Socioeconomic and political developments in Chihuahua

Ciudad Juárez continues to drive significant economic and demographic shifts within Mexico. The state of Chihuahua has emerged as the national leader in export value, accounting for 25.1% of Mexico’s total exports in the second quarter of 2026. State exports reached $49.0275 billion, marking an 87.3% annual increase, heavily supported by the machinery and processing units sector for artificial intelligence infrastructure. Demographically, Chihuahua’s population reached 3,886,377 in 2025, though the annual growth rate has slowed to 0.8%. The state is experiencing an aging trend, with a rising median age of 31 and declining fertility rates. Economically, there is a growing trend of household reliance on non-work income, which rose to 44.8% in 2025. Recent developments show a divergence in the local hospitality sector. The Asociación de Hoteles y Moteles de Ciudad Juárez reported that at least two small, locally funded hotels have temporarily suspended operations due to a decline in lodging demand. This downturn follows the suspension of permanent residency appointments by the United States Department of State, which caused a 50 percent drop in occupancy within the consular sector. Conversely, medical tourism is experiencing rapid growth. Total related investments in Chihuahua and Ciudad Juárez are estimated to exceed 2,000 million pesos, stimulating sectors such as construction, gastronomy, transportation, and real estate. In Chihuahua capital, approximately 15,200 medical tourism patients were treated in 2024, generating an estimated economic impact of 660 million pesos. The market includes short-term outpatient procedures for U.S. patients and more complex procedures requiring longer stays. Notable infrastructure projects include the Hospital Ángeles Chihuahua’s Torre de Consultorios II, a 550 million peso investment featuring eight operating rooms. In the political sphere, Cruz Pérez Cuéllar, the state coordinator for Morena, has outlined a political agenda for Chihuahua centered on internal unity, territorial strengthening, and dialogue with productive sectors.