Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.
Posted on 06/11/2025 5:47:20 AM PDT by cll
Puerto Rico recorded a positive net migration rate for the first time in several years, signaling a shift in the island’s long-standing population decline, according to the Puerto Rico Planning Board’s latest economic report to the governor and Legislature.
“Puerto Rico has experienced its first recovery in migration from abroad in several years,” said Héctor Morales-Martínez, president of the Planning Board.
The net migration rate reached 4.7 per 1,000 residents, meaning more people moved to the island than left during the reporting period — mid‑2023 through mid‑2024. The agency also noted population growth in 43 of Puerto Rico’s 78 municipalities between 2023 and 2024 — a notable reversal from 2010 to 2020, when all municipalities saw declines.
Guaynabo, Bayamón and Arecibo led the demographic gains. Despite the recent gains, long-term projections still forecast the population will fall below 2.8 million by 2030, with an aging population and a continued decline in younger residents.
The Planning Board’s annual report also detailed Puerto Rico’s economic performance. Real gross domestic product (GDP), adjusted for inflation, grew by 2.1% in fiscal year 2024 compared to the previous year. The increase was driven by gains in exports of goods and services (5.6%), personal consumption (2.4%), fixed capital investment (6.8%) and government spending (3%).
The board projects more modest growth ahead, estimating GDP will expand by 1.1% in 2025 and 0.5% in 2026. The projections are based on ongoing macroeconomic analysis and may be revised under Puerto Rico law.
In agriculture, the report highlighted a gross agricultural income of more than $940 million in 2023. Crop production surpassed animal products, underscoring a shift in the sector. Though agriculture represents less than 1% of GDP, officials said its strategic importance continues to grow.
“There is an opportunity for growth in the sector, with the government’s renewed focus on incentives, education, infrastructure and land protection,” said Alejandro Díaz-Marrero, director of the Economic and Social Planning Program.
The report’s findings reflect what officials described as a broader effort to revitalize the island’s economy, improve food security and strengthen demographic resilience through public policy.
Puerto Rico Ping! Please Freepmail me if you want on or off the list.
I’ve been to PR exactly once, for a vacation+corporate event. Stayed at a nice beach resort outside San Juan, rented a car and drove out to see the radiotelescope at Arecibo (gone / in ruins now), etc.
Nice resort, had a good time, but I couldn’t ignore that the locals buy wrought iron security bars and razor wire by the metric ton. Nor that the resort had two man security patrols with sidearms and shotguns. Yeah, I definitely was feeling the lack of my normal stateside EDC.
No thanks.
I have never, ever, seen any armed hotel or resort security anywhere in PR.
Like a lot of Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico could be a really nice place that people would beg to live in if they could get their act together. They are in the perfect position as a US territory - the benefit of access to the US without the tax burdens. But their government is corrupt and incredibly inefficient.
I had an uncle that married a Puerto Rican lady.
I’m sure he met here when stationed there while he was in the Navy.
As soon as he retired they immediately moved back and he lived the rest of his days there.
In 2003 spent a week in a hotel on Condado beach in support of the US Navy at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station.
After only a week I could see it would be a desirable place to live.
Beautiful beaches. 👌
I remember seeing the radio telescope at Arecibo. Most things are smaller than I imagine them to be, but this was the opposite: it was much larger than I could imagine. The beach town of Arecibo was also beautiful.
That is the truth. Right now the PR government is on a fiscal leash, with a federal board overseeing its finances. That board will not sunset until the PR government gets its budget under control for three straight years. That hasn’t happened since the board went into effect during the Obama years. I doubt it will happen with the current crop of politicians.
Otherwise, I prefer to live here right now than almost anywhere in the states.
How many are Haitians or Venezuelans?
In response to post 3, I will say that at night in Condado small groups of police (4 or 5) would walk and monitor the area.
At least two would be carrying AR style rifles.
Given Condado is a main tourist area complete with casinos and high end jewelry stores like Cartier I can understand PR wanting to protect that.
As for armed guards in the hotels....Never saw any of that.
Almost none.
“their government is corrupt and incredibly inefficient”
So, just like here then.
Unless there was something specific going on when you saw that, PRPD does not patrol on foot anymore. They mostly stay in their precincts until called. The only actual patrols out there are highway patrols and the SJPD.
I am not saying that PR is crime free, but as with the rest of the government, the PRPD is broke and cannot afford to be out there much unless there’s an emergency going on.
Thankfully if not coincidentally, PR now has shall-issue conceal carry laws in place so maybe the authorities just outsourced security to the citizens as it should be.
Like I mentioned, that was in 2003 but I did see that activity every night for a week.
I’ll say this though, there was no misbehavior that I saw.....and no undesirable elements in the area either, which I would imagine was the whole point.
PR, is no different from every city and state in the CONUS, there are nice areas and areas that are best avoided.....anybody that doesn’t understand that is a little blind IMO.
I’m glad to see you back. My son who has lived in PR with his Puerto Rican wife since shortly after the economic meltdown in Florida and the country after 2008, is coming tomorrow to visit me in my mid’Atlantic area home where he grew up. I will be showing him this thread, and asking him about conditions mentioned, and probably comment here again.
He has told me that after the terrible hurricane, Maria, PR was like a third world country for a year. He spent a lot of time helping the elderly members of his wife’s family. He has his own electrical business, and I will by wanting to learn more about what it was like then, and now with the recent electrical system issues. He has also told me about the huge area dedicated to drug companies that has folded because of the change in certain US laws regarding the PR drug company business. I am wondering if that successful business in PR can be resurrected. I am distressed that we seem to be relying on China for so many of our drug and supplement supplies. THere is currently a problem with the commonly used drug, levothyroxin for thyroid issues. We are now rationed to only 30 pills at a time, a one month supply. I used to get 3 months for the same price.
A decade ago, there was a patrolman on every block in San Juan Viejo, and for good reason. No matter where you were, you were always in sight of a policeman, day or night, or so it seemed. However, I was there last week for the first time since then and hardly saw the police anywhere. Everything seemed much safer, much calmer and more prosperous, even in La Perla.
Indeed. Amazing what a catastrophic disaster will do to a place (Hurricanes Irma and María in 2017). It’s a different place now.
My problem now is not the price, $5 for one or 3 months supply delivered, but that I have to wait until 5 days before I am eligible for the next 30 days. I am traveling each month around that time, so can’t get delivery timely. Thus end up missing days in a row of my medication. I am getting this as a patient with Kaiser Permanente, so don’t know about eligibility for free Medicare. Are you confusing this with Medicade for which I am NOT eligible? I suspect the effort in time and distraction from more important problems to try to get free Medicare would cost me more than the $5.
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