The United States government has thirteen principal statistical agencies (PSAs), a dozen of which gather data in the U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico. A new report from the Congressional Research Service lists some of the major data collection activities in Puerto Rico:
- The decennial (every ten years) census conducted by the Census Bureau, which is the same as the census taken in the states
- The Puerto Rico Community Survey, an annual survey of a sample of the population, similar to the American Community Survey
- The Economic Census of Island Areas, conducted by the Census Bureau ever five years and similar to the Economic Census in the states
- The Population Estimates Program, also administered by the Census Bureau
- The Census of Agriculture, conducted by the Department of Agriculture, which includes Puerto Rico and D.C. along with the states
- The Bureau of Economic Analysis’s International Economic Accounts report, which includes all states and territories
- Gross Domestic Produce reports, also collected by the Bureau of Economic Analysis
- The CDC’s National Vital Statistics data on births and deaths in states and territories
- The National Prisoner Statistics Program, which collects data on prisoners in states and territories for the Department of Justice
Coordination
There are many more statistical collections and reports, but these are the main ones which include Puerto Rico. However, coverage is not coordinated well enough that all of them can provide comparable data for Puerto Rico and the states.
For example, the National Prisoner Statistics Program relies on the territories to submit the data. Puerto Rico failed to send prison capacity counts in 2021, so that information is not available. The National Vital Statistics program collects data from Puerto Rico but does not include that information in the published reports. The national census is conducted entirely on paper in Puerto Rico, while states use online data collection as well.
The chief statistician of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs “broadly coordinates” the federal statistical system, according to the Congressional Research Service. Nonetheless, there are challenges.
What makes data collection difficult in Puerto Rico
Standardized addresses are part of the process of sampling for all these statistical reports. “However,” says the report, “the U.S. territories generally do not have a standardized address system. For example, in Puerto Rico, multiple places may share the same street name, house number, and ZIP code, and some rural dwellings have no formal address.”
The lack of standardized addresses also makes it difficult to deliver survey forms, to conduct the “007” field visits that are used to confirm census data collected, and otherwise to collect and process data.
While Puerto Rico has a population larger than many states, the other territories have fewer residents than any state. Even in Puerto Rico, communities outside of the big cities may be very small. In some cases, sample sizes are small enough to interfere with statistical calculations. There may also be fewer workers and less locally collected government data to work with. A lack of funding exacerbates the problem.
Why statistics matter
“The extent of federal statistical coverage for the U.S. territories may affect the federal government’s decision making ability, effectiveness in evaluating federal programs, and capacity to target resources, among other things,” the report explains. “Data coverage may also impact the private sector’s ability to participate in territorial economies.”
For Puerto Rico, which already receives limited federal funding and has a fragile economy relative to the states, the lack of data can have significant consequences.
As the report points out, however, “Any effective expansion of statistical activities in the territories would depend on the federal statistical system’s capacity to carry out such activities.” Two bills addressing the problems were introduced in the 118th Congress: the Puerto Rico Data Collection Equality Act (H.R. 258) and the Territories Statistics Collection Equity Act (H.R. 1400). Both were referred to committees, which took no further action on them.
Federal Statistical Research Data Center
Fortunately, a Federal Statistical Research Data Center opened in Puerto Rico in 2024. The center is located on the campus of the University of Puerto Rico. A post at the Census blog celebrated the new facility, saying, “[L]et us remember that data are a powerful tool for change. With the PR FSRDC, we are equipping Puerto Rican researchers with the resources and national networks they need to generate insights that can improve lives and shape a brighter future for all.”
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