Where Most Venezuelan Migrants Have Found New Homes

Colombia Becomes The Top Destination For Venezuelan Migrants:

Colombia hosts approximately 2.8 million Venezuelan migrants, making it the largest destination country for people fleeing Venezuela. This represents about one-third of all Venezuelans who have left their home country. The large number of Venezuelan migrants in Colombia equals roughly six percent of Colombia's total population. 

Many Venezuelans choose Colombia because the two countries share a long border, making it easier to reach by walking or taking short bus rides. The shared language and similar cultures also help newcomers feel more comfortable as they start their new lives.

Colombia created a special program called the Temporary Protection Statute for Venezuelan Migrants in 2021, which has helped more than 1.9 million Venezuelans gain legal status. This program gives people permission to work legally, access healthcare, and send their children to school. 

The government allows these permits to last until 2031, giving families time to build stable lives. After living in Colombia legally for five years, Venezuelan migrants can apply for permanent residence visas to stay forever.

Peru Ranks As The Second Most Popular Choice:

Peru has become home to approximately 1.7 million Venezuelan migrants, making it the second-largest host country in the world. The country welcomed many Venezuelans during the early years of the migration crisis. 

Peru has received hundreds of thousands of applications from Venezuelans seeking refugee status. The country continues to review these applications to update how many Venezuelans currently live there.

Despite facing economic challenges, many Venezuelan families have chosen to stay in Peru and build their futures. The country has worked to create programs that help migrants get legal documents and find work. 

However, surveys show that Venezuelans in Peru face more difficulties than those in Colombia when trying to access basic services and stable employment.

Other Important Destination Countries In Latin America:

Brazil hosts around 630,000 Venezuelan migrants, Chile has 533,000, and Ecuador has approximately 445,000. These countries have created their own programs to help Venezuelan families settle and contribute to their communities. 

Brazil has recognized over 132,000 Venezuelans as refugees and given temporary residence permits to more than 411,000 people. Chile and Ecuador have also launched special visa programs to help undocumented migrants gain legal status.

Together, more than 6.7 million Venezuelans live in Latin America and the Caribbean, showing that most people stay close to their home country. The United States and Spain also host significant Venezuelan populations, but the overwhelming majority choose to remain in South America. 

These countries have shown remarkable generosity by keeping their borders open and creating pathways for legal residence.

Understanding The Scale Of Venezuelan Migration:

More than 7.89 million Venezuelans currently live outside their home country as of December 2024, making it the second-largest displacement crisis in the world (Iom) . This represents over one-quarter of Venezuela's entire population from before the crisis began. 

The migration started increasing dramatically around 2015 when Venezuela's economy collapsed. People left because they could not find jobs, buy food, or access basic healthcare at home.

Studies show that 81 percent of Venezuelan migrants in Colombia and 77 percent in Peru believe they can build positive futures in their new countries. Most migrants hope to return to Venezuela someday, but they plan to stay in their host countries until conditions improve back home. 

The Venezuelan migration has transformed communities across South America and created both challenges and opportunities for receiving countries.

Looking Forward For Venezuelan Families Abroad:

The future of Venezuelan migration depends largely on political and economic changes in Venezuela. Many host countries continue working to help migrants integrate into society by offering language classes, job training, and legal documentation programs. 

Recent surveys found that 89 percent of Venezuelans in Colombia and 69 percent in Peru plan to stay in their current countries for at least another year.

Countries across Latin America have demonstrated remarkable solidarity by welcoming millions of displaced Venezuelans. These nations have created innovative policies to help migrants access education, healthcare, and legal work opportunities. 

As the crisis continues, regional cooperation remains essential to support both Venezuelan families seeking safety and the communities that have opened their doors to help them start new lives.