INEGI reports 3.5 million children in child labor in Mexico

According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), 3.5 million children and adolescents between the ages of five and 17 were engaged in child labor in Mexico during 2025. This figure represents 12.6% of that age group.

The measurement includes economic activities prohibited by age or those involving hazardous conditions, as well as domestic chores performed for extended periods or under dangerous circumstances. The report notes that child labor can occur within the home even without a formal salary.

Regional data shows Guerrero had the highest rate at 22.6%, followed by Oaxaca at 20.9% and Chiapas at 20.3%. In Zacatecas, the rate was 12.8%, slightly above the national average. Nationally, 1.6 million minors were engaged exclusively in prohibited occupations, while 1.7 million performed only inadequate domestic chores.

A correlation exists between labor and education: child labor affected 48.4% of those not attending school, compared to 9.9% of those who were enrolled in school.