Approximately 60 to 120 American citizens are murdered in Mexico annually, based on U.S. State Department data from recent years. While millions of U.S. citizens visit safely, homicides and other violent crimes occur, particularly in areas with high cartel activity, with over 75 Americans reported killed by homicide in 2021.

How many American tourists are killed in Mexico per year?

The US State Department reports that 120 Americans of the 5.7 million who visited Mexico last year were murdered, which is a rate of 2.1 of 100,000 visitors. Regardless of whether they were or weren't connected to drug trafficking, which is often not clear, it's less than half the US national rate.

How many people are murdered in Mexico every year?

During President Claudia Sheinbaum's daily news conference, officials said Mexico recorded 17.5 murders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025, the lowest rate since 2016. That compares with 29 killings per 100,000 people in 2018, when homicides reached their highest level in two decades.

Is it safe to live in Mexico as an American?

If we're recommending it, it is. Of course nowhere is crime-free, and you should take the same precautions overseas as you would anywhere, but in the main, you'll likely find you're as safe or safer overseas as you are back home. Plus, there's so many upsides to expat life in Mexico…

Why is life expectancy so low in Mexico?

Between 2015 and 2019, life expectancy declined from 71.8 to 71.1 years for males and stagnated at 77.6 years for females. Violence among young males explains most of the decline (54.3%). Between 2019 and 2020, life expectancy decreased by 7.1 and 4.4 years for males and females, respectively.

Apology letter from Mexican drug cartel found after Americans killed in Mexico

What happens if a US citizen dies in Mexico?

Death of a US citizen in Mexico should be reported to the Embassy or Consulate so that a Report of Death of a U.S. citizen abroad can be issued. This document is necessary to settle legal and estate matters in the United States.

What are the top 3 most violent states in Mexico?

Key Trends in Mexico Peace Index 2021 report

For the third consecutive year, Baja California is the least peaceful state in Mexico, followed by Colima, Zacatecas, Chihuahua and Guanajuato.

What is the most Americanized city in Mexico?

Many say that Monterrey is the most Americanized of all the cities in Mexico. Our Centris staff would certainly agree with that statement. In fact, many Centris employees have spent many years in the United States and speak excellent English and Spanish.

Is Mexico City or NYC safer?

Mexico City currently has one of the highest police officer to resident ratios in the world, with one uniformed police officer per every 100 citizens. The murder rate in 2009 was 8.4 per 100,000 — by comparison, higher than the 5.6 in New York City but much less than the 14.8 in Atlanta.

What is the #1 safest country?

Iceland is consistently ranked as the #1 safest country in the world by the Global Peace Index (GPI), a position it has held for over a decade due to extremely low crime, no standing army, and high social trust, with countries like Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland also frequently appearing in the top spots across different reports for 2024-2025.
 

Where not to go in Mexico right now?

Right now, you should avoid or reconsider travel to Mexican states with Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) or Level 4 (Do Not Travel) advisories from the U.S. State Department, including Level 4: Colima, Guerrero (except Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa by air), Michoacán (except Morelia), Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas, due to high crime and kidnapping risks, and Level 3: Baja California, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, and Sonora, where crime and cartel activity are significant concerns, with specific areas in Sinaloa, Michoacán, and Colima having explicit "Do Not Travel" warnings for certain regions.
 

How long can a US citizen stay in Mexico?

However, you need a visa if you intend to stay in Mexico longer than 180 days and/or if you will engage in remunerated activities of some kind (if you will receive payment or a salary from a Mexican employer for a professional service rendered). Please refer to visa options, according to your traveling purposes.

Can you vape in Mexico?

Vapes are banned.

Mexico has not only banned the import and use of vapes. A new federal law now makes almost anything involving them a criminal offence. It covers acquiring them, storing them, transporting them and selling them, and it uses the term “for commercial purposes” without explaining what that actually means.

What is the kidnapping rate in Mexico?

Officially, an average of 70 people are abducted by strangers each month, although private security firms say the real figure is 10 times higher.

How many Americans are killed in Mexico every year?

But the number of homicides of American citizens in Mexico still represents a large percentage of U.S. deaths there. According to data from the U.S. State Department, between January 2022 and June 2022, there were 115 deaths of U.S. citizens, of which 25 were homicides.

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