Where do Mexico's migrants come from?
🇲🇽 🤔 Think you know who's moving to Mexico? The fastest-growing immigrant group might surprise you... let's explore ↓
These are tough times to talk about immigration—or even a tough time to talk about anything other than immigration.
In the United States, the ongoing crackdown has led to the military’s deployment to Los Angeles, an ICE budget increase to rival the world’s top militaries, and deportations to countries across Latin America.
Meanwhile, Mexico City’s protests over gentrification and cost of living raise meaningful discussions over mass tourism and the balance between digital nomads and housing reform—as well as accusations of xenophobia.
More than half of all foreigners who entered Mexico in May 2025 were day‑trippers, not overnight guests, so most never even look for an apartment.
But as always, the actual numbers paint a slightly more complex picture than the headlines suggest. Fewer than 1.2 million people born abroad live in Mexico—under 1 % of the population—but the figure is pushing up.
Looking at the number of resident cards issued last year in Mexico, Americans do make up the largest single group represented, followed by Colombians and – interestingly enough – Chinese citizens.
Latin America is the region that has provided the most immigrants to modern Mexico. Cubans fleeing their country’s economic meltdown are one of the country’s largest groups, numbering nearly 4K resident cards just last year.
This continues a century-long tradition of Mexico serving as a haven for displaced persons from around the world.
story continues... 💌
Source: Unidad de Política Migratoria
Tools: Figma, Rawgraphs