The Yauco Metropolitan Statistical Area was formerly a separate area in Puerto Rico, but this area was dissolved and three of its municipalities were added to the Ponce metropolitan area in 2023.[6]
The 2010 census placed the population at 414,322, a 12.47% decrease over the 2000 census figure of 473,357.[7][8] The 2020 census placed the population at 351,446, a 15.18% decrease over the 2010 census figure of 414,322.
Comprising Ponce, Juana Díaz, Yauco, Villalba, Peñuelas, Adjuntas, and Guayanilla, the Ponce metropolitan area is situated between the southern coastal plain and the Cordillera Central mountain subrange in the south central region of the main island of Puerto Rico. Comprising Coamo and Santa Isabel, the neighboring Coamo micropolitan area is situated the southern coastal plain, and the Cordillera Central and Sierra de Cayey mountain subranges in the south central region of the main island of Puerto Rico.
All municipalities have an urbanized, densely populated downtown area and administrative center, categorized as a barrio and known as a pueblo, and concentrated urbanized residential areas with large populations, especially along the coastline of Ponce. All municipalities have rural areas, particularly those that lie on mountainous terrain, which is extensive on all jurisdictions, except for the strictly coastal and flat Santa Isabel.
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