Mexico's peace index hits decade-high improvement as homicide rates fall, but cartel clashes persist

The Institute for Economics and Peace reported that Mexico's peace score rose 5.1% in 2025, marking the most significant improvement in at least a decade and the sixth consecutive year of progress after a period of deterioration. Homicide rates dropped 22.7%, roughly 7,000 fewer deaths than the previous year, bringing the national violence cost down to four trillion pesos (about $220 billion), or 11% of GDP.

President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted the gains, crediting the current administration’s National Security Strategy and noting advances such as new hospitals and rail projects. Nonetheless, the report warned that cartel fragmentation remains a threat. Baja California stays a major battleground between the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG, ranking fourth‑least peaceful and accounting for 55% of cartel‑related deaths since 2015. Tijuana recorded the highest municipal homicide count, though about 500 deaths fewer than in 2024. Yucatán continued as the most peaceful state, while Colima, Sinaloa, Guanajuato, Morelos and Baja California ranked lowest.