Refugees by country of asylum in Mexico
Mexico: Refugees by country of asylum was 150,836 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Mexico, 1970–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Mexico is 150,836 people, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.9% on the previous year and up 8,187.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Mexico peaked at 360,991 people in 1992 and was at its lowest, 1,038 people, in 2008.
Mexico ranks 40th 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.
Refugees by country of asylum in Mexico, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3,000 people | — |
| 1971 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 3,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 4,000 people | +33.3% |
| 1974 | 3,500 people | -12.5% |
| 1977 | 4,000 people | +14.3% |
| 1978 | 5,000 people | +25.0% |
| 1979 | 5,770 people | +15.4% |
| 1980 | 44,000 people | +662.6% |
| 1981 | 150,000 people | +240.9% |
| 1982 | 167,750 people | +11.8% |
| 1983 | 170,000 people | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 175,000 people | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 175,100 people | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 177,090 people | +1.1% |
| 1988 | 356,400 people | +101.3% |
| 1989 | 356,507 people | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 356,400 people | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 360,170 people | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 360,991 people | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 52,472 people | -85.5% |
| 1994 | 47,357 people | -9.7% |
| 1995 | 38,717 people | -18.2% |
| 1996 | 34,569 people | -10.7% |
| 1997 | 31,892 people | -7.7% |
| 1998 | 28,242 people | -11.4% |
| 1999 | 24,506 people | -13.2% |
| 2000 | 18,452 people | -24.7% |
| 2001 | 15,452 people | -16.3% |
| 2002 | 12,953 people | -16.2% |
| 2003 | 6,068 people | -53.2% |
| 2004 | 4,336 people | -28.5% |
| 2005 | 3,212 people | -25.9% |
| 2006 | 3,309 people | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 1,603 people | -51.6% |
| 2008 | 1,038 people | -35.2% |
| 2009 | 1,215 people | +17.1% |
| 2010 | 1,364 people | +12.3% |
| 2011 | 1,647 people | +20.7% |
| 2012 | 1,501 people | -8.9% |
| 2013 | 1,814 people | +20.9% |
| 2014 | 1,820 people | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 2,904 people | +59.6% |
| 2016 | 6,178 people | +112.7% |
| 2017 | 8,993 people | +45.6% |
| 2018 | 16,530 people | +83.8% |
| 2019 | 28,517 people | +72.5% |
| 2020 | 45,434 people | +59.3% |
| 2021 | 73,448 people | +61.7% |
| 2022 | 95,579 people | +30.1% |
| 2023 | 124,784 people | +30.6% |
| 2024 | 150,836 people | +20.9% |
Mexico compared with similar countries
- Mexico's 150,836 people is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 6,251 people, 24.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- Mexico's 150,836 people is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 166 people, 908.7× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country 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 people | 44,000 people |
| 1981 | +240.9% | 44,000 people | 150,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3,909 people | 3,000 people | 5,770 people | 8 |
| 1980s | 194,685 people | 44,000 people | 356,507 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 133,532 people | 24,506 people | 360,991 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 6,764 people | 1,038 people | 18,452 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,127 people | 1,364 people | 28,517 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 98,016 people | 45,434 people | 150,836 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More reference data data for Mexico
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.11 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 16.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 32.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 32.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 13.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 7.36 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 84.69 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 157.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 9.55 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Mexico?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Mexico was 150,836 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 360,991 people in 1992.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,038 people in 2008.
- How does Mexico rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Mexico ranks 40th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8,187.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mexico data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 53 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.