published femicide data for 2021-2025. A Danger Assessment review found that extreme and persistent jealousy was the most frequently identified risk factor in domestic‑violence cases, present in half of the incidents analyzed. One in four women who filed complaints were determined to be in severe or extreme danger of being killed.
The Puerto Rico Violent Death Reporting System strengthened its capacity to analyze homicides and suicides, integrating data from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, the Institute of Forensic Sciences, and the Demographic Registry. Spatial analysis tools were added to identify areas with higher or lower concentrations of violent deaths.
The Institute continued expanding platforms designed to make demographic and social data more accessible. The Demographic Observatory now integrates indicators related to population, fertility, mortality, and migration, while new interactive tools provide detailed information on violent deaths and feminicides.
“Our goal is not only to produce statistics, but to turn those data into useful knowledge,” Disdier said. “When we understand how our population is aging, what is happening with specific health conditions, or where vulnerable communities are located, Puerto Rico can better direct resources and develop more effective responses.”
During fiscal year 2025‑2026, the Institute also advanced several priority research projects, including a profile of sexual aggression against minors, the first Registry of the Deaf Community in Puerto Rico, and an expanded study of the needs of deaf residents.
The Institute’s Aranceles en Puerto Rico 2025 study found that import tariffs reached $919.7 million -- an increase of $683.1 million over 2024, representing year‑over‑year growth of 288.7%. The effective tariff rate rose to a record 4.81%, with the heaviest burdens falling on the construction, manufacturing and food sectors.
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