Remittances to Mexico rise 2.8% in first five months of 2026

Mexico saw a 2.8% year-on-year increase in remittances during the first five months of 2026, receiving $25.287 billion. This marks a continuation of an upward trend after nearly a year of declining inflows, which followed stricter anti-immigration policies implemented by the United States.

The total amount received is $520 million higher than the $24.588 billion recorded in the same period in 2025, according to data from the Bank of Mexico (Banxico). Despite the increase in value, the number of transactions decreased by 2.3% to 62.99 million, with electronic transfers accounting for 99.2% of these.

In May 2026 specifically, remittances to Mexico reached $5.611 billion, representing a 3.8% increase compared to May 2025. Month-on-month, remittances grew by 6.7%. However, the number of remittance operations in May 2026 saw a year-on-year decrease of 1.7% to 13.9 million, while the average amount per transaction rose by 5.6% to $404.

These figures come after Mexico experienced a 4.6% year-on-year decrease in remittances in 2025, the first annual drop after 11 consecutive years of growth. Remittances from Mexicans abroad represent about 4% of Mexico's GDP, making it the second-largest recipient of remittances globally, after India. The data also follows a U.S. policy from July 2025 that imposed a 1% tax on certain types of remittances, a measure criticized by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum as a violation of a bilateral treaty.