According to newly published data from the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics, covering 2010-2024, the number of deaf or hearing-impaired people on the island continues to trend upward. As of the latest year, the average frequency was 166,820 people, a prevalence of 5.21% of the population, up 0.11% from the prior year. Of this group, 36.03% reported being married.
Educational attainment is low: 7.74% did not finish school, only 28.94% earned a high school diploma, 17.14% completed a year of college, 11.02% got a bachelor’s degree, 3.69% a master’s, and under 1% a professional degree (0.49%) or doctorate (0.54%). In the labor market, only 10.95% are employed, 1.46% unemployed, and 87.59% are outside the workforce; 90.08% report no wage income and 41.82% live below the poverty level, though 98.5% have health insurance.
Also, 68.76% report lacking self-care capacity. Lanselotte Oliveras Vega, a statistical projects assistant in the Institute’s demography and geography area, said there is no single explanation for the rising prevalence, but noted the highest rates occur among older adults.