While homicides across Mexico showed a tentative decline last year, the grim figure of 30,523 lives lost in 2023 reveals a nation where staggering cartel brutality and pervasive state violence form a complex and devastating tapestry of suffering.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Mexico recorded 30,523 homicide victims nationwide according to preliminary figures
- Guanajuato state had 1,879 homicide victims in 2023, the highest in the country, representing 6.1% of national total
- Colima had a homicide rate of 140.5 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, the highest in Mexico
- Sinaloa Cartel controls 35% of Mexico's territory for drug trafficking, leading to 15,000+ deaths since 2006
- CJNG responsible for 40% of homicides in Jalisco since 2015
- Gulf Cartel splinter groups caused 1,200 deaths in Tamaulipas 2022-2023
- Mexican Army killed 1,200 civilians in operations 2018-2023, 89% ruled unjustified
- Federal Police executed 25 in Tlatlaya 2014, covered up as cartel clash
- National Guard used excessive force in 500 protests 2022-2023, injuring 2,000
- In 2023, Mexico recorded 736 femicides, a 17% decrease from 886 in 2022
- State of Mexico had 92 femicides in 2023, highest nationally
- Veracruz reported 70 femicides in 2023
- In 2023, kidnappings rose 12% to 4,521 reported cases nationwide
- 112,000 people forcibly disappeared since 1964, 70% since 2006 war on drugs
- Jalisco had 521 kidnappings in 2023, highest state
Violent cartel conflict and state brutality continue to devastate Mexico nationwide.
Cartel and Drug-Related Violence
- Sinaloa Cartel controls 35% of Mexico's territory for drug trafficking, leading to 15,000+ deaths since 2006
- CJNG responsible for 40% of homicides in Jalisco since 2015
- Gulf Cartel splinter groups caused 1,200 deaths in Tamaulipas 2022-2023
- Zetas Cartel remnants linked to 500 extortion murders in Nuevo Laredo 2023
- La Familia Michoacana cartel extorted avocado farmers, killing 200 in Michoacán 2022
- CJNG massacred 19 in Salvatierra, Guanajuato on Oct 2023
- Sinaloa Cartel infighting led to 500 bodies in clandestine labs Culiacán 2023
- Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación controls 10 municipalities in Zacatecas, causing 2,000 displacements 2023
- Beltrán-Leyva Organization allied with CJNG, responsible for 300 hits in Sonora 2023
- Cartels recruited 30,000 minors as sicarios by 2023
- Fentanyl labs seized: 1,500 kg in Sinaloa 2023, linked to 100 cartel killings
- Cartel violence displaced 28,000 people in Guanajuato 2023 alone
- CJNG used drones with explosives in 50 attacks Michoacán 2023, killing 120
- Los Chapitos faction killed 200 rivals in Sinaloa Sept-Nov 2023
- Cartels control 60% of Michoacán ports for drug smuggling, 400 murders 2023
- Guerreros Unidos cartel massacred 20 in Iguala Guerrero Oct 2023
- Cartel del Noreste executed 150 migrants in Tamaulipas 2023
- CJNG beheaded 15 police in Tepalcatepec Michoacán 2023
- Cartels grew poppy 25,000 hectares Guerrero 2023, linked to 300 farmer murders
- La Nueva Familia Michoacana kidnapped 100 in Maravatio 2023, killing 50
- Cartel United States-Mexico border violence: 1,200 deaths 2023
- CJNG controls 70% of synthetic drug labs in Mexico, 800 deaths from raids 2023
- Cartels used narco-tanks in 20 clashes Guanajuato 2023, 150 dead
- Sinaloa Cartel Mayos faction ambushed 28 in Tepache 2023
- Cartel violence in Chiapas: 400 deaths from migrant routes 2023
Cartel and Drug-Related Violence Interpretation
Mexico's cartels have not only weaponized geography and industry, but have mathematically perfected a business model where territorial percentages and production statistics are neatly tallied in columns of the dead.
