Published on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | Updated on Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Mexico | Yearbook of Migration and Remittances 2026

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The 2026 Yearbook of Migration and Remittances analyzes migration dynamics and remittance flows, focusing on Mexico. It examines U.S. migration policy shifts and explores emerging topics like the link between climate change, migration, and financial inclusion.

Key points

Key points:
Over the past two years, the profile of migrants heading to the United States has changed: the proportion of single adults and people born in Mexico has increased, while the share of family units and migrants from South America has declined. These changes have occurred in a context where the U.S.-Mexico border is virtually closed to irregular migration.
U.S. immigration policy has become more restrictive. In January 2025, 65,000 permanent residence applications were approved and 75,000 people obtained U.S. citizenship. By January 2026, these figures had fallen to 34,000 and 33,000, respectively. In addition, asylum and refugee applications have declined.
In 2025, Mexico was the world's second-largest recipient of remittances, receiving USD 62.472 billion, a 3.9% decline compared with 2024. Despite this decrease, remittances exceeded the combined value of foreign direct investment (FDI) and crude oil exports and were nearly twice as high as international tourism revenues.
Between 2008 and 2024, Mexico recorded 2.7 million internal displacements caused by disasters triggered by natural hazards. Hurricane Otis in 2023 was the event with the greatest displacement impact during 2023–2024, primarily affecting the state of Guerrero.
Remittances support financial inclusion in Mexico: remittance-receiving households are more likely to hold credit cards and have access to a wider range of financing options to purchase homes or land or start businesses, including loans from family members and the sale or pawning of assets.