Mexico has seen a marginal decrease in the public perception of insecurity as of September 2026, according to the latest data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi). The National Survey of Urban Public Security (ENSU) revealed that 58.1% of the adult population considers it unsafe to live in their city—a slight improvement from the 59.8% recorded in June and the 63% reported in September of the previous year.
Despite the national trend, the data highlights a fragmented landscape. Of the 91 urban areas analyzed, only 10 recorded statistically significant improvements in safety perception. Conversely, six cities reported a notable increase in fear, while the remaining 75 showed no significant change.
Regional Successes and Failures
San Francisco de Campeche led the improvements, showing a significant 16.3 percentage point drop in perceived insecurity, falling from 65.9% to 49.6%. Other notable improvements were seen in Tlalnepantla de Baz, Estado de México (down 13.8 points), and Ciudad Obregón, Sonora (down 12.6 points).
Other cities showing significant progress include:
- Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco: -11.8 points
- Chetumal, Quintana Roo: -9.4 points
- Querétaro: -9.3 points
- Culiacán, Sinaloa: -9.2 points (though 81.6% of the population still feels unsafe)
- Tapachula, Chiapas: -7.7 points
- Colima: -7.6 points
- Reynosa, Tamaulipas: -6.3 points
In contrast, some regions saw a sharp deterioration in public safety sentiment. Hermosillo, Sonora, registered the most significant decline, with a 10-point increase in perceived insecurity. Other cities reporting significant rises include Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán (+9.3 points), Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas (+9 points), Tepic, Nayarit (+8.8 points), Saltillo, Coahuila (+7.8 points), and Mazatlán, Sinaloa (+7.4 points). Mazatlán is particularly notable as it remains among the five cities with the highest perceived insecurity in the country.
The Safety Gap: Extremes and Demographics
The survey also highlighted stark geographical contrasts. Irapuato, Guanajuato, topped the list of the most dangerous cities, with 90.5% of its adult population feeling unsafe, followed by Chilpancingo (86.9%), Mazatlán (85.8%), Puebla (84.5%), and Cuernavaca (83.1%).
On the opposite end of the spectrum, San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León, reported the lowest level of perceived insecurity at just 5.8%. Other relatively safe hubs included Benito Juárez, Mexico City (13.8%), Piedras Negras, Coahuila (14.3%), and San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León (14.3%).
The ENSU also identified a significant gender gap in safety concerns: 64.2% of women reported feeling unsafe in their cities, compared to 50.6% of men—a difference of 13.6 percentage points. Furthermore, public ATMs remained the highest-risk location for residents (68.7%), followed by streets (61.8%) and public transportation (61.1%).
The ENSU data, collected between August 21 and September 11 across 27,300 households, measures the subjective experience of the inhabitants regarding their surroundings rather than official crime statistics.