Puerto Rico Resident Population Estimates
by municipio, sex, and age
for the years 2020 - 2023

Puerto Rico Population Estimates Data Summary

Summary:   

The Census Bureau releases an annual series of population estimates of the July 1st resident population of Puerto Rico each year. Puerto Rico’s population estimates are available by municipio, year (2020 and later years), sex, and age (single-year age groups (1, 2, 3... 85+) or 5-year age groups (<1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years... 85. The population estimates are used by the National Center for Health Statistics as population denominators in the calculation of death, birth, and fertility rates. The 2020-2023 postcensal series of estimates of the July 1 resident population are developed from a base that integrates the 2020 April 1st Census and the July 1st 2020 estimates. The estimates add births to, subtract deaths from, and add net migration to the April 1, 2020 estimates base. All geographic boundaries for the Vintage 2023 series of population estimates are as of January 1, 2023. This series of estimates was released by the Census Bureau in June 2024.

About different "vintages" or series of population estimates:

The "Vintage 2023" series of postcensal estimates are July 1 resident population estimates for years 2020 - 2023. Population estimates for years 2021-2023 are based on the Modified Blended Base produced by the US Census Bureau in lieu of the April 1, 2020 decennial population count. The blended base was initially created for the Vintage 2021 series of estimates for years 2020-2021, and the blended base has been modified with each subsequent series. The Modified Blended Base in the 2020-2023 series of estimates consists of the blend of Vintage 2020 postcensal population estimates for April 1, 2020, 2020 Demographic Analysis Estimates, and 2020 Census data from the internal Census Edited File (CEF) (see 2020-2023 Population Estimates Methodology). July 1, 2023 population estimates are used as denominators for 2023 birth and death rates reported by the National Center for Health Statistics.

About postcensal and intercensal population estimates:

  • Postcensal estimates:
    Postcensal population estimates are estimates made for the years following a census, before the next census has been taken. Postcensal estimates are derived by updating the resident population enumerated in the decennial census using various measures of population change. Each year following the decennial census, the U.S. Census Bureau produces a series of postcensal estimates that includes estimates for the current data year and revised estimates for earlier years. Estimates for earlier years in a given series are revised to reflect 1) changes in the components of population change data sets (for example, a preliminary natality file is replaced with a final natality file), 2) challenges to the population estimates, and 3) changes in the estimation methodology. A series of estimates is referred to as a Vintage and the last year in a series is used to name it. For example, the Vintage 2023 postcensal series has estimates for July 1, 2020, July 1, 2021, July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2013. Because of the revisions made to the estimates in each series, estimates for a given year from different series will differ.
  • Intercensal estimates:
    Intercensal population estimates are estimates made for the years between two completed censuses which take into account both censuses. Intercensal estimates are derived by adjusting the final postcensal series of estimates for the decade to account for differences between the enumerated April 1, Census counts (from the census at the end of the decade) and the postcensal estimates of the April 1 population (from the final postcensal series). For example, after completion of the 2010 census, the postcensal estimates for the period between April 1, 2000 and April 1, 2010 were modified to account for differences between the April 1, 2010 Census count and April 1 postcensal estimate (based on the 2000 census). The patterns of population change observed over the decade are preserved. Intercensal estimates supersede the postcensal estimates previously made for the time period.

    Note: the 2010-2019 intercensal estimates based on both the 2010 and 2020 Census counts are not yet available.

The population data on WONDER are updated annually to include the annual series of population estimates produced by Census Bureaus. Earlier versions are maintained as separate online databases.

Vintage 2023
  • The 2020 - 2023 online database with estimates of the July 1 resident population, by year, municipio, sex, and age (1-year and larger age groups (<1 year, 1-4 years - 85+ years)).
Source:    The population estimates for Puerto Rico are produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. See Data Source Information for more details. See also Suggested Citation below.

In WONDER:    You can produce tables, maps, charts, and data extracts. Request July 1st resident population estimates for Puerto Rico. You can limit and index your data by any and all of these variables:
  1. Location: Puerto Rico, municipios
  2. Year - July 1st estimates for 2020 through last year of the series
  3. Sex - Female, Male
  4. Age - age groups:
    • 5-year age groups in 5 year increments (ages <1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years... 80-84 years, age 85 and older)
    • 1-year age groups (<1 year, 1 year, 2 years,... 85+ years)
Contents:    Puerto Rico Population Estimates Data Request
Data Source Information
Additional Information
Suggested Citation

Puerto Rico Population Data Request

Output:    You can produce tables, maps, charts, and data extracts.

