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Crime and violence in Mexico – statistics & facts

Despite being one of the leading tourism destinations in the world, Mexico regularly makes international headlines due to widespread violence and organized crime. According to the Global Peace Index (GPI), Mexico ranks among the least peaceful countries in Latin America. Although internationally recognized as a country with a complex and high criminal activity, where drug trafficking and related crimes are commonplace, pettier crimes such as theft on the street or pickpocketing on public transportation are some of the most reported occurrences in Mexico, followed by fraud and extortion cases. Kidnapping, on the other hand, is one of the crimes against personal freedom that most afflicts the Mexican population. In 2020, Mexico was the second Latin American nation with the highest number of kidnappings.

The fear of going out

The perceived level of insecurity in Mexico has worsened in the past few years, with almost 76 percent of the adult population stating they did not feel safe where they lived. Baja California and Zacatecas, in particular, are among the Mexican states with the poorest peace levels. This feeling of insecurity directly affects the population's quality of life, as many people avoid performing basic outdoor activities due to fear of becoming a crime victim. For instance, 69 percent of Mexicans who participated in a survey did not allow underage children or teenagers to go out on their own.

Homicides and femicides

Violence in Mexico is already considered an epidemic and it has significant repercussions on public health, specially when it comes to longevity and the overall life expectancy of the Mexican population. Annual murder rates stand at 12 intentional homicides committed per 100,000 inhabitants at the first half of 2022. The alarming rate of life-threatening crimes particularly affects women. In the past decade, Mexico registered an increasing number of femicides, the second highest in Latin America.

Economic cost of violence

Violence is also a deterrent for economic growth. Crime does not simply increase people’s vulnerabilities and endangers lives; it also imposes a heavy burden on both public and private financial resources. In 2022, the cost of violence in Mexico amounted to a staggering 4.95 trillion Mexican pesos. This amount includes not only preventive and containment measures but also the economic losses due to victimization, the expenditure related with the judicial system and the recovery and well-being of the victims. In Mexico City, for example, violence was estimated to cost over 31,910 Mexican pesos per capita in 2022.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Mar 20, 2024

Key insights

Economic impact of organized crime in Mexico
16.6b MXN
Type of crime causing the highest economic impact in Mexico
Homicide
Most witnessed type of crime in Mexico
Alcohol consumption on the street
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Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Number of crimes committed in Mexico in January 2024, by type

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Mexico: number of crimes 2024, by type

Crime rate in Mexico in 2022, by state (per 100,000 inhabitants)

Crime & Law Enforcement

Crime rate in Mexico 2022, by state

Number of homicides in Mexico from 2015 to 2022

Violent Crime

Mexico: number of homicides 2015-2022

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Mexico: Key Insights

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Overview

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Overview

Economic impact of violence

6

Economic impact of violence

Homicide

8

Homicide

Femicides

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Femicides

Kidnapping, extortion & human trafficking

5

Kidnapping, extortion & human trafficking

Property crime

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Crime and violence in Brazil
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