GITNUXREPORT 2026

Venezuela Migration Statistics

Venezuela's massive migration crisis has driven a quarter of its population abroad.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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55% women-headed households in Colombia camps, UNHCR Colombia

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Average age of Venezuelan migrants: 28 years, IOM DTM 2023

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40% of migrants have children under 18, R4V survey

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65% have secondary education or higher, World Bank survey 2022

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25% indigenous (Warao, etc.), IOM 2023

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45% female migrants overall, UNHCR 2024

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1.4 million children migrants (18%), UNICEF 2023

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10% elderly (60+), R4V demographics

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70% urban origin pre-migration, IOM REMAP

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30% professionals (doctors/engineers), MPI 2022

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50% skilled workers among working-age, ILO 2023

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20% single mothers heading households, UNHCR Colombia

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Median income pre-migration: $300/month, World Bank

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15% disabled among migrants, IOM 2023

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55% from Zulia state origin, R4V

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60% speak English proficiently in US subgroup, MPI

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35% Afro-Venezuelan descent, IOM survey

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Avg household size: 4.2 persons, UNHCR

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75% literate (95% youth), UNESCO est.

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40% youth (18-29), DTM Colombia

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12% LGBTQ+ identified, special needs survey R4V

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80% Christian (Catholic majority), Pew adapted

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In 2014-2018, 2.3M emigrated due to crisis onset, World Bank

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2019 saw 780,000 outflows, highest annual, IOM DTM

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2020: 250,000 despite COVID, down 68% from 2019, R4V

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2021: 400,000 Venezuelans moved abroad, UNHCR

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2022: 690,000 new displacements, IOM

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Q1 2023: 220,000 outflows, R4V

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2017: 300,000 left amid hyperinflation peak, MPI

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2016: 180,000 emigration surge, UNHCR historical data

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2023 full year: 700,000+ new migrants, IOM estimate

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Monthly average 2018: 82,000 departures, R4V

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2015: 100,000 initial wave post-price controls, World Bank

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H1 2024: 150,000 outflows, DTM

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2022 monthly peak Dec: 50,000, Colombian data

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2014: 50,000 baseline emigration, UN DESA

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Q4 2023: 180,000 new entries to neighbors, R4V

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2020 drop to 20,000/month due to lockdowns, IOM

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2021 recovery: 35,000/month avg, UNHCR

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Jan-Jun 2023: 400,000 total yearly projection exceeded, Peru data

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2019 H2: 500,000 amid blackouts, MPI

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Cumulative 2014-2023: avg 780k/year, R4V

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2024 projection: 800k new, IOM

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Pre-2014 annual avg 20k, post 500k+, World Bank

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Hyperinflation (1.7M% 2018) primary driver for 92% migrants, UNHCR survey

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Food insecurity affected 65% pre-departure, WFP 2023

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Political violence/persecution: 40% cite as reason, IOM DTM

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Healthcare collapse: 55% lacked medicine access, MSF report

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GDP contraction 75% 2013-2021 drove 80%, World Bank

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96% poverty rate 2021 motivated flight, ENCOVI survey

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Blackouts/power cuts: 70% affected daily, MPI

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Salary avg $3/month vs $100 cost basket, 85% economic push, CAF survey

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50% family reunification secondary motive, R4V

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Crime/violence: 35% gang-related fear, InSight Crime

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90% cited economic crisis primary, UNHCR polls

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Malnutrition 30% children pre-migration, UNICEF

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Repression post-2017 protests: 25%, HRW

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Fuel shortages: 60% transport issues, IOM

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Hyperinflation peak 2018: 80% income loss, IMF

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75% lacked basic services (water/elec), ENCOVI

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Corruption perceptions drove 20%, Transparency Int.

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45% education system collapse (teacher exodus), UNESCO

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Sanctions impact cited by 15%, Pew Latin Barometer

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Family separation risk: 10% other, R4V qualitative

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70% of outflows to Colombia 2018-2020, Colombian Migracion

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20% to Peru by 2023, total 1.5M, Peruvian Supertrans

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12% in Ecuador, 500k registered, Ecuadorian govt

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8% in Chile, 510k by 2023, Chilean PDI

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Brazil: 7% or 600k, mainly Roraima, Brazilian CGE

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US: 5% or 400k+ encounters 2021-2024, CBP

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Europe: 3% or 250k, mainly Spain/Italy, Eurostat

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Central America: 10% transit via Darien, 1M+ Venezuelans, IOM

