ESSENTIAL NUMBERS
VIOLENCE
Homicides in 2020: 35,644 (MUCD)
360,087 homicides since 2006.
Women represent around 10.8% of homicide victims.
65% of homicide victims are between 20 and 45 years old; 29% are between 20 and 30.
The percentage of homicides that are attributable to organized crime is unclear. Estimates range between approximately 44% and 80% for 2019.
78,964 people missing and not found since 2006. (CNB)
75.9% of those still missing are men; 23.76% are women.
26.2% of still missing women are ages 15-19.
43.4% of still missing men are ages 20-34.
DataCivica statistics suggest 31.5% of disappearances are men between the ages of 18 and 30.
A study examining 729 disappearances in Coahuila between 2001 and 2017 found that state agents were responsible for a third of disappearances, with 54% of those cases involving municipal police (state forces were responsible for a quarter and federal forces were responsible for 13%). The same study also found that people between the ages of 17 and 33 years are at higher risk, as well as those working in the transportation sector.
9,741 internally displaced people in 2020. 356,792 internally displaced by violence. Estimated 1.65 million displaced between 2006 and 2011.
In 2020, 14 incidents of displacement were caused by armed groups, displacing 6,257 people. 3,484 people were displaced by political violence, social conflict, and territorial disputes.
During the 2021 election cycle, 102 politicians were assassinated; 36 were candidates. During the 2018 election cycle, 112 politicians were assassinated.
28.4% of households reported being victims of crime in 2020, with crime affecting an estimated 21.2 million individuals (this number excludes homicides).
In 2021, 41.9% of Mexican citizens felt unsafe in their neighborhood [colonia] compared to 50.6% in 2019. Notably, there is a clear gender disparity. In 2021, 45.6% of women felt unsafe in their neighborhood, compared to 37.7% of men.
COST OF VIOLENCE
Cost of violence in 2019, according to Mexico Peace Index: $238 Billion (US dollars); equivalent to 21.3% of GDP.
Cost of criminality and insecurity per household in 2019 according to INEGI: 1.53 percent of the GDP.
JUDICIAL SYSTEM
89.6% of intentional homicides cases end in impunity, (Impunidad Cero).
Percentage of unreported crimes (cifra negra) in 2020: 93.3%.
Lowest: Baja California Sur 89.8%
Highest: Guerrero 97.3%
In 2018, an arrest was made in only 11.5% of all cases, with only 0.27% of cases going to trial (3.9% of cases had some judicial resolution).
FIREARMS
Small Arms Survey estimates 16,809,000 civilian-held guns in Mexico (12.9 per 100,000). An additional 1,486,285 weapons are held by law enforcement and military.
7,241 arms were seized in Mexico in 2017 of which:
23 machine guns
2,834 rifles
2,304 pistols
379 revolvers
317 shotguns
69 submachine guns
423 other
892 unknown
Years with available data show 2011 had the largest number of arms seizures with a total of 40,996.
An estimated 70% of arms come from the U.S.
JOURNALISM
Since the year 2000, 150 journalists have been killed in Mexico, of which 138 were men and 12 were women.
Data shows 42% of attacks come from officials/authorities. Only 5% can be identified as coming from organized crime.
386 journalists enrolled in protection mechanism, reported on December 31st, 2020.
SECURITY FORCES
Security budget for 2021: approximately 10.8 billion USD.
214,157 active members of the Army and Air Force (SEDENA) in 2020.
61,242 active members of the Navy (SEMAR) in 2020.
98,282 active members of the Guardia Nacional as of 2020.
Approximately 330,000 police officers between municipal, state, and federal police.
524 police officers were murdered and 702 died of COVID-19 in 2020.
SEDENA has experienced 543 losses between 2006 and 2018; SEMAR had 54 losses between 2006-2012 and 152 between 2012-2018. 44% of soldiers killed were lowest rank; 68% were lowest two ranks (soldier and corporal).
586 federal police officers were killed between 2006 and 2018.
Between 2013 and 2018, more than 18,580 desertions from SEDENA. Desertions from SEMAR: 1,222 between 2015 and 2018.
Between December 2018 and October 2019, 569 desertionsfrom SEDENA and 54 desertions from SEMAR.
From 2006 to 2018, nearly six times as many armed civilians died in confrontations than members of the military. From 2007 to 2014, SEDENA reported 4,502 confrontations, resulting in the deaths of 3,907 “aggressors” and 494 “aggressors” wounded. From 2007 to 2019, SEMAR reported 400 confrontations, resulting in the deaths of 446 “presumed criminals” and 272 “presumed criminals” wounded. Of the 102 confrontations between 2007 to 2011, SEMAR reported no deaths and 253 wounded.
