Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mexico
Mexico: Refugee population by country or territory of asylum was 152,002 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mexico, 1970–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2025, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mexico stood at 152,002.
The figure is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 5,134.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mexico peaked at 360,991 in 1992 and was at its lowest, 1,038, in 2008.
Mexico ranks 39th of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mexico, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,000 | — |
| 1971 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 3,000 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 4,000 | +33.3% |
| 1974 | 3,500 | -12.5% |
| 1977 | 4,000 | +14.3% |
| 1978 | 5,000 | +25.0% |
| 1979 | 5,770 | +15.4% |
| 1980 | 44,000 | +662.6% |
| 1981 | 150,000 | +240.9% |
| 1982 | 167,750 | +11.8% |
| 1983 | 170,000 | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 175,000 | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 175,000 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 175,100 | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 177,090 | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 356,400 | +101.3% |
| 1989 | 356,507 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 356,400 | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 360,170 | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 360,991 | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 52,472 | -85.5% |
| 1994 | 47,357 | -9.7% |
| 1995 | 38,717 | -18.2% |
| 1996 | 34,569 | -10.7% |
| 1997 | 31,892 | -7.7% |
| 1998 | 28,242 | -11.4% |
| 1999 | 24,506 | -13.2% |
| 2000 | 18,452 | -24.7% |
| 2001 | 15,452 | -16.3% |
| 2002 | 12,953 | -16.2% |
| 2003 | 6,068 | -53.2% |
| 2004 | 4,336 | -28.5% |
| 2005 | 3,212 | -25.9% |
| 2006 | 3,309 | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 1,603 | -51.6% |
| 2008 | 1,038 | -35.2% |
| 2009 | 1,215 | +17.1% |
| 2010 | 1,364 | +12.3% |
| 2011 | 1,647 | +20.7% |
| 2012 | 1,501 | -8.9% |
| 2013 | 1,814 | +20.9% |
| 2014 | 1,820 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 2,904 | +59.6% |
| 2016 | 6,178 | +112.7% |
| 2017 | 8,993 | +45.6% |
| 2018 | 16,530 | +83.8% |
| 2019 | 28,517 | +72.5% |
| 2020 | 45,434 | +59.3% |
| 2021 | 73,448 | +61.7% |
| 2022 | 95,579 | +30.1% |
| 2023 | 124,784 | +30.6% |
| 2024 | 150,836 | +20.9% |
| 2025 | 152,002 | +0.8% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 152,002 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,499, 33.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 152,002 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 226, 672.6× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mexico changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | +662.6% | 5,770 | 44,000 |
| 1981 | +240.9% | 44,000 | 150,000 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3,909 | 3,000 | 5,770 | 8 |
| 1980s | 194,685 | 44,000 | 356,507 | 10 |
| 1990s | 133,532 | 24,506 | 360,991 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,764 | 1,038 | 18,452 | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,127 | 1,364 | 28,517 | 10 |
| 2020s | 107,014 | 45,434 | 152,002 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More population data for Mexico
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.5786 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.1 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.5786 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.7936 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 143,772 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.6019 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.7222 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.583 (2100)
- Population density 67 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 5.55 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mexico?
- Refugee population by country or territory of asylum in Mexico was 152,002 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 360,991 in 1992.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of asylum recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,038 in 2008.
- How does Mexico rank for refugee population by country or territory of asylum?
- Mexico ranks 39th out of 183 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5,134.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mexico data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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