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Colombia hosts 2.9M, 37% of total, R4V 2024

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Peru 19%, 1.5M, R4V

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Ecuador 6.5%, 500k, R4V

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Chile 6.5%, 510k, R4V

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85% in Latin America/Caribbean, UNHCR 2023

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Spain: 200k Venezuelans, 2.5% total, INE Spain

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Panama: 250k, key transit, Panamanian govt

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Mexico: 100k settled + transit, INM Mexico

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Argentina: 200k, growing, Argentine Migraciones

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Canada: 50k, IRB data

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15% to North America by 2024, MPI estimate

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4% to Europe, IOM REMAP

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Uruguay: 50k, small share, Uruguayan DNM

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Costa Rica: 80k, Central hub, Costa Rican Migracion

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As of October 2024, over 7.8 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have fled the country since 2014, according to the R4V Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform

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By mid-2023, UNHCR reported 7.709 million Venezuelans living outside the country, equivalent to 21.09% of Venezuela's population

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IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded 7.7 million Venezuelan migrants globally as of September 2023, with a daily outflow average of 900 people

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From 2014 to 2022, 6.8 million Venezuelans emigrated, per World Bank estimates, representing a 25% population decline

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ACNUR data shows 7.3 million Venezuelans abroad by end-2022, with 85% in Latin America and Caribbean

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OIM reports indicate 1.6 million irregular border crossings from Venezuela in 2022 alone

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Between 2015 and 2020, 4.6 million Venezuelans left, per Migration Policy Institute analysis

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R4V platform tracked 7.5 million Venezuelan refugees/migrants as of March 2024

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UNHCR's 2023 Global Trends report notes 7.7 million Venezuelans displaced externally by end-2023

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Colombian authorities registered 2.9 million Venezuelan entries by 2024, part of total 7.8M outflow

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Peru received 1.5 million Venezuelans by 2023, contributing to hemispheric total of 7M+

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Ecuador hosted 500,000 Venezuelans by 2023, amid 7.7M global exodus

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Chile's SEBIN data shows 510,000 Venezuelans entered 2018-2023, part of larger wave

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Brazil registered 600,000 Venezuelans by 2024

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US CBP recorded 200,000+ Venezuelan encounters at border 2022-2024

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Spain naturalized 300,000 Venezuelans 2015-2023

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IOM estimates 500,000 Venezuelans in irregular status across Americas by 2023

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R4V: 80% of 7.7M migrants are in South America as of 2023

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World Bank: Venezuela's net migration rate -23.49 per 1,000 in 2020

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UN DESA: 5.4 million Venezuelans emigrated 2010-2020

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Between April 2018 and Oct 2019, 4M Venezuelans fled, per IOM

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1.3 million Venezuelans sought asylum globally 2017-2022, UNHCR

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R4V: 7.337 million Venezuelans abroad by Dec 2022

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Peak outflow: 800,000 in 2019 alone, Migration Policy Institute

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2.5 million children among 7M migrants, UNICEF 2023

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45% women among emigrants, IOM DTM 2023

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30% under 18 in migrant population, UNHCR 2023

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Net loss of 7.7M people since 2015, 25% pop decline, Brookings 2023

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1M+ crossed Darien Gap 2022-2024, mostly Venezuelans, IOM

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7.8M total by Q1 2024, R4V update

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Imagine a nation where every fifth person has left—this is the staggering reality of Venezuela, where over 7.8 million people have fled since 2014, creating one of the largest displacement crises in modern history.

Key Takeaways

As of October 2024, over 7.8 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have fled the country since 2014, according to the R4V Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform
By mid-2023, UNHCR reported 7.709 million Venezuelans living outside the country, equivalent to 21.09% of Venezuela's population
IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded 7.7 million Venezuelan migrants globally as of September 2023, with a daily outflow average of 900 people
In 2014-2018, 2.3M emigrated due to crisis onset, World Bank
2019 saw 780,000 outflows, highest annual, IOM DTM
2020: 250,000 despite COVID, down 68% from 2019, R4V
70% of outflows to Colombia 2018-2020, Colombian Migracion
20% to Peru by 2023, total 1.5M, Peruvian Supertrans
12% in Ecuador, 500k registered, Ecuadorian govt
55% women-headed households in Colombia camps, UNHCR Colombia
Average age of Venezuelan migrants: 28 years, IOM DTM 2023
40% of migrants have children under 18, R4V survey
Hyperinflation (1.7M% 2018) primary driver for 92% migrants, UNHCR survey
Food insecurity affected 65% pre-departure, WFP 2023
Political violence/persecution: 40% cite as reason, IOM DTM

Venezuela's massive migration crisis has driven a quarter of its population abroad.

