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.

On average, 25 people were murdered every 100,000 inhabitants in Mexico in 2022, down from 28 homicide cases per 100,000 people the previous year. Mexico's murder rate increased remarkably between 2015 and 2018. Between January and June of 2023, the homicide rate stood at 12 cases.

Crime and violence in Mexico

Street violence and crime are some of the most pressing problems affecting Mexican society today. A recent survey revealed that, on average, almost 76 percent of the adult population felt unsafe. The perceived level of insecurity in Mexico is more worrisome among women than men. In recent years, violence against women in Mexico has significantly worsened.

Violence against women in Mexico

The number of femicides registered in Mexico has more than doubled between 2015 and 2023. Up to 827 women were murdered in Mexico in 2023 solely on account of their gender. Over the past decade, Mexico adopted this federal criminal typification to address the increasing cases of homicide motivated by gender. Mexico State was the region with the largest number of femicides reported as such in 2023, whereas Colima stood out as the Mexican state with the highest prevalence of femicides, based on 100,000 women.

Over ****** murders were reported in Mexico in 2023. Guanajuato was the federal entity with most intentional homicides that year, amounting to ***** cases. Mexico State registered the second highest number of murder cases, with *****. When it comes to number of homicides in general - including both murder and manslaughter - Guanajuato ranked second behind Mexico State.

Colima was the city in Mexico that led the ranking of highest homicide rates in 2023. The city had a murder rate of approximately ****** per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Ciudad Obregón, with a homicide rate of ******. That year, those two cities had the highest homicide rates not only in Mexico, but in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In the first half of 2023, 15.082 people were murdered in Mexico. The most common cause of death was being shot with unspecified firearms or other weapons, type of aggression that claimed 10,615 victims. Over 1,500 died by unspecified mean, whereas other 1,365 people were killed due to the injuries inflicted with a cutting object.

The border city of Tijuana was the Mexican municipality with the highest number of homicides, with 1,844 cases reported in 2023, a decrease when compared to the over 2,000 cases reported last year. Tijuana was followed by Ciudad Juárez, located south of El Paso, Texas, with a total of 1,246 homicides.

A total of *** persons were murdered in Mexico City in 2024. The highest number of intentional homicides was registered in March 2023, with ** victims.

In 2023, Mexico State was the Mexican federal entity with the highest number of homicides, including cases of murder and manslaughter. A total of ***** people were killed in Guanajuato in that year, the second highest figure. Mexico is one of the Latin American countries with the highest murder rates.

In the last four years, May has been the most violent month in Mexico in three of them, exception for 2023, when June was the most violent month of the year. The peak of violence happened in May 2021, when an average of 150 people were murdered every day. On the other hand, October 2023 was the least violent month in this period of time, with an average of 125 people murdered daily.

In 2023, the State of Mexico was the federal entity with the most crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in Mexico. That year, ****** crimes were registered, above Aguascalientes and Mexico City both with over ****** crimes. Economically, the cost of crime in Mexico surpassed *** billion Mexican pesos.

Crime is one of the most pressing issues faced in Mexico. In 2023, there were nearly ***** victims of theft or robbery on the street or public transportation per 100,00 inhabitants. Fraud is the type of crime with the highest victimization rate in the Latin American country, with ***** victims per 100,000 inhabitants.

In 2023, the economic impact caused by homicide in Mexico amounted to over *** trillion Mexican pesos. This amount represents **** percent of the total economic losses suffered due to violence in the Latin American country. Other violent crimes followed homicide with an economic impact of **** trillion pesos that year.

The number of people murdered in Mexico amounted to almost 33,300 in 2021, a slightly lower figure to the one registered one year earlier. Mexico ranked as the second Latin American country with the highest number of intentional homicides in 2022, only exceeded by Brazil.

As of 2023, the pattern of homicides in Mexico reveals that firearms have been the primary weapon used in male homicides, accounting for approximately ** percent of the victims. On the other hand, in cases of female homicides, knives have been the predominant weapon employed.

The number of homicides in Chihuahua peaked during 2020 with ***** cases. As of 2023, Mexico State and Guanajuato ranked as the federal entities with the highest number of homicides.

The number of homicides in Quintana Roo peaked during 2023 with 1,596 cases. As of 2023, Mexico State and Guanajuato ranked as the federal entities with the highest number of homicides.

The number of homicides in Sonora peaked during 2021 with ***** cases. As of 2023, Mexico State and Guanajuato ranked as the federal entities with the highest number of homicides.

The number of homicides in Baja California peaked during 2021 with ***** cases. As of 2023, Mexico State and Guanajuato ranked as the federal entities with the highest number of homicides.

The number of homicides in Mexico City peaked during 2019 with ***** cases. As of 2023, Mexico State and Guanajuato ranked as the federal entities with the highest number of homicides.

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.