Dominicans vs. Puerto Ricans in NYC: 2020 Census Shows Clear Lead

New York's Latino Landscape by the Numbers

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the Dominican population in New York City significantly outnumbers the Puerto Rican population—a shift reflecting changing migration patterns over recent decades.

The Numbers

Historical Context

• Puerto Ricans: U.S. citizens since 1917; massive migration 1940s-1970s ("Great Migration"); established communities in East Harlem, South Bronx, Lower East Side
• Dominicans: Accelerated migration post-1965 (post-Trujillo, 1965 intervention); surged 1980s-2000s; concentrated in Washington Heights, Inwood, Bronx, Brooklyn

Demographic Implications

• Dominicans now NYC's largest Latino group and largest foreign-born group overall
• Puerto Rican population stable/declining (outmigration to FL, PA, suburban NY; lower birth rates)
• Both communities politically influential; Dominican representation growing in city/state offices
• Cultural impact: Bachata/merengue vs. salsa/reguetón; distinct but overlapping neighborhoods

Beyond the Binary

NYC's Latino mosaic also includes large Mexican (~350K), Ecuadorian (~250K), Colombian, Salvadoran, and other communities. "Latino" is not monolithic.

Data Notes

• Census self-identification; includes all ages, citizenship statuses
• ACS estimates between censuses show continuing Dominican growth
• Undercount concerns affect all groups, especially immigrants

The Dominican-Puerto Rican dynamic exemplifies NYC's ever-evolving demographic tapestry—where yesterday's newcomers become today's established communities.