Mexico: crime and justice

How many murders are there in Mexico each year?

27,989 deaths from presumed homicide were registered in Mexico in 2025, a rate of 21.4 per 100,000 people, according to INEGI's preliminary homicide statistics of 3 August 2026. The rate was 38.4 for men and 4.7 for women.

Firearms were used in 70.8% of the homicides. INEGI's figures come from death certificates. They differ from the counts of homicide investigations opened by prosecutors, which the SESNSP publishes monthly. The 2025 figures are preliminary.

Official sources: INEGI: deaths by homicide 2025, preliminary (PDF)

How much crime goes unreported in Mexico?

93.4% of the 33.8 million crimes committed in Mexico in 2025 were not reported or did not lead to an investigation, according to INEGI's ENVIPE 2026 victimisation survey. INEGI calls this the cifra oculta, or hidden figure.

The most common reasons for not reporting were that it was a waste of time (35.8%), that the crime was minor (14.5%) and distrust of the authorities (13.0%). Because so little crime is reported, INEGI's survey is the main source for how many people are victims; it found 23.0 million victims aged 18 and over in 2025.

Official sources: INEGI: ENVIPE 2026 results (PDF)

Do Mexicans feel safe?

74.0% of adults considered their state unsafe because of crime between February and April 2026, according to INEGI's ENVIPE 2026 survey. 60.9% felt unsafe in their municipality and 35.9% in their own neighbourhood.

Insecurity was named the most serious problem by 60.7% of adults, ahead of health (36.7%) and rising prices (33.8%). INEGI reports that perceived insecurity at state level was lower than in 2025. Perception measures how people feel and does not count crimes.

Official sources: INEGI: ENVIPE 2026 results (PDF)

How much does crime cost Mexican households?

Crime and insecurity cost Mexican households an estimated MX$267.3 billion in 2025, equal to 1.06% of GDP or MX$6,130 per person affected, according to INEGI's ENVIPE 2026 survey.

The total combines MX$165.9 billion of losses from crime and MX$91.6 billion spent on preventive measures such as locks, alarms or changing habits; It covers households only, not businesses, which INEGI measures in a separate business victimisation survey.

Official sources: INEGI: ENVIPE 2026 results (PDF)

How many Mexicans have been displaced by violence?

509,900 households in Mexico had at least one member who was forced to move home because of violence or crime, according to INEGI's 2025 intercensal survey. These households held 1.6 million people.

The survey also found 151,900 households, with 485,500 people, where someone had been forced to move because of natural or human-made disasters. The question asks about anyone in the household, so it measures households affected rather than the number of people who moved, and the reference period is not limited to the last year.

Official sources: INEGI: Intercensal Survey 2025 (PDF)

What is the murder rate in Mexico?

In 2023, the intentional homicide rate in Mexico was 24.9 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Its high point since 2005 was 2018, at 29.4 per 100,000; its low point was 2007, at 8.2 per 100,000. It is 10th highest of 25 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 19.1 per 100,000. Worldwide: 10th of 79.

How many women are murdered in Mexico?

The latest figure from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, for 2023, is 5.6 per 100,000. The peak was 6.1 per 100,000 in 2021 and the low 1.9 per 100,000 in 2007. It is 11th highest of 25 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 3.4 per 100,000. Of 78 countries with 2023 data, 12th highest.

How many men are killed in Mexico?

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the homicide rate for men in Mexico was 44.9 per 100,000 in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2018, at 54.0 per 100,000; its low point was 2007, at 14.7 per 100,000. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 33.1 per 100,000, and Mexico placed 10th highest of 25. Worldwide: 10th of 78.