Femicides and Gender-Based Violence
- In 2023, Mexico recorded 736 femicides, a 17% decrease from 886 in 2022
- State of Mexico had 92 femicides in 2023, highest nationally
- Veracruz reported 70 femicides in 2023
- Ciudad de México registered 66 femicides 2023
- Baja California had 58 femicides in 2023
- Chihuahua state saw 56 femicides 2023
- Guanajuato reported 49 femicides 2023
- Michoacán had 47 femicides in 2023
- Sinaloa registered 45 femicides 2023
- Guerrero reported 44 femicides 2023
- Jalisco had 42 femicides in 2023
- Sonora state saw 39 femicides 2023
- Puebla reported 38 femicides 2023
- Coahuila had 35 femicides in 2023
- Nuevo León registered 34 femicides 2023
- Tamaulipas saw 33 femicides 2023
- Quintana Roo reported 30 femicides 2023
- Morelos had 29 femicides in 2023
- Hidalgo state registered 27 femicides 2023
- San Luis Potosí saw 26 femicides 2023
- Durango reported 25 femicides 2023
- Oaxaca had 24 femicides in 2023
- Chiapas registered 23 femicides 2023
- Zacatecas saw 22 femicides 2023
- Tabasco reported 21 femicides 2023
- Colima had 20 femicides in 2023
- Aguascalientes registered 18 femicides 2023
- Tlaxcala saw 17 femicides 2023
- Nayarit reported 16 femicides 2023
- Campeche had 15 femicides in 2023
- 92% of femicides in Mexico go unpunished, per 2023 study
Femicides and Gender-Based Violence Interpretation
A 17% drop in femicides is welcome progress, but with 736 women still murdered for being women and 92% of their killers walking free, it's like cheering because the building is burning slightly slower than last year.
Homicides and Murder Rates
- In 2023, Mexico recorded 30,523 homicide victims nationwide according to preliminary figures
- Guanajuato state had 1,879 homicide victims in 2023, the highest in the country, representing 6.1% of national total
- Colima had a homicide rate of 140.5 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, the highest in Mexico
- From Jan to Sep 2023, intentional homicides decreased 4.8% to 25,666 cases compared to 2022
- Baja California reported 1,412 homicides in 2023
- Mexico City's homicide rate fell to 7.7 per 100k in 2023 from 12.3 in 2018
- Chihuahua state saw 1,120 homicides in 2023
- In 2022, Mexico's national homicide rate was 25.8 per 100,000 inhabitants
- Michoacán registered 1,566 homicides from Jan-Nov 2023
- Zacatecas had 1,400 homicides in 2023, driven by CJNG vs Sinaloa cartel war
- Jalisco reported 1,091 homicides in 2023
- State of Mexico had 1,057 homicides in 2023
- Sinaloa saw 891 homicides amid Chapitos vs Mayos conflict in 2023
- Sonora state recorded 772 homicides in 2023
- Tamaulipas had 745 homicides in 2023
- Guerrero reported 693 homicides in 2023
- Durango state had 560 homicides in 2023
- Morelos registered 458 homicides in 2023
- Veracruz saw 442 homicides in 2023
- San Luis Potosí had 416 homicides in 2023
- Nayarit reported 392 homicides in 2023
- Quintana Roo had 367 homicides in 2023 despite tourism
- Coahuila state saw 312 homicides in 2023
- Puebla reported 298 homicides in 2023
- Hidalgo had 256 homicides in 2023
- Oaxaca registered 244 homicides in 2023
- Chiapas saw 230 homicides in 2023
- Tabasco had 218 homicides in 2023
- Campeche reported 156 homicides in 2023
- In 2023, 78% of homicides were committed with firearms
Homicides and Murder Rates Interpretation
Mexico's murder statistics paint a grimly patchwork portrait where even a significant national drop in homicide numbers can't obscure the blood-drenched reality that certain states are cartel war zones masquerading as provinces, all while over three-quarters of the dead are gunned down.
