Puerto Rico

[solarstorm]

Why has Puerto Rico's population been shrinking so fast and heavily?
In 2000, 3.8 million people lived there, in 2010 only 2.7 million, down to estimated 3.5 million in 2014. PR has been surpassed by 3 states in that time.

And how many electoral votes / congressional districts would it be allocated if it joined the Union today? Puerto Rico now has more inhabitants than Iowa (6 EV), but fewer than Connecticut (7 EV).

[cinyc]

Puerto Rico has had a terrible economy over the past few years, with unemployment over 10%.  As full U.S. Citizens, Puerto Ricans can easily move to greener economic pastures anywhere in the United States - and many have.

[publicunofficial]

Puerto Rico has had a terrible economy over the past few years, with unemployment over 10%.  As full U.S. Citizens, Puerto Ricans can easily move to greener economic pastures anywhere in the United States - and many have.

This. Puerto Rico is only slightly better than, say, the Dominican Republic. And unlike the nations surrounding it, there's really nothing stopping them from moving to the USA. Hence why there are more Puerto Ricans in New York City than in Puerto Rico.

Also I believe it would have 5 Congressional districts.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

5 CDs for the 2010 census, down 1 from 2000.

[ag]

Puerto Rico has had a terrible economy over the past few years, with unemployment over 10%.  As full U.S. Citizens, Puerto Ricans can easily move to greener economic pastures anywhere in the United States - and many have.

This. Puerto Rico is only slightly better than, say, the Dominican Republic.

GDP per capita in PR is about 4 or 5 times higher than that in DR. Even if you include the PPP adjustment (which is tricky here), it is a 2 or 3 times larger. It is, basically, similar to the difference between the US and Mexico: PR might be poorer than the US, but DR is quite a bit poorer than Mexico.