GITNUXREPORT 2026

Violence In Mexico Statistics

Mexico's persistently high homicide rate remains driven by cartel violence and firearms.

Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) responsible for 30% of homicides in 2022.

Statistic 2

Sinaloa Cartel vs CJNG conflict caused 1,200+ deaths in 2022.

Statistic 3

Guanajuato's violence linked to CJNG-Santa Rosa de Lima war, 2,000+ deaths since 2018.

Statistic 4

35% of homicides attributed to organized crime in 2022 per SESNSP.

Statistic 5

CJNG present in 27 states, controlling 40% of territory.

Statistic 6

Zetas Cartel remnants caused 15% of Tamaulipas violence.

Statistic 7

Michoacán's Jalisco Cartels vs local groups led to 1,500 deaths.

Statistic 8

60,000 disappearances linked to cartels since 2006.

Statistic 9

Cartels control 20% of Mexico's municipalities for drug trafficking.

Statistic 10

Gulf Cartel fragmentation led to 500 intra-cartel killings in 2022.

Statistic 11

La Familia Michoacana active in 10 states, 300 murders.

Statistic 12

Cartel del Noreste responsible for 40% of Nuevo León homicides.

Statistic 13

75% of seized weapons from US trace to cartels.

Statistic 14

CJNG produced 50 tons of meth seized in 2022.

Statistic 15

Cartels extort 30% of businesses in violent states.

Statistic 16

1,200 mayors threatened or killed by cartels since 2006.

Statistic 17

Sinaloa Cartel controls 70% of fentanyl trafficking to US.

Statistic 18

Cartel violence displaced 400,000 people since 2006.

Statistic 19

40% of homicides in Zacatecas due to CJNG vs Sinaloa.

Statistic 20

Tijuana Cartel vs Sinaloa caused 300 deaths in Baja Cal.

Statistic 21

Cartels recruit 30,000 minors as sicarios.

Statistic 22

Guerrero cartels (Ardillos vs Tlacos) 200 clashes in 2022.

Statistic 23

Cartels launder $25 billion USD annually via Mexico.

Statistic 24

Juárez Cartel violence down 20% after pacts.

Statistic 25

Cartels control avocado production in Michoacán, $3B revenue.

Statistic 26

Baja California has 15 active cartel groups.

Statistic 27

Guanajuato Cartel Santa Rosa de Lima has 1,500 members.

Statistic 28

In 2021, 977 women were victims of femicide in Mexico.

Statistic 29

Femicides increased 12% from 2020 to 2021, totaling 977 cases.

Statistic 30

Mexico City led with 82 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 31

State of Mexico had 91 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 32

Veracruz reported 102 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 33

Guerrero had 70 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 34

Michoacán registered 78 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 35

Baja California saw 58 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 36

Chihuahua had 64 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 37

Sinaloa reported 52 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 38

Jalisco had 89 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 39

Guanajuato registered 72 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 40

Puebla saw 62 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 41

Morelos had 55 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 42

Sonora reported 41 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 43

Tamaulipas had 38 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 44

Coahuila saw 22 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 45

National femicide rate was 0.67 per 100,000 women in 2022.

Statistic 46

90% of femicides involved intimate partners or family.

Statistic 47

From 2015-2022, 4,000+ femicides occurred in Mexico.

Statistic 48

Edomex leads historical femicides with 800+ since 2015.

Statistic 49

70% of femicide cases remain uninvestigated properly.

Statistic 50

In 2022, 10 states concentrated 50% of femicides.

Statistic 51

Chiapas had 48 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 52

Hidalgo reported 35 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 53

Oaxaca saw 42 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 54

Tabasco had 39 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 55

Tlaxcala registered 18 femicides in 2022.

Statistic 56

In 2022, 65% of femicides involved sharp weapons or firearms.

Statistic 57

Femicides rose 137% since 2015 baseline.

Statistic 58

25% of women murdered in public spaces in 2022.

Statistic 59

Jalisco's femicide rate was 1.2 per 100,000 women.

Statistic 60

Mexico's intentional homicide rate reached 29.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, marking the fourth consecutive year above 29.

Statistic 61

From 2018 to 2022, over 156,000 homicides were registered in Mexico, averaging more than 30,000 annually.

Statistic 62

Guanajuato state had 2,057 homicides in 2022, accounting for 14.5% of national total.

