The Dominican community has become the largest Hispanic population in the Bronx, overtaking Puerto Ricans in a historic demographic shift, according to a report released this year by the Center for Latin American, Caribbean and Latino Studies at the City University of New York (CUNY).
The report found that the Dominican population in the borough grew from 133,087 residents in 2000 to 333,564 in 2024, an increase of 150.6%. Meanwhile, the Puerto Rican population declined from 319,240 to 235,218 during the same period.
As a result, Dominicans now outnumber Puerto Ricans in the Bronx by 98,346 residents, marking a significant change in the borough’s ethnic composition. Puerto Ricans had historically been the largest Hispanic community in the area.
The study also notes that while the Puerto Rican population has experienced a sustained decline, the Dominican community has continued to grow and redistribute within New York City, reflecting broader migration patterns driven by economic opportunities and demographic changes.
