Counting People in Puerto Rico
The United States has counted its population every 10 years since 1790, and Puerto Rico has been a part of this count since 1910.
The results of the census can help shape the future of your community. They help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding are used locally for new hospitals, housing and food assistance, emergency management and disaster relief, new schools, and more.
How To Respond
To complete the 2020 Census, you will answer a simple questionnaire about yourself and anyone who lives with you. The Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers. In fact, workers have sworn an oath for life to keep your information confidential.
Here’s how the census will work in Puerto Rico:
Did you know…
In 2010, the total population of Puerto Rico was 3,725,789.
Did you know…
In 2010, 52.5 percent of the population in Puerto Rico was made up of women. According to the census, there were 1,940,618 women, and 1,785,171 men.
- children
- population
- In March 2020, census takers will deliver an invitation to your home to participate in the census.
- The invitation will include instructions for responding online or by phone, as well as a paper questionnaire.
- If you don’t respond online, by phone, or by mail, a census taker will return to your home to help you complete the 2020 Census.
Counting Everyone
When completing your census, you should count everyone who is living in your home on April 1, 2020. That means everyone who is living and sleeping there most of the time. This can include extended family members and friends who are living in your home.
We understand that you might have questions about whether to count someone as you fill out your questionnaire. Don’t worry: We have answers. Visit Who To Count to see how certain people are counted, including:
- Young children.
- People displaced by natural disasters.
- People living in temporary shelters.
Visit Counting People in Group Living Arrangements for more information on how the Census Bureau counts people in college dorms, shelters, nursing facilities, and more.
Need Help?
Contact the regional census center serving Puerto Rico.
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