Share of deaths from each major cause in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico: Share of deaths from each major cause was 4.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of deaths from each major cause in Puerto Rico, 1961–2022
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, share of deaths from each major cause in Puerto Rico stood at 4.1%.
That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and down 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths from each major cause in Puerto Rico peaked at 7.2% in 1981 and was at its lowest, 3.6%, in 2010.
That places Puerto Rico 45th out of 113 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Share of deaths from each major cause in Puerto Rico, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3.9% | — |
| 1962 | 4.4% | +10.8% |
| 1963 | 4.3% | -0.4% |
| 1964 | 4.1% | -5.8% |
| 1965 | 4.2% | +2.5% |
| 1966 | 4.8% | +14.1% |
| 1969 | 5.6% | +17.9% |
| 1970 | 6.0% | +6.5% |
| 1971 | 5.7% | -5.9% |
| 1972 | 6.0% | +6.7% |
| 1973 | 6.6% | +8.9% |
| 1974 | 6.2% | -6.2% |
| 1975 | 6.3% | +2.3% |
| 1976 | 6.2% | -1.1% |
| 1977 | 6.3% | +1.4% |
| 1979 | 7.0% | +11.4% |
| 1980 | 7.0% | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 7.2% | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 6.8% | -6.0% |
| 1983 | 6.7% | -1.4% |
| 1984 | 6.6% | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 6.3% | -5.1% |
| 1986 | 6.6% | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 6.3% | -4.6% |
| 1988 | 5.5% | -11.9% |
| 1989 | 5.7% | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 5.6% | -1.4% |
| 1991 | 5.7% | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 5.4% | -6.3% |
| 1993 | 5.6% | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 5.5% | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 5.4% | -1.2% |
| 1996 | 5.1% | -5.7% |
| 1997 | 5.7% | +11.4% |
| 1998 | 5.7% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 5.6% | -0.7% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 5.2% | -5.9% |
| 2002 | 5.4% | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 5.2% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 5.2% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 5.0% | -4.8% |
| 2006 | 4.9% | -1.5% |
| 2007 | 4.8% | -1.1% |
| 2008 | 4.6% | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 3.9% | -14.2% |
| 2010 | 3.6% | -8.5% |
| 2011 | 4.4% | +21.7% |
| 2012 | 4.2% | -3.5% |
| 2013 | 4.1% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 4.2% | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 4.6% | +9.5% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | -8.1% |
| 2021 | 4.1% | -1.6% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | -2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.5% | 3.9% | 5.6% | 7 |
| 1970s | 6.3% | 5.7% | 7.0% | 9 |
| 1980s | 6.5% | 5.5% | 7.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.5% | 5.1% | 5.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.0% | 3.9% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | 3.6% | 4.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Puerto Rico
- 42 Australia 4.1% compare
- 43 Argentina 4.1% compare
- 44 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 4.1% compare
- 46 Philippines 4.0% compare
- 47 United States 4.0% compare
- 48 France 4.0% compare
More health data for Puerto Rico
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -20 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,519 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 15-64, total 2.02 million (2025)
- Age population, age 12, male, interpolated 15,521 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, female 62.3% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male 971,601 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64, male 64.8% (2025)
- Age population, age 11, female, interpolated 14,230 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of deaths from each major cause in Puerto Rico?
- Share of deaths from each major cause in Puerto Rico was 4.1% in 2022, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of deaths from each major cause recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The highest recorded value was 7.2% in 1981.
- What is the lowest share of deaths from each major cause recorded in Puerto Rico?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.6% in 2010.
- How does Puerto Rico rank for share of deaths from each major cause?
- Puerto Rico ranks 45th out of 113 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of deaths from each major cause rising or falling in Puerto Rico?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Puerto Rico data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of deaths from each major cause. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of total reported deaths in both sexes in those aged all ages that are from digestive diseases.