Statistic 63

In January 2023, Mexico saw 966 homicides, a 12.5% decrease from December 2022.

Statistic 64

Colima had the highest homicide rate at 140 per 100,000 in 2022.

Statistic 65

Between 2015-2022, 33 states saw homicide increases, with Zacatecas up 1,200%.

Statistic 66

2021 recorded 34,645 homicides, with firearms used in 72% of cases.

Statistic 67

Baja California Sur's homicide rate dropped 45% from 2021 to 2022.

Statistic 68

Mexico City had 644 homicides in 2022, down 22% from 2021.

Statistic 69

Sinaloa reported 1,461 homicides in 2022 amid cartel wars.

Statistic 70

Chihuahua's homicides fell 15% to 1,012 in 2022.

Statistic 71

Michoacán had 1,554 homicides in 2022, second highest after Guanajuato.

Statistic 72

Jalisco's homicide rate was 58 per 100,000 in 2022.

Statistic 73

In 2022, 92% of homicides were committed with firearms.

Statistic 74

National homicide victims aged 15-29 years old comprised 45% in 2022.

Statistic 75

Durango saw a 30% homicide drop to 348 cases in 2022.

Statistic 76

Zacatecas had 1,244 homicides in 2022, up 36% from 2021.

Statistic 77

Veracruz reported 912 homicides in 2022, down 18%.

Statistic 78

Sonora's homicides decreased 25% to 789 in 2022.

Statistic 79

Tamaulipas had 773 homicides in 2022.

Statistic 80

Guerrero registered 1,021 homicides in 2022.

Statistic 81

Morelos saw 589 homicides in 2022, rate of 45 per 100,000.

Statistic 82

Nayarit had 148 homicides in 2022, lowest among violent states.

Statistic 83

Puebla reported 734 homicides in 2022.

Statistic 84

State of Mexico had 1,589 homicides in 2022.

Statistic 85

Nuevo León saw 498 homicides in 2022, down 20%.

Statistic 86

Oaxaca had 420 homicides in 2022.

Statistic 87

Quintana Roo reported 345 homicides in 2022.

Statistic 88

San Luis Potosí had 312 homicides in 2022.

Statistic 89

In 2022, 85% of homicide victims were male.

Statistic 90

Mexico ranked 5th globally in homicides per 100,000 in 2022 with 28.4.

Statistic 91

In Guanajuato, 45% of municipalities under cartel control.

Statistic 92

Colima's homicide rate highest at 140/100k due to CJNG.

Statistic 93

Zacatecas violence up 200% since 2018, 1,244 homicides 2022.

Statistic 94

Michoacán hotspots like Uruapan saw 300 killings.

Statistic 95

Tijuana, Baja Cal., 1,000+ homicides annually since 2018.

Statistic 96

Ciudad Juárez homicides dropped to 500 in 2022 from 1,000+.

Statistic 97

Acapulco, Guerrero, 400 homicides in tourist zone 2022.

Statistic 98

Culiacán, Sinaloa, epicenter with 800 killings.

Statistic 99

Celaya, Guanajuato, 400 homicides, most violent city.

Statistic 100

Ecatepec, Edomex, 200 homicides, urban violence hub.

Statistic 101

Reynosa, Tamaulipas, 300 cartel clashes yearly.

Statistic 102

Manzanillo port, Colima, 200 drug-related deaths.

Statistic 103

Morelia, Michoacán, 250 homicides amid extortion.

Statistic 104

Chihuahua City 400 killings, border violence.

Statistic 105

Tepalcatepec, Michoacán, autodefensas vs cartels 100 deaths.

Statistic 106

Fresnillo, Zacatecas, 250 homicides, mining disputes.

Statistic 107

Irapuato, Guanajuato, 350 murders, fuel theft wars.

Statistic 108

Matamoros, Tamaulipas, 200 disappearances.

Statistic 109

Uruapan, Michoacán, avocado cartel control, 200 extortions.

Statistic 110

Mazatlán, Sinaloa, tourism violence 100 incidents.

Statistic 111

Cuernavaca, Morelos, 150 homicides, narco-mansions.

Statistic 112

Apatzingán, Michoacán, 180 deaths, Knights Templar remnants.

Statistic 113

Mexicali, Baja Cal., 250 homicides, migrant routes.

Statistic 114

Aguascalientes low violence, 80 homicides statewide.

Statistic 115

National homicide rate fell 5% in 2023 first half.

