Natural Increase and Net Migration of Coffee Region Populations in Puerto Rico, 1960-70

Abstract

This paper presents data showing the volume of net migration in the Coffee Region of Puerto Rico from April 1, 1960 to April 1, 1970. Population figures used for the estimates were derived from the last two census counts, and birth and death data classified by place of residence from the Division of Demographic Registry and Vital Statistics of the Department of Health of Puerto Rico. Preliminary results indicate that the Coffee Region of the Island had a net out-migration of 55,019 people from April 1, 1960 to April 1, 1970. During this same period, however, there were 50,629 births and 10,484 deaths to allow for a natural increase of 40,145 people. The population of this region would have been about 200,000 people if it had not been for out-migration, instead of the 141,483 enumerated by the Census in 1970. The net loss through out-migration, expressed as a ratio of the population living in this region in 1960, was 35.2 percent. Net outmigration was general throughout the Coffee Region: Each of its municipalities showed heavy net out-migration, ranging from a total of 14,114 people in Utuado to 2,518 in Maricao. It must be noted that heavy out-migration is not a new development in in this major crop area. Net out-migration from the Region during the 1950- 60 decade was 67,703 people, or about 37 percent of the 1950 population. From 1950 to 1970, out-migration amounted to 71.1 percent of the 1950 population.