Where Do Venezuelans Emigrate To?

More than seven million people have fled their homes since 2015 due to the worsening socio-economic and security crisis in Venezuela, according to the latest reports from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Colombia is the main destination for Venezuelans who decide to leave their country, with around 2.5 million migrants having moved there, according to data from the Interagency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants (R4V). Currently, the Colombian Ombudsman's Office estimates that some 9,000 migrants and refugees are stranded in Necoclí, a port in the northwest of the country. From there, boats provide passage across the Gulf of Urabá, before the journey through the jungles of Darién towards the United States.

Peru is the second major destination for Venezuelans to emigrate to, with approximately 1.5 million people having relocated there. However, amid the pandemic and growing economic instability, many Venezuelans have not found the necessary stability in the south of the continent, leading a growing number to head north. In 2021, the United States received more than 545,000 people from Venezuela, becoming the third most important migratory destination for people from this country.