Two-Thirds of Adults Feel Unsafe in Mexico

More than 6 in 10 Mexican adults consider their cities unsafe, according to a national survey released Thursday that shows deteriorating public security perceptions across the country’s urban areas.

The National Urban Public Security Survey, conducted by INEGI, Mexico’s national statistics agency, found that 63.2% of adults view their cities as dangerous, up from 61.9% in March and 59.4% a year ago. The quarterly survey covers 91 urban areas nationwide and measures perceptions of insecurity.

Women feel significantly more vulnerable than men, with 68.5% expressing safety concerns compared with 56.7% of men.

Culiacán, the capital of drug cartel-plagued Sinaloa state, topped the insecurity rankings with 90.8% of residents feeling unsafe, followed closely by Ecatepec (90.7%), a sprawling municipality outside Mexico City. Uruapan (89.5%), Tapachula (88.1%), and Ciudad Obregón (88.0%) rounded out the five cities perceived as most dangerous.

Border Challenges Persist

While no Baja California municipalities ranked among those perceived as most dangerous nationally, Tijuana and Mexicali, the state’s largest border cities, continue to face significant security challenges, with elevated insecurity perceptions linked to organized crime and cross-border violence.

In contrast, affluent San Pedro Garza García reported the lowest insecurity rate at just 11%, followed by Piedras Negras (16.9%) and Benito Juárez (22.0%).

The survey highlighted specific danger zones: 72.2% of respondents feel unsafe at street-side ATMs, 65% fear public transportation, and 63.7% avoid walking on streets.

Crime’s psychological impact runs deep, with 42.7% of adults modifying habits around carrying valuables and 42.4% changing children’s routines because of safety fears.

Looking ahead, 32.5% expect crime conditions to remain equally bad over the next year, while 25.4% anticipate further deterioration. Only 25.1% foresee improvements.

The findings underscore Mexico’s ongoing struggle with public security and highlight the urgent need for effective policies to restore citizens’ confidence in community safety.

AI tools were used to produce and translate this story, and it was edited by the Tijuanapress.com team.