Statistic 116

Homicides peaked at 36,685 in 2018, down 10% by 2022.

Statistic 117

Femicides up 20% from 2018 to 2022.

Statistic 118

Firearm homicides 75% of total, stable since 2019.

Statistic 119

Youth homicides (15-24) down 8% 2021-2022.

Statistic 120

Organized crime homicides 34% of total in 2022 vs 25% 2015.

Statistic 121

Impunity rate for homicides 95% nationally.

Statistic 122

Disappearances peaked 37,000 in 2020, down to 25,000 2022.

Statistic 123

Migrant-related violence up 15% in border states.

Statistic 124

Fuel theft violence down 40% after SEDENA control.

Statistic 125

COVID lockdowns reduced homicides 10% in 2020.

Statistic 126

Cartel truces led to 20% drop in some regions.

Statistic 127

Women's murders by sharp weapons down 5%, firearms up 10%.

Statistic 128

Northern states homicide rate 40/100k vs south 15/100k.

Statistic 129

Seizures of fentanyl up 300% correlating to violence.

Statistic 130

Police killings down 25% with new protocols.

Statistic 131

Extortion calls up 50% post-pandemic.

Statistic 132

Massacres (5+ deaths) 120 in 2022 vs 90 in 2021.

Statistic 133

70% of states saw homicide stabilization 2021-2022.

Statistic 134

Mexico's rate 5x Latin America average.

Statistic 135

6,000+ executions (narco-style) in 2022.

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Behind the staggering statistic of over 30,000 lives lost to homicide each year lies a complex tapestry of cartel wars, regional disparities, and a persistent crisis of femicide, painting a sobering picture of violence that has defined Mexico for half a decade.

Key Takeaways

  • Mexico's intentional homicide rate reached 29.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, marking the fourth consecutive year above 29.
  • From 2018 to 2022, over 156,000 homicides were registered in Mexico, averaging more than 30,000 annually.
  • Guanajuato state had 2,057 homicides in 2022, accounting for 14.5% of national total.
  • In 2021, 977 women were victims of femicide in Mexico.
  • Femicides increased 12% from 2020 to 2021, totaling 977 cases.
  • Mexico City led with 82 femicides in 2022.
  • Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) responsible for 30% of homicides in 2022.
  • Sinaloa Cartel vs CJNG conflict caused 1,200+ deaths in 2022.
  • Guanajuato's violence linked to CJNG-Santa Rosa de Lima war, 2,000+ deaths since 2018.
  • In Guanajuato, 45% of municipalities under cartel control.
  • Colima's homicide rate highest at 140/100k due to CJNG.
  • Zacatecas violence up 200% since 2018, 1,244 homicides 2022.
  • National homicide rate fell 5% in 2023 first half.
  • Homicides peaked at 36,685 in 2018, down 10% by 2022.
  • Femicides up 20% from 2018 to 2022.

Mexico's persistently high homicide rate remains driven by cartel violence and firearms.

Cartels

  • Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) responsible for 30% of homicides in 2022.
  • Sinaloa Cartel vs CJNG conflict caused 1,200+ deaths in 2022.
  • Guanajuato's violence linked to CJNG-Santa Rosa de Lima war, 2,000+ deaths since 2018.
  • 35% of homicides attributed to organized crime in 2022 per SESNSP.
  • CJNG present in 27 states, controlling 40% of territory.
  • Zetas Cartel remnants caused 15% of Tamaulipas violence.
  • Michoacán's Jalisco Cartels vs local groups led to 1,500 deaths.
  • 60,000 disappearances linked to cartels since 2006.
  • Cartels control 20% of Mexico's municipalities for drug trafficking.
  • Gulf Cartel fragmentation led to 500 intra-cartel killings in 2022.
  • La Familia Michoacana active in 10 states, 300 murders.
  • Cartel del Noreste responsible for 40% of Nuevo León homicides.
  • 75% of seized weapons from US trace to cartels.
  • CJNG produced 50 tons of meth seized in 2022.
  • Cartels extort 30% of businesses in violent states.
  • 1,200 mayors threatened or killed by cartels since 2006.
  • Sinaloa Cartel controls 70% of fentanyl trafficking to US.
  • Cartel violence displaced 400,000 people since 2006.
  • 40% of homicides in Zacatecas due to CJNG vs Sinaloa.
  • Tijuana Cartel vs Sinaloa caused 300 deaths in Baja Cal.
  • Cartels recruit 30,000 minors as sicarios.
  • Guerrero cartels (Ardillos vs Tlacos) 200 clashes in 2022.
  • Cartels launder $25 billion USD annually via Mexico.
  • Juárez Cartel violence down 20% after pacts.
  • Cartels control avocado production in Michoacán, $3B revenue.
  • Baja California has 15 active cartel groups.
  • Guanajuato Cartel Santa Rosa de Lima has 1,500 members.

