The abduction of people is a recurring security problem in Mexico. In 2024, a total of *** cases of kidnapping were registered in the country, up from 487 cases reported a year earlier. The number of kidnappings in the Latin American country remained steady around ***** cases per year before 2020.

The average for 2017 based on 65 countries was 1.8 kidnappings per 100,000 people. The highest value was in Belgium: 10.3 kidnappings per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Bermuda: 0 kidnappings per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 2003 to 2017. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2024, a total of ****** homicides were registered in Mexico, over 1.1** murder victims more than the death toll reported a year earlier. The number of homicides in Mexico, including intentional homicides and cases of manslaughter, grew between 2015 and 2018, before plateauing around ****** victims per year. Kidnapping in Mexico In Mexico, even with a ** percent reduction in the kidnapping rate, which amounted to *** reported cases in 2023, the region continues to witness the distressing reality of **** individuals being subjected to violent abduction daily. These heinous acts are chiefly perpetrated in various settings, including workplaces, residences, and public areas. Furthermore, the state with the highest recorded kidnapping incidence is Mexico State, marking a significant disparity in numbers. This dire situation positions the country as the third highest in terms of kidnapping occurrences throughout Latin America. The increasing cases of human trafficking Regarded as a grievous form of exploitation encompassing coerced labor or sexual servitude, the prevalence of human trafficking in the nation exhibits a disquieting escalation. This trend coincides with a decline in cases involving children, shifting the focus towards teens and adolescents, particularly females, who are now the primary target demographic. Perpetrators manipulate victims through deceitful practices and fraudulent schemes, effectively entrapping them in a web of organized criminal activities that deprive them of their freedom.

In January 2024, the most usual type of crime reported in Mexico was domestic violence. In that month, the cases of this type of violence amounted to around 20,814 cases. Regarding property crimes, the highest number of occurrences were vehicle thefts, with nearly 11,887 reported crimes.

Domestic violence Domestic violence stands out as the crime with the highest incidence and, paradoxically, one of the least attended to by the government. Public spending allocated to combat domestic violence has been dismally low, with a value only around 25 percent of the spending on the military. Adding to the concern, this budget has witnessed a consistent decrease each year since 2015. This decline in resources has had severe consequences, leading to a surge in domestic violence crimes, with many resulting in homicides. It's noteworthy that the majority of registered femicides occur within the confines of closed domestic spaces and are often committed by the partners of the victims. This paints a concerning picture of the challenges faced in addressing and preventing domestic violence.

Mexico and the most violent cities in the world
Mexico hosts seven of the most dangerous cities globally, with Celaya ranking as the number one in terms of murder rate, registering a staggering 109.39 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants and the most of these other cities are concentrated in the upper region of the country, highlighting the significant regional variations in safety and security. On the other hand, the capital, Mexico City, has experienced a decreasing trend in crime incidence, with a notable decrease from 2018 to 2022, nonetheless, the crime rate is still high. As a result, crime and insecurity have become the primary concern for nearly half of the country's population, underscoring the pressing need for addressing these issues.

Data gathered from countries across the globe revealed that 54 journalists were killed worldwide in 2024. Journalism may not be considered the most dangerous profession in the world, but the risks for those entering into certain segments of the industry are clear. After a peak in 2012, when 147 journalists were killed, the numbers thankfully declined, with 2021 recording the lowest number of journalist deaths since 2003. The perils of being a journalist: global insights Journalist death statistics by region show that six journalist killings occurred in Iraq in 2020 along with four in Pakistan and four in India, some of which were sadly particularly brutal. The most dangerous country in the world for journalists is Mexico, where eight journalists were killed in 2020. Journalists in Mexico are frequently placed under surveillance, threatened, and fatally punished for attempting to expose or publicize political corruption, and despite the country being war-free, an average of eight to ten journalists are murdered in the country each year. Journalists arrested and imprisoned Journalists are at risk of being captured and detained as punishment for criticizing a political regime or a religious ideology, persecuted for insulting those in positions of power, hunted down for images they published, and shot dead simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The yearly number of imprisoned journalists regularly surpasses 250 worldwide, and arrests and kidnappings are also common. Between 2014 and 2019, almost 1,500 journalists were arrested and close to 400 were kidnapped, highlighting the harsh reality for many media workers around the world.

In 2023 alone, ****** persons have been reported as missing in Mexico, a figure that implies about ** people going missing every day. The volume of these incidents soared after Felipe Calderon's government declared the war on drugs in December 2006, an event that marked a surged in violence throughout the Latin American country.