---
"title": "Mexicans Less Likely to See Better Life in U.S."
"description": "Fewer than half of Mexicans say people who move from their country to the United States have a better life there."
"date": "2013-05-01"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Bruce Drake"
    "job_title": "Former Senior Editor"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/bruce-drake/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2013/05/01/246286/"
---

# Mexicans Less Likely to See Better Life in U.S.

More than 11 million Mexicans live in the United States, including about 6 million who are in the country illegally. But their compatriots are less likely than they were a year ago to view the move north favorably.

47% of Mexicans say that people from their country who move to the United States have a better life there, down from 53% in 2012. About one-in-five (18%) say Mexicans have a worse life in the United States, up from last year; 29% say life in the United States for Mexicans is no better or worse than back home.

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2013/04/Mexico05.png){.align}](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/global/2013/04/29/u-s-image-rebounds-in-mexico/)

But among Mexicans who have close friends or relatives living in the United States, 70% say those emigrants have achieved their goals, while just 25% believe they have been disappointed.

As they have since 2009, about three-fifths of Mexicans (61%) say they wouldn’t move to the United States even if they had the means and opportunity to do so. However, a sizable minority (35%) say they would move to the U.S. if they could, including 20% who say they would emigrate without authorization. [Read more](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/global/2013/04/29/u-s-image-rebounds-in-mexico/)