Puerto Rico Report has been bringing you the truth about Puerto Rico since 2012. In that time, we’ve written nearly 3,000 articles. Which ones have been most popular over the years? Here are the Top 10. Some have been around for a long time and one was written this year. We look forward to keeping you up to date with news and analysis of Puerto Rico’s political status in all its ramifications in the year to come!
#10: Puerto Rico’s Flag in Black and White
Puerto Rico’s flag can be found in more than one color scheme, and the different colors have different meanings. Coming in at #10 in our all-time popularity count, this article explains it all.
#9: Do the People of Puerto Rico Want Independence?
Recent media claims notwithstanding, independence is actually not a popular status option in Puerto Rico. In fact, independence is more popular in some states than it is on the Island. This lack of popularity would probably mean that — if for some reason Congress decided to force independence on Puerto Rico — it would probably lead to even greater population loss than we’ve seen up to the present.
#8: Constitutional vs. Statutory Citizenship in Puerto Rico
People born in Puerto Rico have birthright U.S. citizenship, and have had since 1917. Yet this citizenship is not the same as the type of citizenship enshrined in the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It comes without the full protection of the Constitution, and it can actually be revoked by Congress at any time. While no bill to revoke Puerto Rico’s U.S. citizenship has ever been introduced in Congress, this fact means that statehood is the only political stats that can guarantee U.S. citizenship for Puerto Ricans and their descendants. It’s confusing, but it’s worth making the effort to understand the difference.
#7: The ‘Perfect Human’ Is a Puerto Rican Woman
One of the most popular posts of all time every year since it was written, this article actually makes a serious point about how easily misinformation can spread.
#6: Puerto Rican Population in the States
Puerto Rico’s population has been shrinking for some time, and there are now almost twice as many Puerto Ricans living in the states as on the Island. Where are they living? The answer to that question has changed in recent years.
#5: El Morro: The Oldest Fort in the U.S.
It may be surprising that one of our most popular articles is about El Morro. Once again, though, it’s a sign of the lack of information many people have about Puerto Rico, even though it is a territory of the United States. San Juan is the oldest city under the U.S. flag, El Morro is the oldest fort, and La Fortaleza is the oldest governor’s mansion. Overlooking Puerto Rico means overlooking a lot of important U.S. history.
#4: The Map of Puerto Rico
Our goal at the Puerto Rico Report is to bring you clear, honest information about Puerto Rico and its political status. We’ve found that many Americans don’t have a good grasp of the basics when it comes to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. In this ever-popular post, we cover the basic geography of Puerto Rico so readers can understand the more complicated issues.
#3: Puerto Rico and Federal Income Tax
This story, originally posted in 2019, continues to be one of our most-visited articles. Wages earned in Puerto Rico by people living in Puerto Rico are not subject to federal income tax, and residents who earn their livings on the Island don’t have to file income tax returns. Under President Biden, Puerto Ricans became eligible for some tax credits if they file that 1040, improving lives while also increasing confusion. People living in the states are often confused by this subject, too, not realizing that Puerto Ricans do pay some federal taxes while people living in the states often don’t. This is particularly important since the difference in federal taxation is often used as a reason for the inequity in federal benefits.
#2: Puerto Rico Election Results 2024
The general election in November, 2024, brought in a statehood-supporting governor and a fourth status vote with a majority favoring statehood as Puerto Rico’s permanent political status. It also chose a “commonwealth” party resident commissioner and gave independence its strongest showing ever, at 11% of the votes. The final results weren’t certified until January, 2025, so the post has been updated to reflect the official tally.
#1: Trump on Birthright Citizenship: How Will Puerto Ricans Be Impacted?
With nearly 26,000 visits, this story is our most popular ever. The current administration has made bold changes in immigration in the United States and has tried to make bold changes in the laws on citizenship. People born in Puerto Rico have statutory, not constitutional citizenship, and the new attitude in Washington is causing concern.