Cartels Interpretation

The sheer scale of carnage in Mexico is a grim testament to the fact that while the cartels war over percentages of territory and homicide markets, the only metric that truly multiplies is the staggering, human cost paid by a nation held hostage.

Femicides

  • In 2021, 977 women were victims of femicide in Mexico.
  • Femicides increased 12% from 2020 to 2021, totaling 977 cases.
  • Mexico City led with 82 femicides in 2022.
  • State of Mexico had 91 femicides in 2022.
  • Veracruz reported 102 femicides in 2022.
  • Guerrero had 70 femicides in 2022.
  • Michoacán registered 78 femicides in 2022.
  • Baja California saw 58 femicides in 2022.
  • Chihuahua had 64 femicides in 2022.
  • Sinaloa reported 52 femicides in 2022.
  • Jalisco had 89 femicides in 2022.
  • Guanajuato registered 72 femicides in 2022.
  • Puebla saw 62 femicides in 2022.
  • Morelos had 55 femicides in 2022.
  • Sonora reported 41 femicides in 2022.
  • Tamaulipas had 38 femicides in 2022.
  • Coahuila saw 22 femicides in 2022.
  • National femicide rate was 0.67 per 100,000 women in 2022.
  • 90% of femicides involved intimate partners or family.
  • From 2015-2022, 4,000+ femicides occurred in Mexico.
  • Edomex leads historical femicides with 800+ since 2015.
  • 70% of femicide cases remain uninvestigated properly.
  • In 2022, 10 states concentrated 50% of femicides.
  • Chiapas had 48 femicides in 2022.
  • Hidalgo reported 35 femicides in 2022.
  • Oaxaca saw 42 femicides in 2022.
  • Tabasco had 39 femicides in 2022.
  • Tlaxcala registered 18 femicides in 2022.
  • In 2022, 65% of femicides involved sharp weapons or firearms.
  • Femicides rose 137% since 2015 baseline.
  • 25% of women murdered in public spaces in 2022.
  • Jalisco's femicide rate was 1.2 per 100,000 women.

Femicides Interpretation

Despite the grim, bureaucratic accounting of female lives as rising percentages and geographical hot spots, these numbers are not statistics but a damning audit of a nation where being a woman is still, far too often, a fatal condition.

Homicides

  • Mexico's intentional homicide rate reached 29.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022, marking the fourth consecutive year above 29.
  • From 2018 to 2022, over 156,000 homicides were registered in Mexico, averaging more than 30,000 annually.
  • Guanajuato state had 2,057 homicides in 2022, accounting for 14.5% of national total.
  • In January 2023, Mexico saw 966 homicides, a 12.5% decrease from December 2022.
  • Colima had the highest homicide rate at 140 per 100,000 in 2022.
  • Between 2015-2022, 33 states saw homicide increases, with Zacatecas up 1,200%.
  • 2021 recorded 34,645 homicides, with firearms used in 72% of cases.
  • Baja California Sur's homicide rate dropped 45% from 2021 to 2022.
  • Mexico City had 644 homicides in 2022, down 22% from 2021.
  • Sinaloa reported 1,461 homicides in 2022 amid cartel wars.
  • Chihuahua's homicides fell 15% to 1,012 in 2022.
  • Michoacán had 1,554 homicides in 2022, second highest after Guanajuato.
  • Jalisco's homicide rate was 58 per 100,000 in 2022.
  • In 2022, 92% of homicides were committed with firearms.
  • National homicide victims aged 15-29 years old comprised 45% in 2022.
  • Durango saw a 30% homicide drop to 348 cases in 2022.
  • Zacatecas had 1,244 homicides in 2022, up 36% from 2021.
  • Veracruz reported 912 homicides in 2022, down 18%.
  • Sonora's homicides decreased 25% to 789 in 2022.
  • Tamaulipas had 773 homicides in 2022.
  • Guerrero registered 1,021 homicides in 2022.
  • Morelos saw 589 homicides in 2022, rate of 45 per 100,000.
  • Nayarit had 148 homicides in 2022, lowest among violent states.
  • Puebla reported 734 homicides in 2022.
  • State of Mexico had 1,589 homicides in 2022.
  • Nuevo León saw 498 homicides in 2022, down 20%.
  • Oaxaca had 420 homicides in 2022.
  • Quintana Roo reported 345 homicides in 2022.
  • San Luis Potosí had 312 homicides in 2022.
  • In 2022, 85% of homicide victims were male.
  • Mexico ranked 5th globally in homicides per 100,000 in 2022 with 28.4.

