Share of population living in urban areas in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Share of population living in urban areas was 80.9% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban areas in Puerto Rico, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in urban areas in Puerto Rico is 80.9%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 3.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban areas in Puerto Rico peaked at 84.1% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 69.7%, in 1950.
Puerto Rico ranks 77th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban areas in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 69.7% | — |
| 1955 | 70.6% | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 71.2% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 73.0% | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 74.5% | +2.0% |
| 1975 | 76.2% | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 78.1% | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 80.7% | +3.3% |
| 1990 | 82.2% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 83.4% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 84.1% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 83.9% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 83.6% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 82.6% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 80.9% | -2.0% |
Puerto Rico compared with similar countries
- Puerto Rico's 80.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 76.2%, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Puerto Rico's 80.9% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 76.4%, 1.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 70.1% | 69.7% | 70.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 72.1% | 71.2% | 73.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 75.3% | 74.5% | 76.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 79.4% | 78.1% | 80.7% | 2 |
| 1990s | 82.8% | 82.2% | 83.4% | 2 |
| 2000s | 84.0% | 83.9% | 84.1% | 2 |
| 2010s | 83.1% | 82.6% | 83.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 80.9% | 80.9% | 80.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
More reference data data for Puerto Rico
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.2501 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1709 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 326.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 1,009 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 34.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 0.0011 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Enteric Fermentation 34.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 36.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 0.0077 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban areas in Puerto Rico?
- Share of population living in urban areas in Puerto Rico was 80.9% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 84.1% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban areas recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.7% in 1950.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for share of population living in urban areas?
- Puerto Rico ranks 77th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban areas rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Puerto Rico data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.