The head of the Institute for the Development of Mayan Culture (Indemaya), Eric Villanueva Mukul, has revealed that the number of Yucatecans established in the United States has considerably exceeded the estimated figure.
According to Mukul, more than half a million inhabitants of Yucatan live in practically every state in the United States. Through a recent census, a complete picture of the geography of the Yucatecan diaspora was obtained, revealing its presence even in remote places such as Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
The state official explained that the last census in the United States allowed local authorities to determine that the Yucatecan population in the neighboring country is between 500,000 and 600,000 people, a figure that significantly exceeds previous estimates of 250,000 to 300,000 inhabitants.
This more precise knowledge has also benefited authorities by more effectively calculating remittances arriving in Yucatan from the United States, setting a new record in 2023. Mukul indicated that these remittances are expected to reach between 440 and 450 million dollars, approximately nine billion pesos, which represents a significant increase. Furthermore, he noted that in recent years, the amount of remittances has experienced an average growth of 20%, a trend that is expected to continue increasing.
Regarding the distribution of remittances by municipalities, Mukul highlighted that Oxkutzcab heads the list, receiving up to 60 million pesos per month, which is equivalent to around 700 million pesos annually.