Variables:   
  1. Location - Puerto Rico, municipios;
  2. Year - July 1st estimates for 2010 through last year of series;
  3. Sex - Female, Male;
  4. Age - age groups:
    • 5-year age groups (ages <1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years... 80-84 years, age 85 and older);
    • 1-year age groups by state (<1 year, 1, 2... 85+ years);
    • 10-year age groups by state (<1 year, 1-4 years, 5-14 years... 85+ years);
How?    Work through the sections on the Request Form tab sequentially to select your criteria in a step-by-step process. Click on any of the SEND buttons on the request page to send your request for data. The results for your data request display on the Results tab. After you get your data results, click on tabs to go to the Chart and Map screens. Click on the Export button above the table to download the results in a file. Click on the Request Form tab to change your query selections and send another request.

For more information, see the following:

Quick Start Guide;
Step 1, Organize and label results;
Step 2, Select location and time;
Step 3, Select demographics;
Step 4, Other Options.

Group Results By    Select variables that serve as keys or indexes for organizing your data into different categories or stratifications. When the query groups results by Age, the results include a column for Age and a row for each included age group. See How do I organize my data? for more information.
Note:   To map your data, you must select at least one geographical location as a "By-Variable" for grouping your results, such as municipio.
Help:    Click on any button labeled "Help", located to the right hand side of the screen at the top of each section. Each control's label, such as the "Age" label next to the list of categories, is linked to the on-line help for that item.
Send:    Sends your data request to be processed on the CDC WONDER databases. The Send buttons are located on the bottom of the Request page, and in the upper right corner of each section, for easy access.


Step 1. Organize table layout:
Group Results By:   Select up to five variables to group (summarize, stratify, index) your data by categories. See Group Results By below for more specifics and hints.
Title:   Enter any desired description to display as a title with your results.


Group Results By

Select up to five variables to group (summarize, stratify, index) your data. For example, you could select to group your data by State and by County. The list of variables includes:

  1. Location - Puerto Rico
  2. Year - July 1st estimates for 2020 through last year of series
  3. Sex - Female, Male
  4. Age - age groups:
    • 5-year age (ages <1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years... 80-84 years, 85+ years)
    • 1-year age groups by state (<1 year, 1, 2... 85+ years)
How?    See How do I organize my data? for more information.

Hints:   

  1. To make a map, you must "group results by" a geographic variable, such as Municipio, as the first "By-Variable." After the Results display, then click the Map tab.
  2. You cannot make charts when your data has more than two By-Variables.

Step 2. Select location:

Limit your data request to specific locations here. The default setting is all municipios in Puerto Rico.

Locations: Puerto Rico Municipios

Use this field to specify the location or locations to be included in the data request. You may select a single area or a group of areas.

Notes:   

  • When you export the results of your data request, the location name and the codes are in separate columns.
  • To see the full list of locations and codes in Puerto Rico, group your data by Municipio.

Step 3. Select demographics and years:
Limit your data for any of the following data elements:
  1. Age - age groups:
    • 5-year age groups by county (ages <1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years... 80-84 years, age 85+)
    • 1-year age groups by state (<1 year, 1, 2... 85+ years)
  2. Sex - Female, Male
  3. July 1st Estimates - July 1st estimate for each year in series

Age Groups

The Age Groups field contains values for age groups:

  • 5-year age groups by county (ages <1 year, 1-4 years, 5-9 years... 80-84 years, age 85+)
  • 1-year age groups by state (<1 year, 1, 2... 85+ years)
How?  
  1. Click the round radio button to choose between the lists of age groups.
  2. Select any combination of values in the selected list of age groups. See How do I select items from the list box?.

Notes:

  • The U.S. Census Bureau annually releases population estimates Puerto Rico's municipios by age groups and sex at (www.census.gov).
  • The Age Group Code is PHIN compatible through age 84 years.
  • When the data results are exported to a file, the Age Group Code is shown, as well as the sort sequence value.
  • The table below shows age group codes and labels for the age groups, used by the National Center for Health Statistics to calculate standard age-adjusted rates.

