Mexico City Crime According to the Official Statistics

Issues and Figures, 2019-2024
Mar, 2025

Jesus L. Monroy
Economist & Data Scientist

Abstract

Crime in Mexico City presents a complex and evolving challenge. The city, a sprawling metropolis, grapples with a range of criminal activities, from petty theft and street-level drug offenses to organized crime and violent acts. Factors contributing to this multifaceted issue include socioeconomic disparities, corruption, and the influence of transnational criminal organizations. While efforts have been made to improve security through increased policing and community-based initiatives, persistent issues such as impunity and a lack of trust in law enforcement continue to hinder progress. Analyzing crime trends in Mexico City requires considering both official statistics and the lived experiences of residents, as well as the interplay of local, national, and international forces. Ongoing research and policy development are crucial to addressing the root causes of crime and fostering a safer environment for all.

Results

KPIs

It is important to note that the dataset has many null values for this field and also it has many typos about age ranging from 0 up to 365 years old! that's why we had to apply an if statement to set all ages below 18 to 18 and all ages above 99 to 99.

Mexico City Crimes per Neighborhood

In the following chart, we can see the top 10 neighborhoods by Mayorship in Mexico City with the most crimes reported.

Mexico City Crime Heat Map

In the below map, we have displayed the sum of crimes per neighborhood to get an idea of how crime is geographically distributed in Mexico City.

Conclusions

Analyzing crime in Mexico City presents significant challenges, and the limitations of available data create substantial obstacles to drawing definitive conclusions.

• Varied Crime Landscape

  Mexico City experiences a range of criminal activities, from petty theft to organized crime-related violence. This creates a multifaceted challenge for law enforcement. The distribution of crime is uneven, with certain areas experiencing higher rates of specific offenses.

• Impact of Socioeconomic Factors

  Poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity contribute to crime rates in certain neighborhoods. Addressing these underlying socioeconomic issues is crucial for long-term crime reduction.

• Efforts in Crime Reduction

  Mexico City has implemented strategies, including increased data transparency and targeted policing, aimed at reducing crime. The use of open data policies, has shown to be a helpful tool in crime reduction.

• Challenges Remain

  Despite progress, challenges persist, including issues related to organized crime, corruption, and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. The issue of firearms, and their influx from the United States, is a large factor in violent crimes.

• The importance of Data

  The use of data to create crime maps, and to find crime hot spots, has become a very important tool for law enforcement.

It’s important to recognize that crime trends are dynamic and influenced by various factors. Continued efforts are necessary to improve public safety and address the root causes of crime in Mexico City.

Addressing crime in Mexico City requires a multifaceted approach that includes improving data collection and analysis, strengthening law enforcement, and addressing the underlying socioeconomic factors that contribute to crime.

The hardship of incomplete data makes it essential to improve transparency and data sharing among all agencies involved in public security.

A significant portion of crimes goes unreported due to distrust in authorities, fear of retaliation, or the perception that reporting is futile.

This underreporting creates a distorted picture of the actual crime situation.

References

• Portal de Datos Abiertos CdMx (2024). Víctimas en carpetas de investigación. Jan/2019 - Sep/2024. Retrieved from website

Contact

Jesus L. Monroy
Economist & Data Scientist

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