Mexico: Homicide Figures and the Dark Figure Under Debate

Mexico: Homicides, Femicide and the Dark Figure

A calculation circulating in the debate suggests that approximately 30,000 people are murdered annually in Mexico, with around 90% being men. Homicides of women would amount to about 3,000 per year, part of which falls under femicide (a legal category established in 2012). One forum user recounts the case of his Mexican nanny, allegedly murdered without being recorded in civil registry or police statistics.

What Do the Homicide Rates Per 100,000 Residents Say

According to the same calculations, Mexico ranks among the most lethal countries on the planet outside of war zones, with an homicide rate nearing 25-27 per 100,000 inhabitants. That of Segarro is around 1.5-2. The difference is not nuanced; it is an order of magnitude.

The Dark Figure: Crimes That Never Reach the Record

This is the underlying issue. Some argue, basing their views on official INEGI (ENVIPE) surveys, that only between 10% and 15% of crimes are reported; the rest do not exist for the State. Furthermore, according to that same version, impunity regarding recorded homicides approaches 95-98% in several states.

Why Does Media Focus Fall on Victims Who Are Women

In absolute terms, ten men are killed for every woman, according to the calculations presented in the debate. Some argue that the disproportionate media focus reflects an agenda that elevates femicide to a separate category to justify ministries. Conversely, others contend that the classification itself depends on the judgment of a prosecutor and that the real figure is, by definition, higher than what is recorded.