Code Label
01 LESS THAN 1 YEAR
01-04 1 TO 4 YEARS
05-09 5 TO 9 YEARS
10-14 10 TO 14 YEARS
15-19 15 TO 19 YEARS
20-24 20 TO 24 YEARS
25-29 25 TO 29 YEARS
30-34 30 TO 34 YEARS
35-39 35 TO 39 YEARS
40-44 40 TO 44 YEARS
45-49 45 TO 49 YEARS
50-54 50 TO 54 YEARS
55-59 54 TO 59 YEARS
60-64 60 TO 64 YEARS
65-69 65 TO 69 YEARS
70-74 70 TO 74 YEARS
75-79 75 TO 79 YEARS
80-84 80 TO 84 YEARS
85+ 85 YEARS or OVER

Sex

Select Male, Female or All values.

How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.
Notes:   
  • The codes for sex categories are PHIN standards compliant.
  • When you export the results of your data request, the labels and the codes are in separate columns:
    F      Female
    M      Male

Yearly July 1st Estimates

Pick any combination of years desired.
How?   See How do I select items from the list box?.

Step 4. Other options:
Export Results:    If checked, then query results are available as file for download. More information on how to import this file into other applications can be found here.
How?   See Check Box.
Show Totals:    If checked, then totals and sub-totals display in the Results table.
How?   See Check Box.
Show Zero Values:    If checked, then rows containing zero counts display in the results table. If unchecked, then rows representing zero persons are not displayed.
How?   See Check Box.
Precision:    Precision is not available for this dataset because population counts are whole numbers.
Data Access Timeout:    This value specifies the maximum time to wait for the data access for a query to complete. If the data access takes too long to complete, a message will be displayed and you can increase the timeout or simplify your request. If you can't complete a request using the maximum timeout, contact cwus@cdc.gov.

Data Source Information

The population estimates in these online databases are produced by the U.S. Census Bureau, available from www.census.gov

To learn more about the methods used to produce the population estimates please refer to:

Methodology: Population Estimates Technical Documentation.

Data files can be downloaded from www.census.gov.

2020 - 2023 database:
2020 to 2023 (Vintage 2023) postcensal estimates of the July 1 resident population of Puerto Rico by year, municipio, age, and sex. Released by the Census Bureau in June 2024: The technical documentation states the 2020 - 2023 series of estimates are based on the Modified Blended Base produced by the US Census Bureau in lieu of the April 1, 2020 decennial population count. The Modified Blended Base consists of the blend of Vintage 2020 postcensal population estimates for April 1, 2020, 2020 Demographic Analysis Estimates, and 2020 Census data from the internal Census Edited File (CEF) (see 2020-2023 Population Estimates Methodology).

Additional Information

Suggested Citation:    Puerto Rico postcensal population estimates provided by CDC WONDER.
July 1st resident population by municipio, age, sex, and year for 2020-2023,
Released June 2024 by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Each original series of population estimates has a unique suggested citation. Please refer to Data Source Information to reference the original technical reference notes and citation for a specific series. See also Census Bureau Population Estimates.

Contact:    CDC welcomes comments and questions about Population Estimates at PopEst@cdc.gov.
Notes:   
  • The potential for error is greatest for the smallest population groups, particularly estimates for smaller geographic areas. Although efforts are made to use the best available data and methods to produce estimates, the modeling process introduces error into the estimates.
  • Postcensal population estimates are estimates made for the years following a census, before the next census has been taken. Postcensal estimates are derived by updating the population enumerated in the decennial census using various measures of population change.
  • Intercensal population estimates are made for the period of time between decennial census years after the second census is completed, and such estimates replace the previous population projections for the time period. For example, the 1990 - 1999 intercensal estimates, which represent a revision of the annual time series of July 1 county postcensal population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin, were produced by the Population Estimates Program of the U.S. Bureau of the Census. These intercensal population estimates are based on the estimates of the April 1, 2000 resident population developed by the Bureau of the Census.



This page last reviewed: Wednesday, November 26, 2025
This information is provided as technical reference material. Please contact us at cwus@cdc.gov.