X-ray of violence in Puerto Rico: Report reveals alarming figures for 2023
The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics has presented the annual report of the Violent Death Reporting System (Prvdrs), revealing concerning data regarding safety on the island during the year 2023. According to the document, 733 fatal victims were recorded, distributed across 674 incidents of a violent nature.
The distribution of these events details that 483 of the victims died by homicide, representing 65.9% of the total, while suicides reached 241 cases, 32.9%. The rest of the incidents are divided between deaths from legal interventions and cases where the intent could not be clarified. Statistically, the violent mortality rate stood at 22.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, affecting mostly the male population, which comprises 87.4% of the victims.
Impact of armed violence and risk profiles
The analysis highlights that the young population, specifically in the 15 to 39 age range, is the most vulnerable to homicides. A relevant piece of data is the high incidence of drug trafficking, a factor linked to 38.5% of these crimes. Likewise, the use of firearms remains the predominant cause, being present in 90.7% of homicides, a figure that far exceeds the global average.
Violence requires a response that involves different sectors and not just security agencies.
Mario O. Font Martin, coordinator of the Prvdrs
Domestic violence and mental health
- Intimate partner violence: 24 cases were documented, of which 22 victims were women, reflecting a marked gender disparity in this type of violence.
- Firearms: 77.3% of intimate violence cases involved firearms.
- Suicides: With a rate of 7.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, suicide remains a public health concern, with asphyxiation being the primary mechanism used.
Epidemiologist Diego Zavala, a co-investigator on the project, emphasized that data collection over the last decade is fundamental to developing effective prevention strategies based on scientific evidence. This report coincides with the tenth anniversary of the Prvdrs’ collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reaffirming Alofoke Deportes’ commitment to reporting on issues that directly impact society.
