Government’s Optimistic Narrative
The Mexican government boasts significant progress in security, with a decrease in homicides by 34%, secuestros (kidnappings) by 59%, and robberies with violence by nearly 49% compared to 2018, according to the Report on Advances of the Security Strategy presented by the Federal Security Cabinet on November 11, 2025. President Claudia Sheinbaum attributes these results to the consolidation of the National Guard, coordination with state governments, and a preventive approach addressing social causes of violence. She also highlights the strengthened intelligence system and reduced involvement of the armed forces in police tasks, arguing that her strategy prioritizes investigation over direct confrontation.
Contradictory Lived Experience
However, the reality on the streets tells a different story. The National Urban Security Survey (ENSU) conducted by INEGI from August 26 to September 12, 2025, reveals that 63% of Mexicans feel unsafe living in their city, a 5% increase from the previous year. The gender gap is evident: 68% of women fear for their safety compared to 57% of men. Daily life is fraught with anxiety, as 71.7% are hesitant to use public ATMs, 64.9% distrust public transportation, and 64.4% don’t feel safe walking.
The Disconnect Between Official Data and Reality
Can a country be safer in numbers but less secure in daily life? Yes, and the National Survey on Victimization and Perception of Public Security (ENVIP) 2025 explains why, published on September 18, 2025. The diagnosis is clear: 93.2% of crimes committed in 2024 were not reported or resulted in an investigation. In other words, the government’s data is based on only 6.8% of the actual 33.5 million crimes that occurred.
The rest disappears into the quagmire of impunity. The ENVIP details that 63% of reasons for not reporting crimes are due to authority: 37% of men and 32% of women consider reporting “a waste of time,” while 14.8% and 13.3%, respectively, openly distrust the police and prosecutors.
Robbery exemplifies this chasm. The government celebrates a 45% decrease in reports of robbery, but the ENSU states that nearly half the population (47.6%) has witnessed or heard of a recent mugging. People remain victims, but they’ve stopped reporting crimes.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Is Mexico safer according to official statistics? A: Yes, the government reports a decrease in various crimes.
- Q: How do Mexicans perceive their safety in daily life? A: 63% of Mexicans feel unsafe living in their city, with women feeling more fear than men.
- Q: Why is there a disconnect between official data and lived experience? A: Most crimes go unreported due to distrust in authorities and the belief that reporting is futile.
- Q: How does this affect crime perception? A: Despite improving numbers, people fear leaving their homes due to the lack of consequences for crime.
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