Data: Is Mexico Really Safer Than The US?

Mexico’s president declared on Monday that his country is safer than the United States, responding to US criticism of his security record in the aftermath of a tragic kidnapping along the border earlier this month that killed two Americans.

The March 3 attack on four Americans in the Mexican city of Matamoros, and their subsequent kidnapping, drew recriminations from lawmakers in the United States, particularly Republicans.

Two of the Americans had died by the time Mexican officials found them. Five alleged Mexican drug cartel members have now been apprehended in connection with the kidnapping.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has threatened to discourage Mexican-Americans from voting for Republican candidates if they continue to criticize him, has ignored official U.S. security advisories that portray much of Mexico as a dangerous place to visit.

“Mexico is safer than the United States,” he told reporters. “There’s no problem with traveling safely around Mexico.”

Lopez Obrador stated both American visitors and Mexicans living in the United States are aware of the country’s safety, citing a recent increase in Americans residing in Mexico. The number of Americans visiting Mexico increased dramatically last year.

He blamed bad security reports on an “anti-Mexico” campaign by conservative US politicians.

What does the data say?

According to World Bank data, Mexico’s murder rate in 2020 was around four times that of the United States, at 28 per 100,000 people. Homicides in Mexico reduced by roughly 7% last year, but the current administration is on track to set a record for any six-year administration.

In Mexico City, the police count reached a high of 1,597 murder victims in 2018, before falling to 1,006 in 2021. The capital city had a murder rate per capita of roughly 10.9 per 100,000 people in that year and has fallen since then.

When the data for 2021 is compared, Mexico City still has a greater murder rate than New York (which had around 5.7 homicides per 100,000), but it is lower than Portland (12.9), Dallas (14.6), or Minneapolis (22.1).

The most murderous cities in the United States are Baltimore (57.5) and St. Louis (65.3), which have unusually high levels given the country’s riches and power. In 2021, the most homicidal cities in Mexico have horrendous rates, ranking among the worst in the world, with Zamora at 196, Zacatecas at 107, and Tijuana at 103.

In 2022, Tijuana topped the world’s list of most dangerous cities by murder rate, leading the five Mexican cities out of the top 10 in the ranking. St. Louis in Missouri is the most dangerous in the US, landing in the 14th slot.

Source: Statista

Information for this briefing was found via Reuters and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.

Video Articles

We Have the Highest-Grade Antimony Deposit in North America!? | Jim Atkinson -Antimony Resources

New Found Gold: The Strategic Maritime Resources Purchase

Amex Exploration: Revised Perron PEA Has INSANE Economics

Recommended

Canadian Copper Secures $8 Million Lead Order From Ocean Partners As Part Of Larger Funding Round

Northern Superior Expands Philibert With 350 Metre Step Out Testing 1.10 g/t Gold Over 25.5 Metres

Related News

Mexican Tequila Industry Faces Glut, Trade Threats as Demand Slows

Mexico’s tequila industry confronts mounting inventories and potential US tariffs as demand cools following years...

Wednesday, January 1, 2025, 07:47:00 AM

Colombia’s Gustavo Pietro Is Done With The War On Drugs

On Tuesday last week, Colombia’s recently-elected leftist president Gustavo Petro addressed the United Nations General...

Thursday, September 29, 2022, 03:39:00 PM

Silver Hunting In Mexico – The Daily Dive feat Chris Berlet of Canuc Resources

This afternoon on The Daily Dive, our host Cassandra Leah sits down with Chris Berlet,...

Thursday, December 3, 2020, 01:00:00 PM

Mexico Nixes Separate Canada Pact, Still Bets on CUSMA

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum closed the door on a one-on-one trade agreement with Canada, telling...

Thursday, August 7, 2025, 12:18:00 PM

Ontario Premier Calls for Mexico’s Exit from North American Trade Pact

Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Tuesday called for Mexico’s potential exclusion from the North American...

Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 02:18:00 PM