Demographics of Migrants

55% women-headed households in Colombia camps, UNHCR Colombia
Average age of Venezuelan migrants: 28 years, IOM DTM 2023
40% of migrants have children under 18, R4V survey
65% have secondary education or higher, World Bank survey 2022
25% indigenous (Warao, etc.), IOM 2023
45% female migrants overall, UNHCR 2024
1.4 million children migrants (18%), UNICEF 2023
10% elderly (60+), R4V demographics
70% urban origin pre-migration, IOM REMAP
30% professionals (doctors/engineers), MPI 2022
50% skilled workers among working-age, ILO 2023
20% single mothers heading households, UNHCR Colombia
Median income pre-migration: $300/month, World Bank
15% disabled among migrants, IOM 2023
55% from Zulia state origin, R4V
60% speak English proficiently in US subgroup, MPI
35% Afro-Venezuelan descent, IOM survey
Avg household size: 4.2 persons, UNHCR
75% literate (95% youth), UNESCO est.
40% youth (18-29), DTM Colombia
12% LGBTQ+ identified, special needs survey R4V
80% Christian (Catholic majority), Pew adapted

Demographics of Migrants Interpretation

Behind the grim statistic of families fleeing lies a reservoir of young, educated talent—from single mothers keeping hope alive to professionals who could rebuild nations, all carrying dreams far heavier than their meager belongings.

Migration by Year

In 2014-2018, 2.3M emigrated due to crisis onset, World Bank
2019 saw 780,000 outflows, highest annual, IOM DTM
2020: 250,000 despite COVID, down 68% from 2019, R4V
2021: 400,000 Venezuelans moved abroad, UNHCR
2022: 690,000 new displacements, IOM
Q1 2023: 220,000 outflows, R4V
2017: 300,000 left amid hyperinflation peak, MPI
2016: 180,000 emigration surge, UNHCR historical data
2023 full year: 700,000+ new migrants, IOM estimate
Monthly average 2018: 82,000 departures, R4V
2015: 100,000 initial wave post-price controls, World Bank
H1 2024: 150,000 outflows, DTM
2022 monthly peak Dec: 50,000, Colombian data
2014: 50,000 baseline emigration, UN DESA
Q4 2023: 180,000 new entries to neighbors, R4V
2020 drop to 20,000/month due to lockdowns, IOM
2021 recovery: 35,000/month avg, UNHCR
Jan-Jun 2023: 400,000 total yearly projection exceeded, Peru data
2019 H2: 500,000 amid blackouts, MPI
Cumulative 2014-2023: avg 780k/year, R4V
2024 projection: 800k new, IOM
Pre-2014 annual avg 20k, post 500k+, World Bank

Migration by Year Interpretation

The numbers tell a story of a nation in perpetual motion, where the annual exodus of roughly a small city's worth of people became tragically normal—until it swelled to the size of a metropolis fleeing what home could no longer provide.

Reasons for Migration

Hyperinflation (1.7M% 2018) primary driver for 92% migrants, UNHCR survey
Food insecurity affected 65% pre-departure, WFP 2023
Political violence/persecution: 40% cite as reason, IOM DTM
Healthcare collapse: 55% lacked medicine access, MSF report
GDP contraction 75% 2013-2021 drove 80%, World Bank
96% poverty rate 2021 motivated flight, ENCOVI survey
Blackouts/power cuts: 70% affected daily, MPI
Salary avg $3/month vs $100 cost basket, 85% economic push, CAF survey
50% family reunification secondary motive, R4V
Crime/violence: 35% gang-related fear, InSight Crime
90% cited economic crisis primary, UNHCR polls
Malnutrition 30% children pre-migration, UNICEF
Repression post-2017 protests: 25%, HRW
Fuel shortages: 60% transport issues, IOM
Hyperinflation peak 2018: 80% income loss, IMF
75% lacked basic services (water/elec), ENCOVI
Corruption perceptions drove 20%, Transparency Int.
45% education system collapse (teacher exodus), UNESCO
Sanctions impact cited by 15%, Pew Latin Barometer
Family separation risk: 10% other, R4V qualitative

Reasons for Migration Interpretation

Venezuela’s collapse into a nation where money was confetti, hunger a daily guest, and the future a rumor, sent millions fleeing a home that had ceased to function, their departures a desperate census of everything that had broken.

