Oaxaca stands out not only for its cultural wealth but also for the strength and reach of its people. According to data from the Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior (IME) and the Instituto Oaxaqueño de Atención al Migrante (IOAM), more than 1.5 million Oaxacans live outside Mexico—mainly in the United States—though consolidated communities are also found in Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Australia.

The municipalities with the highest number of migrants are located in the Mixteca, Central Valleys, and Sierra Sur regions, where migration has become a family and economic strategy for decades.

In cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, Oaxacans have built solid networks that preserve their identity, promote entrepreneurship, and share the state’s art, gastronomy, and traditions.

Beyond the economic aspect, Oaxacan presence abroad has strengthened the promotion of its culture. Migrant organizations and hometown associations promote the Guelaguetza, brass band music, artisanal mezcal and traditional cuisine in different corners of the world—projecting Oaxaca as a state with a living and global identity.

Despite challenges—such as family separation, immigration status regularization, or the loss of Indigenous languages among second generations—Oaxacans maintain a deep bond with their homeland. The new generations, born outside Mexico, combine the best of both worlds: pride in their roots and the cosmopolitan outlook of global citizens.

Remittances represent one of the main sources of income for thousands of Oaxacan families. In 2024 alone, Oaxaca received over 3 billion U.S. dollars in remittances, ranking among the top five states with the highest inflows in the country, according to the Bank of Mexico.

The Sistema de Registro para Personas Mexicanas en el Exterior (SIRME) aims to facilitate communication between the Government of Mexico and its citizens abroad. Through this system, registered Mexicans receive timely information to avoid adverse situations while traveling, staying, or residing abroad. According to this same registry—filled out voluntarily by Mexicans living overseas—the SIRME platform provides the following distribution across four continents:

Venezuela (2), Dominican Republic (34), Paraguay (8), Panama (120), Nicaragua (4), Honduras (19), Haiti (1), Guyana (3), Guatemala (117), United States (63,740), El Salvador (9), Ecuador (23), Costa Rica (27), Colombia (38), Canada (2,000), Brazil (14), Bolivia (7), Belize (2), Barbados (1) and Argentina (4).

Turkey (17), Sweden (17), Russia (7), Romania (4), Czech Republic (1), Portugal (20), Italy (43), Ireland (76), Greece (11), Finland (6), Spain (682), Croatia (1) and others unspecified (896).

Vietnam (3), Thailand (5), Singapore (5), Qatar (3), Malaysia (1), Lebanon (2), Kuwait (4), Indonesia (1), India (1), Philippines (5) and others unspecified (30).

Senegal (2), Rwanda (1), Nigeria (1), Morocco (2), Kenya (4), Guinea-Bissau (1), Egypt (3) and South Africa (14).