Mexico increases early childhood investment by 40 percent

Investment in early childhood in Mexico has seen significant growth, with real terms increasing by over 40 percent in less than a decade. According to the Pacto por la Primera Infancia, the budget for children under six rose from 110,758 million pesos in 2018 to 216,560 million pesos by 2025. This represents a 96 percent increase in nominal terms. Annual spending per child has also increased from 8,461 to 17,565 pesos.

In 2025, early childhood investment accounted for 2.53 percent of public spending and 0.61 percent of the GDP. The allocation of these funds includes 57 percent for education, 31 percent for health, and 11 percent for social protection. Despite these increases, officials warn that four out of ten children under six still live in poverty.

To address these challenges, Lorena Villavicencio, Executive Secretary of the National System for the Integral Protection of Children and Adolescents (SIPINNA), emphasized the need for better, evidence-based investment. In Chihuahua, SIPINNA national leadership met with local authorities to strengthen institutional coordination and review protection strategies, including digital security and violence intervention models.