Mexico in Numbers: A 2025 security snapshot

On Aug. 13, the national statistics agency INEGI published the results of the 2026 National Census of Federal Public Security and National Census of State Public Security. This “Mexico in Numbers” article looks at some of the key results. It also includes some of the security statistics presented by the federal government last week. Security spending by National Guard and state forces exceeded 136 billion pesos in 2025 INEGI reported that the “total budget” exercised by the National Guard (GN) and state public security authorities in 2025 was 136.16 billion pesos (US $8 billion). Just over one-fifth of that amount — 20.7% — was spent by the GN, while the remainder was used by security authorities in Mexico’s 31 states. (Security spending in Mexico City wasn’t included in the 2026 security census.) INEGI said that using prices from the second quincena (15-day period) of July 2018 — i.e. before Mexico’s inflation rate spiked significantly in the early 2020s — spending by the GN and state security authorities last year amounted to 97.13 billion pesos. That figure represented a 17.5% decrease compared to spending by the GN and state security authorities in 2024, although expenditure in Mexico City was included in the previous security census data. Firearm seizures increased by more than 70% in 2025 INEGI reported that the National Guard and state security forces seized 21,088 firearms in 2025, an increase of 72.4% compared to the 12,232 guns they confiscated in 2024. State security forces seized 12,910 firearms last year, representing 61.2% of the total. The National Guard confiscated 8,178 guns, representing 38.8% of the total. The number of firearms seized by state security forces increased 36% annually from 9,490 in 2024. Meanwhile, the year-over-year confiscations by the National Guard soared 198.2% from 2,742 in 2024. The combined total of firearm seizures trended up in the past five years, but the increase in 2025 was easily the largest. State authorities received more than 13.7 million emergency calls in 2025 INEGI reported that 13.74 million “emergency incidents” were reported to state security authorities in 2025 via calls to the “911 system.” That number represented a 2.8% increase compared to 2024. The GN and state security forces arrested more than 400,000 people in 2025 INEGI reported that in 2025, the National Guard and state security forces arrested 413,127 people were subsequently handed over to authorities. The number of arrests declined 4% compared to 2024. In 2025, state security forces arrested 389,921 people, representing 94.4% of all detentions. The number of arrests made by state security forces declined 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. The GN arrested 23,206 people in 2025, an increase of 137.4% compared to 2024. INEGI detailed the reasons why some 413,000 people were arrested last year. It divided the causes into two categories: “alleged civic infractions” and “alleged crimes.” The five most common civic infractions allegedly committed by people who were arrested in 2025 were: Causing scandals or noise that threatens people’s tranquility and health: 71,227 arrests (17.2% of the total) Consuming drugs on the street or in other public places: 33,838 arrests (8.2%) Consuming alcoholic beverages on the street or in other public places: 33,180 arrests (8%) Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: 15,569 arrests (3.8%) Preventing the use of public roads or restricting the freedom of movement of people without just cause (e.g. protesting on the street without “just cause”): 12,518 arrests (3%) The five most common crimes allegedly committed by people who were arrested in 2025 were: Small-scale drug trafficking: 66,968 arrests (16.2% of the total) Robbery: 28,178 arrests (6.8%) Crimes involving weapons, explosives and other “destructive materials”: 9,704 arrests (2.3%) Assault: 9,701 arrests (2.3%) Crimes involving weapons and “prohibited objects”: 7,615 arrests (1.8%) In 2025, the National Guard and state security authorities arrested 2,869 people for allegedly committing homicides. Murder was the ninth most common crime for which people were arrested in Mexico last year. The federal government’s monthly ‘security census’ Federal security officials provide their own “security census,” of sorts, on a monthly basis President Claudia Sheinbaum’s weekday morning press conferences. Here is a recap of the statistics presented on Aug. 11. There were 10,309 homicides across Mexico in the first seven months of 2026. The daily murder rate between January and July was 48.6, a reduction of 30.8% compared to the same period of 2025. Between Oct. 1, 2024 — the date Sheinbaum was sworn in as president — and July 31, 2026, authorities arrested 63,564 people for allegedly committing high-impact crimes such as murder, kidnapping, extortion and violent robbery. Authorities seized 518.7 tonnes of drugs between October 2024 and July 2026. The Mexican military dismantled 2,725 clandestine drug laboratories between October 2024 and July 2026.