FROM THE OUTSIDE |U.S. and Mexico: A Human Relationship

When discussing the integration process between the United States and Mexico, the focus is usually on economic and geopolitical partnerships, with migration being one of the key factors in the equation.

But the reality is far more complex.

More Americans are living in Mexico than in at least ten U.S. states.

More Mexicans are living in the U.S. than in most federation states.

According to the U.S. Department of State, around 1.6 million Americans reside in Mexico, making it the world’s largest population of U.S. expatriates. Some estimates even suggest that the number could be closer to three million. However, all figures remain approximations and projections.

Even taking the official estimate of 1.6 million, the number of Americans in Mexico exceeds the population of ten U.S. states in 2020:

• Wyoming: 576,851
• Vermont: 643,077
• Alaska: 733,391
• North Dakota: 779,094
• South Dakota: 886,667
• Delaware: 989,948
• Montana: 1,084,225
• Rhode Island: 1,097,379
• Maine: 1,362,359
• New Hampshire: 1,377,529

Some 2023 estimates slightly increased these state populations, but they still do not surpass the estimated number of U.S. residents in Mexico.

AI-based projections suggest that the number of Americans living in Mexico also exceeds the populations of Baja California Sur, Campeche, Nayarit, Tlaxcala, and Aguascalientes in Mexico.

Meanwhile, U.S. authorities estimate that there are around 11 million Mexican-born individuals in the United States, including about five million undocumented immigrants. Overall, the Mexican-origin population accounts for 61% of the Latino minority, and with figures ranging between 38 and 40 million people, they represent approximately 11% of the total U.S. population. In total, Latinos make up about 18% of all Americans.

For comparison, Mexico’s most populous state, the State of Mexico, has about 17 million inhabitants, including a significant portion of the Mexico City metropolitan area, with approximately 9.2 million residents. Other highly populated Mexican states include:

• Jalisco: 8.4 million
• Veracruz: 8.06 million
• Guanajuato: 6,166,934
• Puebla: 6,583,278
• Nuevo León: 5,784,442
• Chiapas: 5,543,828

Indeed, statistics only provide a partial picture of the profound social interconnection between the two nations. The exact number of people with dual nationality is unknown, but it is estimated that more than a quarter of Mexicans have a family member in the United States. Furthermore, remittances from the U.S. have become a vital source of income for many low-income families in Mexico.

At the same time, many Americans in Mexico are retirees who choose to settle there due to lower living costs, favorable weather, and proximity to the U.S. However, in recent years, there has been a notable increase in younger Americans moving to Mexico, taking advantage of remote work opportunities and more affordable living expenses.

Given these figures alone, the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Mexico is of utmost importance to both nations—a reality that neither country can afford to ignore.