Introduction to the IDDE 2025 Report
The Índice de Desarrollo Digital Estatal (IDDE) 2025, developed by the Centro México Digital (CMD), confirms that the technological gap in Mexico remains significant. The Mexico City achieved 232 points, while Chiapas obtained 66, indicating that the capital is 3.5 times more digital than the least developed state.
“The City of Mexico maintains the highest score, with 232 points, and there is a 3.5 times difference compared to Chiapas,” said Salma Jalife, Director of the Centro México Digital, during the index presentation.
Ranking and Regional Disparity
The overall ranking divides the country into four groups. At the top are the City of Mexico, Querétaro, Nuevo León, Aguascalientes, and Baja California, which have a structural advantage based on sustained investment in digital infrastructure and talent. Below them are 11 advanced states and 12 “entrepreneurs,” while Veracruz, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas remain as “basic.”
However, the dynamic is not static. Tabasco, Tlaxcala, and Coahuila were the states that advanced the most this year, with improvements of up to eight positions.
Norte y Centro Consolidan Liderazgo Digital
The regional disparity is evident. In the north and Bajío, states like Nuevo León and Querétaro lead in the use of basic, intermediate, advanced, and innovative technological tools, followed by the City of Mexico, where digital maturity is expressed in both the public and private sectors.
“Nuevo León leads in all levels,” said Alberto Farca, Vice President of Projects at the Centro México Digital. “Querétaro and the City of Mexico are more advanced in intermediate or advanced solutions.”
These digital poles also concentrate the most patents, scientific publications, and STEM talent. The capital, along with Jalisco, Nuevo León, and Guanajuato, gather the majority of intellectual property applications. Meanwhile, the national average of STEM graduates reflects an inequality: 1,500 per million inhabitants in leading states versus 800 in the most lagging ones.
Sur-Sureste: Rezago, pero con Señales de Mejora
The south-southeast region, headed by Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Guerrero, shows more moderate growth, although the Centro México Digital recognizes a recent acceleration.
“You could observe that in some indicators, these states manage to position themselves in good or first places,” said Jalife while highlighting that the advancement is not uniform but visible.
In these territories, the limiting factors are affordability and adoption. The costs of internet and device access remain a barrier, especially in low-income households, which prevents the deployed infrastructure from translating into effective connectivity.
The Digital Government Map
The social pillar of the IDDE reflects the other side of the inequality. While Aguascalientes, the City of Mexico, and Morelos lead in the digitalization of public services, other entities have retreated in web accessibility and modernization of procedures. According to the study, the digital divide in services widens.
“The results show a very large gap between entities in key procedures and a 26% drop in web accessibility,” Jalife explained. “The national average is 39.6 points.”
Uneven Innovation
The innovation pillar shows how technological capabilities are concentrated in a few poles. The report highlights that only 7% of Mexican companies use emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, or blockchain. Moreover, the gap between leading and lagging states is 5.4 times, with Nuevo León, Querétaro, and the City of Mexico at the forefront.
“Moving from four Mexicos to one,” was Jalife’s goal at the end of the presentation. In her vision, Mexico could aspire to reduce the gap to “two very close Mexicos” in the medium term, as long as coordination between government, academia, and industry is maintained, and policies are tailored to each state.
