Good to know
Good to Know
- Foreign residents are primarily from the US and Canada, with significant seasonal swings: the expat population swells 30-40% during winter months (December-April) when snowbirds arrive, then contracts during summer.
- Puerto Vallarta hosts one of Mexico's largest and most organized expat communities; Expats in Vallarta (founded 2009) is the largest expat organization in Mexico with active events and support networks.
- Tech startup activity is limited compared to Mexico City or Guadalajara; the city is better suited for remote workers and digital entrepreneurs than venture-backed startups.
- Tourism dominates the economy (80% of workforce), creating stable but seasonal employment; many expats work in tourism, real estate, hospitality, or as digital nomads.
- The city is notably LGBTQ+ friendly and has been branded 'the San Francisco of Mexico,' attracting a significant percentage of LGBTQ+ expats and retirees.
Age Distribution
- Median Age
- 25.4
Primary Age Groups Percent Of Population
- Ages 10 14
- 24,823 inhabitants
- Ages 20 24
- 26,579 inhabitants
- Ages 25 29
- 26,132 inhabitants
Total Population
- City
- 237670
- Year
- 2025
- Source
- World Population Review, MacroTrends
- Metro Area
- 578000
Population Growth
- Annual Growth Rate Percent
- 0.98
- Recent Growth Metric
- grew by 2,305 in the last year (2025)
Economic Employment
- Poverty Rate Extreme Percent
- 3.29
- Poverty Rate Moderate Percent
- 32.1
- Vulnerable Due To Income Percent
- 10.7
- Vulnerable Due To Social Deprivation Percent
- 27.4
Gender Distribution
- Male Percent
- 50.1
- Female Percent
- 49.9
Business And Tech Presence
- Innovation Projects
- A public coworking innovation and entrepreneurship center planned at the International Convention Center with free internet, meeting rooms, and training programs (budget ~12 million pesos)
- Remote Worker Friendly
- Established community of digital nomads and remote workers; multiple coworking options and entrepreneur-focused networking events
- Tech Startup Ecosystem
- Emerging but limited; Puerto Vallarta is secondary to Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey as startup hubs
- Primary Economic Sector
- Tourism-related industries (hotels, restaurants, transportation, personal services) ~80% of workforce
Coworking Spaces
- Vallarta CoWork
Indigenous Language Speakers
- Speakers Percent
- 1.16
Primary Languages
- Náhuatl (1,319 speakers)
- Otomí (450 speakers)
- Zapoteco (383 speakers)
Foreign Born And Expat Presence
- Seasonal Variation
- Population swells December-April; contracts June-October as many expats travel
- Expat Community Characteristics
- One of Mexico's largest established expat communities; significant influx during winter months (snowbirds)
- Estimated Year Round Foreign Residents
- 10,000-15,000
- Composition Note
- Vast majority from US and Canada, smaller contingent from Western European countries
Primary Nationalities
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
Real Estate Buyer Breakdown
- American Buyers Percent
- 40
- Mexican Nationals Percent
- 30
- Canadians And Other Foreign Percent
- 20
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this local demographics research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Puerto Vallarta
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.