Mexico: Refugee Population, by year
YearRrefugees,
in thousands
202295.58
202173.45
202045.43
201928.52
201816.53
20178.99
20166.18
20152.90
20141.82
20131.81
20121.50
20111.65
20101.36
20091.22
20081.04
20071.60
20063.31
20053.21
20044.34
20036.07
200212.95
200115.45
200018.45
  • Region: Mexico
  • Time period: 2000 to 2022
  • Published: Mar 2024

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Apr 17, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

Rapid Increase in Refugee Population from 2010 to 2022

The refugee population in Mexico experienced a significant rise, increasing from 1.36 thousand refugees in 2010 to 95.58 thousand in 2022. This marks an increase of over 6900% in twelve years, reflecting a growing trend of displacement issues within or nearby regions affecting Mexico.

Dramatic Growth Between 2017 and 2022

Between 2017 and 2022, the refugee population nearly quadrupled, growing from 8.99 thousand to 95.58 thousand. This five-year period saw one of the steepest increases, signaling a significant escalation in the factors causing people to seek refuge in Mexico.

Comparative Analysis of Early 2000s and Recent Trends

Refugee numbers in the early 2000s were notably high, with a count of 18.45 thousand in 2000, which gradually decreased to 1.04 thousand by 2008. However, a resurgence is observed from 2011 onwards, with figures climbing back up, surpassing early 2000s levels by 2022.

Significant Fluctuations in Early 2000s

The period from 2000 to 2007 exhibited significant fluctuations in refugee counts, peaking at 18.45 thousand in 2000 and then dramatically dropping to 1.60 thousand by 2007. These fluctuations suggest variable political or environmental conditions that impacted refugee inflows during that era.

Consistent Increase Post-2014

Since 2014, there has been a consistent annual increase in the refugee population in Mexico. Starting at 1.82 thousand in 2014, the count has risen each year, reaching 95.58 thousand in 2022, marking continuous growth over an eight-year span.

Highest Annual Increase Observed in Recent Years

The highest annual increase in refugee numbers occurred between 2021 and 2022, when the population rose by 22.13 thousand. This increase is the largest observed in the data provided, highlighting a worsening crisis or changing circumstances in the most recent years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did the refugee population in Mexico increase in recent years?

The refugee population in Mexico grew from 1.36 thousand in 2010 to 95.58 thousand in 2022.

What was the highest annual increase in refugee numbers in Mexico?

The highest annual increase was between 2021 and 2022, when refugee numbers rose by 22.13 thousand.

Terms and Definitions

A refugee is a person who has been forcibly displaced from their home country, and cannot return due to fear of persecution due to religion, race, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

An asylum seeker is a person who has left their home country due to fear of persecution and has applied for legal protection in another country, but whose claim for refugee status has not yet been processed or determined.

An Internally Displaced Person, often referred to as an IDP, is someone who has been forced to leave their home, but who remains within their country's borders. They are displaced as a result of conflicts, violence, human rights abuses, natural disasters, or development projects.

Forced displacement refers to the coerced movement of a person or people away from their home or region, typically because of war, violence, persecution, or natural disasters. It encompasses both refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Non-refoulement is a principle of international law that forbids the rendering of a victim of persecution to their persecutor. It basically guarantees that refugees will not be returned back to the countries where they could face danger or persecution.

Repatriation is the process of returning a person back to one's place of origin or citizenship. For refugees, this implies that the individual or groups of refugees go back to their home country, often with the help of the hosting country or an international organization.

UNHCR, or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, is a United Nations body that is responsible for protecting and supporting refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself. It also aids in their voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement to a third country.

A Prima Facie refugee is someone who is recognized as a refugee by the authorities without the need for an individual refugee status determination, usually based on the severity and obviousness of persecution in his or her country of origin.

Refugee Status Determination, or RSD, is the legal or administrative process by which governments or UNHCR determine whether a person seeking international protection is considered a refugee, according to national or international law.
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