1990–PRESENT: 21st CENTURY MIGRATION

Significant changes emerge at the start of the 21st century as nearly 3.9 million Puerto Ricans live in the U.S., slightly more than live in Puerto Rico itself.

For most of the twentieth century, the Puerto Rican community in the U.S. is centered in New York City and the Northeast. In 1970, approximately 70 percent of Puerto Ricans live in New York; but, by the 2000 census, the number drops to less than 25% of the U.S. Puerto Rican population. The exodus from New York is disproportionately of the younger generation and women of childbearing age. At the same time, the population explodes in Florida as Puerto Ricans are drawn by employment opportunities in tourism and other sectors, and as New York retirees settle in the State.