Overview and Relevance
By the end of 2025, 63.8% of Mexico’s urban population perceived their locality as insecure, marking a 2.1 percentage point increase from the previous year’s 61.7%. This rise, though not directly linked to crime rates, reflects the perception of residents across various Mexican cities.
Gender and Regional Disparities
The National Urban Public Security Survey (ENSU) by INEGI reveals significant gender-based differences in perceived insecurity. Among urban dwellers, 69.4% of women and 57.1% of men felt unsafe in their cities, indicating a consistent higher vulnerability perception among women regarding urban insecurity.
Moreover, regional disparities are stark; while some cities report nearly 90% of their population feeling unsafe, others have less than 10% expressing such concerns.
Most Insecure Cities
- Uruapan, Michoacán: 88.7%
- Culiacán, Sinaloa: 88.1%
- Ciudad Obregón, Sonora: 88.0%
- Ecatepec de Morelos, Estado de México: 88.0%
- Irapuato, Guanajuato: 87.3%
Least Insecure Cities
- San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León: 8.7%
- Benito Juárez, Ciudad de México: 14.8%
- Piedras Negras, Coahuila: 17.3%
- Los Mochis, Sinaloa: 25.6%
- San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León: 27.5%
Most Risky Public Spaces
The ENSU further captures perceived insecurity across various public spaces. Areas with the highest percentages of people reporting feelings of insecurity include ATMs on public streets, public transportation, and city streets. These figures highlight ongoing concerns about urban citizen safety in daily contexts and mobility.
Despite persistent negative perceptions, the changes observed in 2025 compared to previous years show a significant increase in Mexicans’ perception of insecurity and violence in their localities.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main concern? The primary worry among Mexico’s urban population is perceived insecurity, with 63.8% of residents feeling unsafe in their localities by the end of 2025.
- How does gender play a role? Women perceive urban insecurity more acutely than men, with 69.4% of women feeling unsafe versus 57.1% of men.
- Are there regional differences? Yes, significant disparities exist between cities; for example, Uruapan, Michoacán, is perceived as the most insecure city, while San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, is perceived as the safest.
- Which public spaces are considered riskiest? ATMs on public streets, public transportation, and city streets are the areas where residents feel most unsafe.