Regional Distribution

70% of outflows to Colombia 2018-2020, Colombian Migracion
20% to Peru by 2023, total 1.5M, Peruvian Supertrans
12% in Ecuador, 500k registered, Ecuadorian govt
8% in Chile, 510k by 2023, Chilean PDI
Brazil: 7% or 600k, mainly Roraima, Brazilian CGE
US: 5% or 400k+ encounters 2021-2024, CBP
Europe: 3% or 250k, mainly Spain/Italy, Eurostat
Central America: 10% transit via Darien, 1M+ Venezuelans, IOM
Colombia hosts 2.9M, 37% of total, R4V 2024
Peru 19%, 1.5M, R4V
Ecuador 6.5%, 500k, R4V
Chile 6.5%, 510k, R4V
85% in Latin America/Caribbean, UNHCR 2023
Spain: 200k Venezuelans, 2.5% total, INE Spain
Panama: 250k, key transit, Panamanian govt
Mexico: 100k settled + transit, INM Mexico
Argentina: 200k, growing, Argentine Migraciones
Canada: 50k, IRB data
15% to North America by 2024, MPI estimate
4% to Europe, IOM REMAP
Uruguay: 50k, small share, Uruguayan DNM
Costa Rica: 80k, Central hub, Costa Rican Migracion

Regional Distribution Interpretation

The Venezuelan exodus has created a continental-scale game of regional musical chairs, with Colombia holding most of the folding seats, neighbors Peru and Chile scrambling to keep up, and a determined, wearying fraction trekking to distant chords in North America and Europe.

Total Emigration Figures

As of October 2024, over 7.8 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants have fled the country since 2014, according to the R4V Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform
By mid-2023, UNHCR reported 7.709 million Venezuelans living outside the country, equivalent to 21.09% of Venezuela's population
IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded 7.7 million Venezuelan migrants globally as of September 2023, with a daily outflow average of 900 people
From 2014 to 2022, 6.8 million Venezuelans emigrated, per World Bank estimates, representing a 25% population decline
ACNUR data shows 7.3 million Venezuelans abroad by end-2022, with 85% in Latin America and Caribbean
OIM reports indicate 1.6 million irregular border crossings from Venezuela in 2022 alone
Between 2015 and 2020, 4.6 million Venezuelans left, per Migration Policy Institute analysis
R4V platform tracked 7.5 million Venezuelan refugees/migrants as of March 2024
UNHCR's 2023 Global Trends report notes 7.7 million Venezuelans displaced externally by end-2023
Colombian authorities registered 2.9 million Venezuelan entries by 2024, part of total 7.8M outflow
Peru received 1.5 million Venezuelans by 2023, contributing to hemispheric total of 7M+
Ecuador hosted 500,000 Venezuelans by 2023, amid 7.7M global exodus
Chile's SEBIN data shows 510,000 Venezuelans entered 2018-2023, part of larger wave
Brazil registered 600,000 Venezuelans by 2024
US CBP recorded 200,000+ Venezuelan encounters at border 2022-2024
Spain naturalized 300,000 Venezuelans 2015-2023
IOM estimates 500,000 Venezuelans in irregular status across Americas by 2023
R4V: 80% of 7.7M migrants are in South America as of 2023
World Bank: Venezuela's net migration rate -23.49 per 1,000 in 2020
UN DESA: 5.4 million Venezuelans emigrated 2010-2020
Between April 2018 and Oct 2019, 4M Venezuelans fled, per IOM
1.3 million Venezuelans sought asylum globally 2017-2022, UNHCR
R4V: 7.337 million Venezuelans abroad by Dec 2022
Peak outflow: 800,000 in 2019 alone, Migration Policy Institute
2.5 million children among 7M migrants, UNICEF 2023
45% women among emigrants, IOM DTM 2023
30% under 18 in migrant population, UNHCR 2023
Net loss of 7.7M people since 2015, 25% pop decline, Brookings 2023
1M+ crossed Darien Gap 2022-2024, mostly Venezuelans, IOM
7.8M total by Q1 2024, R4V update

Total Emigration Figures Interpretation

This exodus, a diaspora of millions so profound it has drained a quarter of Venezuela's population, is not merely a statistic but a relentless, heartbreaking hemorrhage of human potential from a nation slowly bleeding out its people.

Sources & References

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