Perception of Insecurity on the Rise in Mexico
As of September 2025, the perception of insecurity in Mexico has significantly increased after reaching historically low levels. The population is once again feeling fearful in their localities.
According to the National Urban Public Security Survey (ENSU) by Inegi, 63% of adult Mexicans consider their city to be dangerous.
Most and Least Insecure Cities
In some cities, the sense of insecurity among residents is notably higher. Culiacán, Sinaloa and Irapuato, Guanajuato stand out with 88 out of 100 residents feeling insecure, making them the most dangerous according to their inhabitants.
Other cities with high levels of perceived insecurity include Chilpancingo, Guerrero (86.3%), Ecatepec, State of Mexico (84.4%), and Cuernavaca (84.2%).
Of the 91 urban areas analyzed by Inegi, 76 remained stable with no significant changes in perceived insecurity levels. Ten cities saw an improvement, while only five experienced a rise.
In contrast, the safest cities according to their residents are San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León (8.9%) and Piedras Negras, Coahuila (15.0%). Other relatively safe cities include Benito Juárez in Mexico City (15.6%), Los Mochis, Sinaloa (19.2%), and San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León (22.4%).
Being a Woman: Feeling More Fear
The violence against women and girls in Mexico is reflected in how they perceive their localities, usual transit places, and daily routines.
When broken down by gender, women exhibit a perception of insecurity that is more than 10 points higher than men.
While 68.2% of women in Mexico believe their locality is dangerous, only 56.7% of men share this concern.
Although public places (ATMs, streets, public transportation) are the most insecure for both genders, women find private places (school, workplace, home) much more dangerous.
As of September 2025, 30% of women consider their workplace insecure. At least 20% of women feel unsafe at school and in their own homes.
Furthermore, the statistics show that while men are more frequently victims of crimes like robbery, assault, fraud, or deliberate homicide, women are the majority in sexual assaults, abuse, or domestic violence cases.
Key Questions and Answers
- What cities are considered the most insecure in Mexico? Culiacán, Sinaloa and Irapuato, Guanajuato are the most dangerous according to their residents.
- How has the perception of insecurity changed in Mexico? After reaching historically low levels, the perception of insecurity has significantly increased, with 63% of adult Mexicans now considering their city dangerous.
- How do women perceive insecurity compared to men? Women have a perception of insecurity that is more than 10 points higher than men.
- What types of places are considered most insecure for women? While public places are insecure for both genders, private places like school, workplace, and home are perceived as much more dangerous by women.
- What crimes are women more likely to be victims of? Although men are more frequently victims of crimes like robbery, assault, fraud, or deliberate homicide, women are the majority in cases of sexual assaults, abuse, or domestic violence.
