Museum Visits Increase, Yet Still Below Pre-Pandemic Levels
According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), museum visits in Mexico have been on the rise for four consecutive years, with 2024 recording 51.5 million visitors—an increase of 3.1 million from 2023’s 48.4 million visitors.
However, these figures are still below the pre-pandemic records. In 2019, Mexican museums saw 62.2 million visitors, and in 2017, the number reached over 75 million. This indicates that while museum attendance is recovering, it has not yet returned to its former glory.
Reasons for Not Visiting Museums
Despite the rising visit numbers, understanding why some people still avoid museums is crucial.
The Inegi report reveals that 18.2% of respondents cited a lack of information or publicity about museum content and 16.7% attributed their absence to insufficient culture or education, suggesting a significant perception of inaccessibility or exclusion from certain audiences.
Additionally, 16.2% of respondents mentioned a lack of time, and 14.1% expressed a lack of interest or motivation.
Growing Museum Staff
The same Inegi report highlights that, in 2024, Mexican museums generated 31,250 jobs, with 48.4% directly employed by the institution and 15.9% through outsourced services.
The number of employees increased by 2,179 from the previous year, raising the average museum staff size from 24 to 26.
Public funding supported 71.1% of museums, while 11.8% relied solely on self-generated resources, 12.9% on private income, and 4.25% on mixed resources.
Annual Visit Frequency
The Inegi report indicates that 80.1% of museum visitors in 2024 were first-time attendees, while only 7.4% visited four or more times annually.
Museum Visitors in 2024 (in millions)
2017: 75.1
2018: 67.7
2019: 62.1
2020: 12.7
2021: 16.4
2022: 37.5
2023: 48.4
2024: 51.5
How Do People Learn About Museums?
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: How do people learn about museums? A: Friends, family, and acquaintances (25.1%); teachers, classmates, or textbooks (15.9%); by chance (12.9%); internet (12.8%); social media (11.9%); have known the museum since childhood (10.9%); tourism office or organized trip (4%).
