MigrantoPuerto Rican Diaspora
1.9M Puerto Ricans live abroad — 61% of the population of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 99% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| USA | 1924799 |
| Dominican Republic | 5156 |
| Guam | 4367 |
| US Virgin Islands | 4069 |
| Haiti | 1582 |
| Mexico | 1461 |
| Panama | 1320 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 925 |
| British Virgin Islands | 673 |
| Colombia | 606 |
| Peru | 527 |
| Costa Rica | 514 |
| Chile | 453 |
| Argentina | 389 |
| Venezuela | 375 |
| Australia | 220 |
| Ecuador | 173 |
| Honduras | 133 |
| Guatemala | 118 |
| El Salvador | 63 |
| Nicaragua | 61 |
| Cayman Islands | 58 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 56 |
| Bolivia | 46 |
| Sint Maarten | 26 |
| Curaçao | 24 |
| Dominica | 15 |
| Cuba | 7 |
| Saint Lucia | 6 |
| Cyprus | 1 |
| Denmark | 0 |
| Iceland | 0 |
| Norway | 0 |
| Greece | 0 |
By region
99% of the diaspora lives in North America
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Key facts
The Puerto Rican diaspora in numbers
1 in 2 people born in Puerto Rico lives abroad
1.9M people born in Puerto Rico now live in other countries — 60.8% of a population of 3.2M.
Puerto Rican diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 922587 |
| 1995 | 1043769 |
| 2000 | 1181295 |
| 2005 | 1357565 |
| 2010 | 1554887 |
| 2015 | 1708615 |
| 2020 | 1886872 |
| 2024 | 1948223 |
Largest communities over time
Puerto Ricans living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | USA | Dominican Republic | Guam | US Virgin Islands | Haiti |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 902791 | 8767 | 194 | 3974 | 1546 |
| 1995 | 1022698 | 9738 | 194 | 4141 | 1468 |
| 2000 | 1158532 | 10708 | 193 | 4316 | 1394 |
| 2005 | 1335675 | 8253 | 2054 | 4190 | 1324 |
| 2010 | 1533366 | 5789 | 3915 | 4065 | 1390 |
| 2015 | 1687821 | 4578 | 3950 | 4067 | 1459 |
| 2020 | 1864991 | 4780 | 4176 | 4067 | 1526 |
| 2024 | 1924799 | 5156 | 4367 | 4069 | 1582 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Puerto Ricans in each country has changed since the selected year
Puerto Ricans among immigrants in other countries
Where Puerto Ricans make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Puerto Ricans live outside Puerto Rico?
Around 1.9M Puerto Ricans live abroad, the world's #41 largest diaspora.
Where do most Puerto Ricans abroad live?
Most Puerto Ricans live in USA, Dominican Republic and Guam — these three countries account for about 99% of all Puerto Ricans living abroad.
Which country has the largest Puerto Rican population outside Puerto Rico?
USA is home to the largest Puerto Rican community abroad — 1.9M people, about 99% of all Puerto Ricans living abroad.
What share of the population of Puerto Rico lives abroad?
About 61% of the population of Puerto Rico lives abroad — that's 1.9M out of a total population of 3.2M.
Is the Puerto Rican diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Puerto Ricans living abroad has grown from 1.7M to 1.9M, about 14%.
Where does the data on the Puerto Rican diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Puerto Rico who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Puerto Rico
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