Today, Puerto Rico’s online news portal, primerahora.com, ran an article in Spanish confirming that the island continues to face a decreasing population, according to the 2010 US Census and new 2011 figures. In fact, when compared to all 50 states of the Union, Puerto Rico would be ranked by far as the place to have suffered the largest population loss.
Here is a quick translation of the original Spanish article:
Puerto Rico’s population continues to decline and lost another 19,100 people between April 2010 and July 2011, according to estimates offered this week by the United States Census Bureau.
The first estimates published by the agency since the 2010 Census set the population of Puerto Rico as of July 2011 at 3,706,690. This figure is 19,099 fewer people than the estimated figure for April 2010, the month that was used as a basis for comparison.
The document estimated that around 35,000 inhabitants left the island and migrated. Interestingly, the study classifies migration between Puerto Rico and the U.S. as “international.”
For this same period, the Census Bureau estimated an increase of 2.8 million for the U.S., representing an increase of 0.92 percent. The U.S. population was estimated at 311.6 million for July 2011. Only three U.S. states reported a population decline during this period of 15 months and all well below that of Puerto Rico’s loss: Rhode Island (1,300), Michigan (7,400) and Maine (200).
The “natural growth” of the population of Puerto Rico during those months was 16,370 people, as a result of more births than deaths. The large number of people who left the country far exceeded the “natural growth,” casting the negative balance that highlights this report.
Product of Depression
“What has happened in Puerto Rico is that the depression has been loud and long, which is generating a strong migration to the United States,” said economist Jose Alameda.”Furthermore, the pattern of net births is declining,” he said.
“What worries most is that the people of Puerto Rico are usually educated … human capital has been reduced by migration,” he said. ”That started between 2005 and 2006 as part of the depression. As there are no jobs for anyone, people migrate,” he said.
The economist expressed concern that as these figures show is that Puerto Rico’s economy is shrinking. ”There is less human capital, shops close, and it also creates the problem that property has seen a decrease in value,” Alameda said.
The demographer Raúl Figueroa agreed that the economic situation is causing a negative migration in the country. ”There are push factors right now,” he said. ”Puerto Rico does not have many pull factors. There is no job or no crime situation that makes it attractive for people to come back, we’re seeing that people (who left the island) are not coming back,” he added.
“We must work for these people to return to Puerto Rico. People who are leaving are many young people under 40 years old, which causes a reduction in the workforce,” said Figueroa.
He noted, moreover, that the increase in migration is also “very particular situation of Puerto Rico, because we can travel freely to the United States.”
He predicted that “the population will continue to decline for several years. Migration is very high and the natural growth has been declining over the past 20 years. Births have been reduced,” he said.
How bad is this stat? Isn’t the island overpopulated? The reason isn’t idea I’m sure, high unemployment, crime, etc. But it’s the same reason my parents left the island (which we go back to often). “Tapon” is a natural way of life there on any major road way. There’s an abundance of well educated workforce there. They must support their families so I don’t hold it against them for seeking employment elsewhere.
So, a declining population is a good thing in your opinion? Most island economists would think differently, especially since the majority of those people who are leaving are younger and professional. They will benefit other economies, but there is no question that PR has gotten poorer in the last few years because of the talent leaving.
And traffic and congestion is just like any Latin American country. It really isn’t that bad outside of the San Juan metro area.
As young professionals move to the states, the island is left with a graying population lacking young workers to put into the general tax fund for running the island. Making PR yet MORE dependent on Federal SSI /medicare Funds. Its funny how the very same people who oppose statehood are the first to move there! Unfortunately,just as many statehooders move out as well, maintaining the statehood/commonwealth tie at the polls.
Luis, thank you for all the comments you have posted. They add to this entire topic and I really appreciate it!
All the more reason why Puerto Ricans should keep insisting that english is not part of the culture here and therefore should not be taught in schools. If you only speak spanish then you are more likely to stay here on the island and raise a family on welfare or a minimum wage job.
That’s a pretty silly comment, Bruce, because you are assuming that Spanish is a welfare language when it fact bilingualism is actually more prevalent in Puerto Rico than you think. This is more economic that cultural. Sorry, not agreeing with you on this one.
If you can’t speak English then you are less likely to move to a country where English is spoken if you want to make a living. So you stay where Spanish is mainly spoken which is Puerto Rico. Language has nothing to do with welfare Julito. Not sure why you pulled that one out of your ass. And I live here in Puerto Rico, so I know bilingualism is not prevalent here. Young educated professionals are leaving the island because they learned to speak English fluently and are moving to where the jobs are. But don’t worry, you still have the minimum wage uneducated crowd who are staying here to fill the remedial jobs. Be happy, most people here are buying into the “not our culture” motto!
So Puerto Rico’s population is decreasing? I had no idea- very interesting info, even more interesting is the discourse put forward by the above bloggers regarding the reasons for this decline.
Yes PRico’s population has been decreasing for years
My mom moved to the states ,with 4 small kids and one in her belly,me,in 1949. .I was born in 1950 in Manhattan,(LOVE THAT ISLAND),she went to night school, learned English,worked in restaurants for years especially at Dunkanway doughnut shop on Broadway, all her children spoke English and still do.Now i am the only one that moved back to Puerto Rico with my 5 small children in 1980 all speak English and my grandchildren, some decided to go back to the states some are still here, what I mean is my sisters and brothers all professionals did not have any problem in learning English.I was born into the American Society, i spoke English since I was born the words that I herd were it is a baby girl! English is like a disease, once you got it everyone has it except those who are afraid to catch it, yes ,afraid of how silly they sound but not because they cannot learn it. After all, Americans speak some Spanish, they catch it more when they come down to the island the difference? Americans do not care how it sounds or how the words come out, but the people in Puerto Rico are proud people, and if it does not come out right they are afraid of trying, English speaking teachers need to deal with this problem.