Three LatAm Countries Have a Declining Population
Puerto Rico's population cratered after Hurricane Maria, but Venezuela's economic collapse also fueled mass emigration.
This chart shows the three countries in Latin America that have seen their populations drop in recent years. For the most part, the trend can be explained due to emigration to other countries due to poor conditions.
Puerto Rico has had a string of disasters that have prompted its residents to flee the country in record numbers. Out of the 3 countries on the chart, it has the most severe drop in population in part because Puerto Ricans are born as US citizens, so they’re free to move to any US state. The sharpest declines came during the 2017-2019 period, right after Hurricane Maria. It resulted in 3,059 deaths and left an estimated $91.6B damage.
Once flourishing, Venezuela’s economy is now in shambles. Yearly GDP has been shrinking, while inflation has skyrocketed, leaving the general population sometimes unable to pay for basic needs like toilet paper. Citizens have been flocking to other countries at a record pace, choosing Colombia, Peru, and Chile as their top destinations. Cuban citizens have faced a similar fate, with the most prolonged communist regime in Latin America.
It’s interesting to note that starting in 2008, Latin America’s population started growing at a slower pace than the world’s average. This trend is common among more developed nations.