FIGURE3 Mexican Unauthorized Immigrant Population Declines Since 2007 Peak In millions
Mexicans are a majority of unauthorized immigrants (52% in 2012), but both their numbers and share have declined in recent years, according to the Pew Research estimates. Although the U.S. population of unauthorized immigrants was stable from 2009 to 2012, the number of Mexicans in this population fell by about half a million people during those years. According to the new Pew Research Center estimates, there were 5.9 million Mexican unauthorized immigrants in 2012, compared with 6.4 million in 2009. The decline likely resulted from both an increase in departures to Mexico and a decrease in arrivals from Mexico.
FIGURE3  | Mexican Unauthorized Immigrant Population  | Declines Since 2007 Peak  | In millions  | 8.0  | 6.9  | 7.0  | 6.4  | 6. 3  | 6.2  | 5.9*  | 6.0  | 4.5  | 5.0  | 4.0  | 2.9  | 3.0  | 2.0  | 100  | 0.0  | 1995  | 2000  | 2005  | 2010 2012  | Note Shading surroundinglineindicstes shigh and low points ofthe estimated 90%  | confidence interval. surroundinglineindicstes Data labels are for 1995 shigh 2000, 2005 2007 2009. 2011 and  | 2012 The symbol means the 2009: 2012 change is statistically significs ntat90%  | confidence interval.  | Source Table A6, derived from Pew Research Center estimates for 2005 2012 based on  | augmented American Community Survey data from Inte grated Public Use Microdata  | Series (IPUMS); for 1995 and 2000 based on March Supplements to Current Population  | Survey.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 