45 Pct of Puerto Ricans living below poverty line

from Comtex

San Juan, - Almost half of Puerto Ricans last year lived below the poverty line, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released Tuesday.

The median household income in the U.S. commonwealth last year was $17,741, though the figure for families including a married couple was $26,930.

The data published by the Census Bureau show that the 45.5 percent of Puerto Ricans living in poverty included 11.2 percent of the island's college graduates and more than 62 percent of people who didn't complete high school.


The report also states that in 2007, 66 percent of the population over 25 years of age had a high school diploma, while in 2000 the figure had been 60 percent.

Among the 25-34 age group, the percentage of those who had a high school diploma was 82.5 percent, compared with 37.1 percent among residents over 65.