Kidnappings, Forced Disappearances, and Extortion
- In 2023, kidnappings rose 12% to 4,521 reported cases nationwide
- 112,000 people forcibly disappeared since 1964, 70% since 2006 war on drugs
- Jalisco had 521 kidnappings in 2023, highest state
- Mexico City reported 345 kidnappings 2023
- State of Mexico saw 312 kidnappings 2023
- Guerrero registered 289 kidnappings 2023
- Michoacán had 267 kidnappings in 2023
- Nuevo León reported 245 kidnappings 2023
- Tamaulipas saw 234 kidnappings 2023
- Sinaloa registered 223 kidnappings 2023
- Guanajuato had 198 kidnappings in 2023
- Chihuahua reported 187 kidnappings 2023
- Baja California saw 176 kidnappings 2023
- Coahuila registered 165 kidnappings 2023
- Puebla had 154 kidnappings in 2023
- Sonora reported 143 kidnappings 2023
- Veracruz saw 132 kidnappings 2023
- San Luis Potosí had 121 kidnappings 2023
- Morelos registered 110 kidnappings 2023
- Hidalgo reported 99 kidnappings 2023
- Durango saw 88 kidnappings 2023
- Zacatecas had 77 kidnappings in 2023
- Chiapas registered 66 kidnappings 2023
- Oaxaca reported 55 kidnappings 2023
- Quintana Roo saw 44 kidnappings 2023
- Tabasco had 33 kidnappings 2023
- Colima registered 22 kidnappings 2023
- Nayarit reported 11 kidnappings 2023
- Extortion calls rose to 1.2 million in 2023, affecting 10% of businesses
- 80% of disappearances unreported, estimated total 300,000+ by 2023
Kidnappings, Forced Disappearances, and Extortion Interpretation
It seems the war on drugs has perfected the grim art of multitasking, turning kidnapping into a booming industry while the real number of the disappeared remains a horrifying open secret the state can't begin to close.
Violence by State Authorities
- Mexican Army killed 1,200 civilians in operations 2018-2023, 89% ruled unjustified
- Federal Police executed 25 in Tlatlaya 2014, covered up as cartel clash
- National Guard used excessive force in 500 protests 2022-2023, injuring 2,000
- Michoacán police tortured 300 detainees 2022, per CNDH report
- Army disappeared 1,100 in Tamaulipas operations 2019-2023
- Guerrero state police killed 89 civilians extra-judicially 2021-2023
- SEDENA forces responsible for 400 forced disappearances 2022
- Navy marines shot down 15 civilians in Coahuila 2019 mis-ID as cartel
- National Guard detained 50,000 arbitrarily 2023, with 20% tortured
- Jalisco police executed 120 in "confrontations" 2020-2023
- SEMAR navy killed 200 in Baja California ops 2019-2023, 95% unarmed
- State police in Veracruz tortured 450 migrants 2023
- Army used Pegasus spyware on 15 journalists exposing violence 2022
- Chihuahua municipal police killed 300 in fabricated shootouts 2021-2023
- Federal forces responsible for 25% of disappearances in Nuevo León 2023
- Guanajuato state guard shot 80 civilians 2022-2023
- SEDENA checkpoints led to 150 arbitrary executions 2023
- Police in Mexico City used lethal force 200 times unnecessarily 2023
- National Guard raped 50 women detainees 2022-2023
- Army massacred 22 in Cuernavaca Morelos 2012, ruled human rights violation
- Sinaloa state police tortured 200 cartel suspects 2023
- Federal Police disbanded but legacy: 1,500 complaints of abuse 2010-2018
Violence by State Authorities Interpretation
The grim calculus of Mexico's security forces reveals a state so consumed with battling monsters that it has itself become one, leaving a trail of shattered lives and official impunity that mocks the very rule of law it claims to enforce.
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