Introduction
In 2024, more than half of the remittances received in Mexico from the United States originated from just three U.S. states: California, Texas, and Colorado. According to the 2025 Migration and Remittances Annual Report published by BBVA, approximately 62.529 billion USD of the total 64.745 billion USD in remittances to Mexico came from the neighboring country.
Top Remittance-Sending States
California: California led the way with 20.412 billion USD, accounting for 32.6% of the total remittances sent from the U.S.
Texas: Texas followed closely with 9.002 billion USD, representing 14.4%.
Colorado: Colorado contributed 2.529 billion USD, making up 4%.
Other notable contributors included:
- Georgia: 2.455 billion USD (3.9%)
- Illinois: 2.305 billion USD (3.7%)
- Florida: 2.228 billion USD (3.6%)
- New York: 1.802 billion USD (2.9%)
- North Carolina: 1.626 billion USD (2.6%)
- New Jersey: 1.445 billion USD (2.3%)
- Arizona: 1.290 billion USD (2.1%)
Top Mexican States Receiving Remittances
Of the remittances received in 2024, 25.9% of the total sent to Mexico concentrated in three states: Michoacán, Guanajuato, and Jalisco.
Michoacán: Michoacán topped the national list with 5.647 billion USD, followed closely by Guanajuato with 5.645 billion USD and Jalisco with 5.503 billion USD.
At the municipal level, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, maintained its position as the top recipient of remittances for the second consecutive year with 909 million USD, while Tijuana, Baja California, held the second spot with 788 million USD.
Origin of Migrants
The report also highlights that the western region, or “traditional” area, remains the primary origin of Mexican migrants heading to the U.S. Between 2018 and 2023, 55.1% of those who emigrated from the south-southeast region did so without proper documentation for U.S. entry, while the northern regions predominantly featured migrants with some form of documentation. In all regions, women showed higher percentages of documented migration.
In 2022, 4.6% of Mexican households received remittances, an increase of 0.2 percentage points from 2020.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the significance of these three U.S. states in remittances to Mexico? California, Texas, and Colorado are responsible for over half of the remittances sent to Mexico from the U.S., with California leading the way at 32.6%.
- Which Mexican states received the most remittances in 2024? Michoacán, Guanajuato, and Jalisco received the highest amounts of remittances in 2024, with Michoacán topping the list.
- What is the origin of Mexican migrants in the U.S.? The western region, or “traditional” area, is the primary origin of Mexican migrants heading to the U.S., with a significant portion traveling without proper documentation.
- How have remittances to Mexican households changed over time? In 2022, 4.6% of Mexican households received remittances, marking a 0.2 percentage point increase from 2020.
