Includes the combined statistical (metro) areas of:

• San Juan-Caguas-Fajardo
• Ponce-Yauco-Coamo
• Mayagüez-San Germán-Cabo Rojo
  

And the metropolitan areas of:

• Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián
• Guayama

Tables of selected demographics ››

The commonwealth of Puerto Rico is part of the Second Federal Reserve District (which also comprises New York, northern New Jersey, southwestern Connecticut and the Virgin Islands). Puerto Rico’s population was estimated at slightly over 3.9 million as of 2005, up slightly from 3.8 million in 2000. Population density is relatively high at slightly over 1,100 people per square mile, which is nearly 15 times the U.S. average, and roughly on par with New Jersey (the densest state on the mainland). Puerto Rico is composed of 78 municipios, which are comparable in size to mainland cities or townships and constitute the largest municipal sub-division of the island. The Commonwealth also comprises a number of small adjacent islands, the largest of which are Mona, Vieques, and Culebra.

Puerto Rico includes five metropolitan areas, as defined by the Census Bureau, each of which encompasses a cluster of adjacent municipios. These five largest metro areas, together, include more than 95% of the island’s population, and an even larger share of economic activity. The extensive San Juan-Caguas-Fajardo combined metropolitan area—which covers close to half of the island’s land area and slightly over half of all municipios—is home to more than two-thirds of its population, and more than three in four jobs. The Ponce-Yauco-Coamo area accounts for another 11% of the population, and the Aguadila-Isabela-San Sebastián and Mayagüez -San Germán-Cabo Rojo area another 7-8% each.

The island’s population is less affluent than the population of any state on the U.S. mainland, as measured by median household income, which was roughly $17,000, or 60% below the mainland (U.S.) median. However, Puerto Rico’s population is fairly well educated: 21% of adults over 25 hold college degrees, only modestly below the mainland average of 24%. Notably, 31% of young adult women (age 25-44) hold college degrees, which is roughly on par with the US average. The overwhelming majority of the island’s population is of Hispanic origin, and this holds across all the metro areas and municipios. The largest source of non-US migrants to Puerto Rico is the Dominican Republic. Another defining feature of the population is significant net migration from Puerto Rico to the U.S. in the context of large gross flows. For example, based on the 2000 Census (latest detailed data available), 243,000 people migrated from the island to the U.S. mainland, while 113,000 migrated from the mainland to Puerto Rico. Interestingly, while New York State was the top-ranked source of in-migrants, Florida was the top-ranked destination for out-migrants.

The island’s economy is mixed—key industries include pharmaceuticals manufacturing, private education and, to a lesser extent, finance and tourism. Puerto Rico also has a disproportionately large public sector, accounting for 28% of total payroll employment and 32% of total wage and salary earnings—roughly ten times the corresponding proportions on the mainland.

After weathering the 2001 recession quite well, and registering moderately strong growth in the first half of this decade, Puerto Rico’s economy entered a downturn in the early part of 2005. A year later, fiscal stress led to a two week long government shutdown in the first half of May 2006. As of mid-2007, the island’s economy has yet to show much indication of recovery.

San Juan-Caguas-Fajardo Combined Metropolitan Area

Caguas, nestled in the mountains south of San Juan, has a population of 142,000, while the Fajardo metropolitan division, at the northeast corner of the island, consists of 3 municipios (Fajardo, Luquillo, and Ceiba) and is home to some 80,000 residents.

Overall, the broader metro area—particularly the urbanized San Juan area—tends to be more educated and more affluent than the rest of the island. Overall, median household income was estimated at $19,400 in 2005, which is less than half the figure for the U.S. mainland but 13% higher than for Puerto Rico as a whole. In the urban San Juan area, median income runs considerably higher: $23,000 in San Juan proper and higher still in the adjacent municipios, led by Guaynabo, at $30,000.

Educational attainment is relatively high in this metro area: overall, over 22% of adults over 25 hold a college degree, compared with 21% island-wide and only marginally below the mainland U.S. average. Moreover, the proportions are considerably higher in the urban municipios: most notably, 32% in San Juan, 30% in Trujillo Alto, and a striking 41% in Guaynabo.

As is the case with income, home values vary considerably across municipios: for the metro area overall, the median value of owner-occupied homes was estimated at $125,000 in 2005, but these medians ranged from $181,000 in Guaynabo to well under $100,000 in some of the outlying municipios. The median value in San Juan was estimated at $148,000.

The metro area’s economy is fairly diversified, though the municipio of San Juan has a substantial concentration of financial firms, which account for 11% of employment and 18% of total wage and salary earnings—more than double the respective percentages on the U.S. mainland.

Ponce-Yauco-Coamo Combined Metropolitan Area

This is Puerto Rico’s second largest metro area and comprises a good part of its southern shore. As of 2005, its resident population was estimated at roughly 450,000, representing just 12% of the island’s population. Ponce, the island’s largest city (municipio) outside the San Juan area, is home to 182,000 residents, while the metro area’s other hubs (Yauco and Coamo) each house fewer than 50,000 residents. Ponce is home to Puerto Rico’s major seaport, Port of the Americas, which is currently in the process of being expanded to an international shipping hub. The seaport is a major driver of the local economy.

This area’s residents are somewhat less affluent than the island’s average, and their educational profile is a bit lower as well: median household income is slightly over $14,000, versus $17,000 for the commonwealth as a whole; and 19½% of adults over 25 hold a college degree, slightly below the island’s average.

Like income, home values tend to be quite a bit lower than in the San Juan area: based on 2005 estimates, the median home value was $87,000 in Ponce and considerably lower across the rest of the metro area.

Mayagüez-San Germán-Cabo Rojo Combined Metropolitan Area

Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián

This is Puerto Rico’s third largest metro area, located in the northwestern corner of the island. Its population of 330,000 (2005 estimate) is considerably less affluent and less well educated, on average, than that of the island as a whole. Its largest city, Aguadilla, has a population of roughly 67,000, while Isabella and San Sebastián each house approximately 47,000 residents. Up until the early 1970s, Aguadilla was the site of a major U.S. air force base (Ramey). The area contains some light industry, but tourism appears to be the most highly concentrated industry—the area’s beaches represent a destination for many visitors. Like income, home values in the metro area tend to be substantially below island-wide levels, though the median is close to $100,000 in Aguadilla itself, which is only slightly below average.

Guayama

Located in the southeastern portion of Puerto Rico, this metro area is by far the smallest.  Its population of just 84,000, based on 2005 estimates, is virtually unchanged from its 2000 level, and its population density of 421 residents per square mile, is the lowest on the island. The city of Guayama has a population of 44,000.  Despite the fact that it is a small and somewhat isolated economy, Guayama’s per capita income is slightly over $17,000—on par with the island as a whole and higher than for any other metro area except for San Juan-Caguas-Fajardo. As of 2005, the median home value was below $80,000, and well below the island-wide figure.  Fewer than 17% of residents hold college degrees—below the island-wide average.  Manufacturing accounts for roughly 20% of jobs, with most of those in pharmaceuticals and chemicals.