Most Dangerous Cities in Mexico 2024

According to the Global Peace Index, Mexico is the 24th least peaceful and 140th most peaceful country in the world. The Global Peace Index measures the relative peacefulness of 172 independent states and territories around the world.

The GPI weighs both internal peace (60%) and external peace (40%). Internal peace is weighted 1 to 5 using indicators such as homicide rate, the intensity of internal conflict, violent crime, political instability, political terror, and more. External peace is weighted 1 to 5 as well using indicators such as military expenditure, nuclear and heavy weapons capabilities, external conflicts fought, and more. A score of 1 is the most peaceful and a score of 5 is the least peaceful. Mexico has an index score of 2.600.

While Mexico is a popular vacationing destination, especially for U.S. tourists, the country has many dangerous areas and cities that should be avoided. Mexico is currently dealing with drug trafficking, organized crime, political corruption, violence against journalists, violence against women, and more. Those visiting Mexico should be cautious of kidnappings, homicides, robberies, and carjacking.

The ten most dangerous cities in Mexico, based on number of homicides per 100,000 residents are:

1. Tijuana (138)
2. Acapulco (111)
3. Ciudad Victoria (86)
4. Ciudad Juarez (86)
5. Irapuato (81)
6. Cancun (64)
7. Culiacán (61)
8. Uruapan (55)
9. Ciudad Obredón (52)
10. Coatzacoalcos (48)

Tijuana, which is the world’s busiest land border crossings with over 50 million people passing through it every year, is the most dangerous city in Mexico. Tijuana’s homicide rate is 138 homicides per 100,000 people with a total of 2,640 homicides in 2018. With San Diego right across the border, there are concerns of such violence carrying over, but San Diego has remained relatively safe due to the hundreds of law enforced from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the FBI, and the U.S. Coast Guard. In 2018, San Diego had a homicide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 people.

The five most dangerous cities in Mexico are also among the top ten most dangerous cities in the world. Tijuana also ranks as the most dangerous city in the world, Acapulco takes the second spot, Ciudad Victoria takes the fourth, Ciudad Juárez takes the fifth, and Irapuato takes the sixth.