Puerto Rican Population By US State

Map by César J. AyalaThe map above shows the Puerto Rican population of each state in 2018. At that time 64% of all Puerto Ricans lived in the 50 states plus Washington DC, while the other 36% still lived in Puerto Rico.

Here are the numbers by state (based on 2018 population):

State	Puerto Rican Population	Total State Population	% Puerto Rican
Alabama	23,954	4,887,871	0.49%
Alaska	8,941	737,438	1.21%
Arizona	64,738	7,171,646	0.90%
Arkansas	8,942	3,013,825	0.30%
California	227,730	39,557,045	0.58%
Colorado	36,864	5,695,564	0.65%
Connecticut	296,363	3,572,665	8.30%
Delaware	24,370	967,171	2.52%
District of Columbia	6,160	702,455	0.88%
Florida	1,171,637	21,299,325	5.50%
Georgia	100,923	10,519,475	0.96%
Hawaii	48,045	1,420,491	3.38%
Idaho	8,037	1,754,208	0.46%
Illinois	205,838	12,741,080	1.62%
Indiana	36,824	6,691,878	0.55%
Iowa	5,969	3,156,145	0.19%
Kansas	15,850	2,911,510	0.54%
Kentucky	16,372	4,468,402	0.37%
Louisiana	15,618	4,659,978	0.34%
Maine	4,970	1,338,404	0.37%
Maryland	63,765	6,042,718	1.06%
Massachusetts	329,532	6,902,197	4.77%
Michigan	43,381	9,995,915	0.43%
Minnesota	14,090	5,611,179	0.25%
Mississippi	9,964	2,986,530	0.33%
Missouri	15,417	6,126,452	0.25%
Montana	1,801	1,062,305	0.17%
Nebraska	4,466	1,929,268	0.23%
Nevada	27,230	3,034,392	0.90%
New Hampshire	17,612	1,356,410	1.30%
New Jersey	480,950	8,908,520	5.40%
New Mexico	11,206	2,095,428	0.53%
New York	1,082,631	19,542,209	5.54%
North Carolina	115,449	10,383,620	1.11%
North Dakota	3,710	760,077	0.49%
Ohio	139,068	11,689,442	1.19%
Oklahoma	17,057	3,943,079	0.43%
Oregon	14,230	4,190,713	0.34%
Pennsylvania	472,213	12,807,060	3.69%
Rhode Island	54,363	1,057,315	5.14%
South Carolina	43,183	5,084,127	0.85%
South Dakota	3,052	882,235	0.35%
Tennessee	41,182	6,770,010	0.61%
Texas	213,809	28,701,845	0.74%
Utah	14,782	3,161,105	0.47%
Vermont	1,666	626,299	0.27%
Virginia	105,770	8,517,685	1.24%
Washington	36,776	7,535,591	0.49%
West Virginia	3,083	1,805,832	0.17%
Wisconsin	61,437	5,813,568	1.06%
Wyoming	793	577,737	0.14%
USA	5,771,813	327,167,439	1.76%

In comparison, Puerto Rico has a population of 3,232,449 in 2025.

Why has this happened?

There are more Puerto Ricans living in the 50 U.S. states than on the island of Puerto Rico because of decades of outward migration driven by economic disruption, policy changes, and environmental crises.

Economic opportunity on the mainland

Higher wages, more stable job markets, and broader career options in states like Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have consistently drawn Puerto Ricans seeking better living conditions.

The removal of Section 936 

Section 936 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code was a federal tax incentive created in 1976 that allowed U.S. corporations operating in Puerto Rico to avoid federal taxes on profits earned on the island.

This policy:

• Attracted major manufacturers (especially pharmaceutical and electronics companies)
• Created tens of thousands of well-paying jobs
• Formed the backbone of Puerto Rico’s modern industrial economy

However, in 1996, the U.S. Congress voted to phase out Section 936, completing its elimination by 2006. The consequences were severe:

• Corporations relocated or downsized
• Massive job losses followed
• Government tax revenues plummeted
• The economy entered a prolonged recession

This policy change is widely seen as one of the most decisive factors behind Puerto Rico’s economic collapse and the acceleration of migration to the mainland.

Puerto Rico’s broader economic crisis

Following the loss of Section 936, Puerto Rico faced:

• Persistent recession
• Shrinking tax base
• Rising public debt
• Austerity measures and public service cuts

This made it increasingly difficult for residents to maintain stable livelihoods.

Natural disasters and infrastructure failure

Major events further pushed emigration:

• Hurricane Maria (2017) caused catastrophic damage
• Ongoing power outages and unreliable infrastructure
• 2020 earthquakes intensified instability
  Many families left because basic living conditions became untenable.

Ease of migration due to U.S. citizenship

Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917, allowing unrestricted movement to any U.S. state without visas or immigration barriers, making departure a practical survival strategy.

Demographic decline on the island

Puerto Rico has experienced:

• Falling birth rates
• An aging population
• Continuous population loss

Meanwhile, Puerto Rican communities in the mainland U.S. continue growing.

Strong diaspora networks

Existing Puerto Rican communities provide housing, employment leads, and social support, reinforcing migration patterns and making relocation more sustainable.

What do you think?