 Puerto Ricans who were born in Puerto Rico are US citizens as if they were born in the United States proper.Consequently, using the term "Puerto Rican American" only for those living in a U.S. state or incorporated territory is confusing if taken out of context.At 9.7% of the Latino population in the United States, Puerto Ricans are the second-largest Latino group nationwide, after Mexican Americans and are 1.77% of the entire population of the United States.