Poverty and living standards in Mexicali, Mexico: official figures
CONEVAL estimated that 20.2% of people in Mexicali, 208,212 in all, were in poverty in 2020, 4th lowest of 107 Mexican cities on this site; across all municipalities combined the rate was 44.5%.
How has poverty in Mexicali changed since 2010?
The poverty rate in Mexicali was 30.0% in 2010 and 25.7% in 2015, so by 2020 it was down 9.7 points on 2010 (all municipalities combined: 46.1% in 2010).
Source: Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL) · saved copyHow many people live in extreme poverty in Mexicali?
1.1% of people in Mexicali, 11,163 in all, lived in extreme poverty in 2020, 3rd lowest of 107 Mexican cities on this site (all municipalities combined: 9.0%); a further 19.1% were in moderate poverty.
Source: Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL) · saved copyHow many people in Mexicali have incomes below the poverty line?
In 2020, 26.8% of people in Mexicali had an income below CONEVAL's poverty line, 3rd lowest of 107 Mexican cities on this site, and 5.9% were below the extreme poverty (food basket) line; the shares for all municipalities combined were 52.2% and 20.3%.
Source: Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL) · saved copyHow many people in Mexicali lack access to food?
10.7% of people in Mexicali lacked access to adequate food in 2020, 6th lowest of 107 Mexican cities on this site (all municipalities combined: 20.8%).
Source: Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL) · saved copyHow many people in Mexicali are vulnerable to poverty?
36.2% of people in Mexicali were neither poor nor vulnerable in 2020, 18th highest of 107 Mexican cities on this site; 37.0% were vulnerable because of a social deprivation and 6.6% because of low income (all municipalities combined: 21.5% neither poor nor vulnerable).
Source: Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL) · saved copyHow many people in Mexicali lack basic housing services?
In 2020, 6.0% of people in Mexicali lived in housing lacking adequate quality or space and 4.0% lacked basic services at home (all municipalities combined: 9.4% and 18.0%).
Source: Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL) · saved copyHow many homes in Mexicali lack a toilet?
In 2020, 0.4% of homes in Mexicali had no toilet, 1.4% had dirt floors and 3.1% had no refrigerator (national: 1.9%, 3.5% and 12.4%).
Source: Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL) · saved copyHow Mexicali compares with other cities in Mexico
People in poverty (CONEVAL) (2020)
Mexicali ranks 104 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | People in poverty (CONEVAL) |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | Sabinas | 20.6% |
| 102 | La Paz | 20.6% |
| 103 | San Luis Potosí-Soledad de Graciano Sánchez | 20.3% |
| 104 | Mexicali | 20.2% |
| 105 | Monterrey | 19.2% |
| 106 | Saltillo | 17.6% |
| 107 | Chihuahua | 15.7% |
People in extreme poverty (CONEVAL) (2020)
Mexicali ranks 105 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | People in extreme poverty (CONEVAL) |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | Tlaxcala | 1.4% |
| 102 | Sabinas | 1.3% |
| 103 | Cuauhtemoc | 1.2% |
| 104 | Mazatlán | 1.2% |
| 105 | Mexicali | 1.1% |
| 106 | Chihuahua | 0.9% |
| 107 | Tepic | 0.8% |
Income below the poverty line (CONEVAL) (2020)
Mexicali ranks 105 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Income below the poverty line (CONEVAL) |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | Tepic | 29.3% |
| 102 | Saltillo | 29.0% |
| 103 | La Paz | 27.8% |
| 104 | Ensenada | 27.8% |
| 105 | Mexicali | 26.8% |
| 106 | Chihuahua | 25.3% |
| 107 | Monterrey | 24.1% |
Lacking access to adequate food (CONEVAL) (2020)
Mexicali ranks 102 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Lacking access to adequate food (CONEVAL) |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | Hidalgo del Parral | 11.2% |
| 100 | Manzanillo | 11.2% |
| 101 | Saltillo | 11.1% |
| 102 | Mexicali | 10.7% |
| 103 | Moroleón Uriangato - Moroleón-Uriangato | 10.7% |
| 104 | Tepatitlán De Morelos | 10.3% |
| 105 | Chihuahua | 10.1% |
Neither poor nor vulnerable (CONEVAL) (2020)
Mexicali ranks 18 of 107, highest first.
| Rank | City | Neither poor nor vulnerable (CONEVAL) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | La Paz | 37.5% |
| 16 | Mazatlán | 36.7% |
| 17 | Guadalajara | 36.5% |
| 18 | Mexicali | 36.2% |
| 19 | La Laguna | 35.9% |
| 20 | Querétaro | 35.9% |
| 21 | Reynosa-Río Bravo | 35.7% |
More on Mexicali: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · all cities in Mexico
Sources
- Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL): Índice de Rezago Social 2000-2020 by state and municipality: total population and census indicators of schooling, health coverage and housing (from the 2010 and 2020 Population and Housing Censuses and the 2015 Intercensal Survey), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9191f6c16ec2…)
- Consejo Nacional de Evaluación de la Política de Desarrollo Social (CONEVAL): Poverty measurement by municipality 2010-2020: concentrated poverty indicators (Concentrado_indicadores_de_pobreza_2020.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 644d19a9ff6d…)
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