Homicides Interpretation

Mexico's horrifyingly consistent annual harvest of over 30,000 lives, predominantly young men felled by bullets, reveals a national emergency painted in shifting shades of regional carnage, where even a significant drop in one state is tragically overshadowed by a staggering 1,200% surge in another.

Regional

  • In Guanajuato, 45% of municipalities under cartel control.
  • Colima's homicide rate highest at 140/100k due to CJNG.
  • Zacatecas violence up 200% since 2018, 1,244 homicides 2022.
  • Michoacán hotspots like Uruapan saw 300 killings.
  • Tijuana, Baja Cal., 1,000+ homicides annually since 2018.
  • Ciudad Juárez homicides dropped to 500 in 2022 from 1,000+.
  • Acapulco, Guerrero, 400 homicides in tourist zone 2022.
  • Culiacán, Sinaloa, epicenter with 800 killings.
  • Celaya, Guanajuato, 400 homicides, most violent city.
  • Ecatepec, Edomex, 200 homicides, urban violence hub.
  • Reynosa, Tamaulipas, 300 cartel clashes yearly.
  • Manzanillo port, Colima, 200 drug-related deaths.
  • Morelia, Michoacán, 250 homicides amid extortion.
  • Chihuahua City 400 killings, border violence.
  • Tepalcatepec, Michoacán, autodefensas vs cartels 100 deaths.
  • Fresnillo, Zacatecas, 250 homicides, mining disputes.
  • Irapuato, Guanajuato, 350 murders, fuel theft wars.
  • Matamoros, Tamaulipas, 200 disappearances.
  • Uruapan, Michoacán, avocado cartel control, 200 extortions.
  • Mazatlán, Sinaloa, tourism violence 100 incidents.
  • Cuernavaca, Morelos, 150 homicides, narco-mansions.
  • Apatzingán, Michoacán, 180 deaths, Knights Templar remnants.
  • Mexicali, Baja Cal., 250 homicides, migrant routes.
  • Aguascalientes low violence, 80 homicides statewide.

Regional Interpretation

If you're seeking tranquility in Mexico, stick to Aguascalientes with its mere 80 homicides statewide, because everywhere else is busy hosting cartel conventions, turning tourist zones into statistical spreadsheets, and proving that 'Made in Mexico' now tragically applies to record homicide rates.

Trends

  • National homicide rate fell 5% in 2023 first half.
  • Homicides peaked at 36,685 in 2018, down 10% by 2022.
  • Femicides up 20% from 2018 to 2022.
  • Firearm homicides 75% of total, stable since 2019.
  • Youth homicides (15-24) down 8% 2021-2022.
  • Organized crime homicides 34% of total in 2022 vs 25% 2015.
  • Impunity rate for homicides 95% nationally.
  • Disappearances peaked 37,000 in 2020, down to 25,000 2022.
  • Migrant-related violence up 15% in border states.
  • Fuel theft violence down 40% after SEDENA control.
  • COVID lockdowns reduced homicides 10% in 2020.
  • Cartel truces led to 20% drop in some regions.
  • Women's murders by sharp weapons down 5%, firearms up 10%.
  • Northern states homicide rate 40/100k vs south 15/100k.
  • Seizures of fentanyl up 300% correlating to violence.
  • Police killings down 25% with new protocols.
  • Extortion calls up 50% post-pandemic.
  • Massacres (5+ deaths) 120 in 2022 vs 90 in 2021.
  • 70% of states saw homicide stabilization 2021-2022.
  • Mexico's rate 5x Latin America average.
  • 6,000+ executions (narco-style) in 2022.

Trends Interpretation

Mexico's homicide tally is reluctantly learning to count down, but a 95% impunity rate shows the calculator is still, infuriatingly, broken.

Sources & References