The majority of Mexico’s cities are plagued with high violent crime rates and as such the country is home to the majority of the Most Dangerous Cities in the World 2021. A lot of gang activities and drug activities that often lead to violence and illicit character are common in the cities that are enlisted to be the Most Dangerous Cities in Mexico.
15 MOST DANGEROUS CITIES IN MEXICO
Crime seems to be a major problem in Mexico and it is present in almost every city in the country. Below, we have listed 15 cities in the country considered to be the most dangerous.
- Tijuana
- Acapulo
- Ciudad Victoria
- Ciudad Juárez
- Irapuato
- Cancún
- Culiacán
- Uruapan
- Ciudad Obregón
- Coatzacoalcos
- Celaya
- Ensenada
- Tepic
- Reynosa
- Chihuahua
15 Dangerous Pleases in Mexico
1. Tijuana
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 138
- Population: 1,909,424
The city of Tijuana has consistently been ranked the Most Dangerous City in Mexico and nicknamed the murder capital of Mexico; also, the city is atop the list of Most Dangerous Cities in the World. The violent crime rate in this city is very high and often extremely high murder rate. Despite all efforts to curb the crime rate in the city, there is still no sign of a reduction in the murder rate. More so, the murder rate in the city leaped from 100 deaths per 100, 000 to 138 deaths per 100, 000.
2. Acapulco
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 111
- Population: 857,883
Next to Tijuana is the city of Acapulco occupying the second spot on the list. It is a port city located in the western region of Mexico and serves as a tourist spot. The city is also among the Most Dangerous Cities in the World 2020 just as Tijuana. The rate of homicide annually is 111 per 100, 000 population which depicts the high rate of killings in the city which is more than that of any other city in the country.
3. Ciudad Victoria
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 86
- Population: 365,089
Ciudad Victoria is the capital city of Tamaulipas state in the northeastern region of Mexico. The city is also ranked among dangerous cities in Mexico because of the high verdure wars between offshoot gangs that split off from the Gulf and Zeta cartels during delicate security operations. This led to an increase in the rate from 30 per 100,000 to 86 murders per 100, 000 population annually. As such, Ciudad Victoria is the third dangerous city in Mexico.
4. Ciudad Juárez
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 86
- Population: 1,462,133
Ciudad Juárez is a border city located across the river from El Paso is also rated among the dangerous cities in Mexico. The city was first included on the list in 2013 where it had 38 homicide rate per 100, 000 residents. Since then there has been an upshot in killings to 86 homicide rate per 100, 000 residents in 2018.
5. Irapuato
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 81
- Population: 580,808
Irapuato city is located in the center heart of Guanajuato and is famous for its scenic and beautiful gardens, the city did not escape our list with a homicide rate of 81 per 100, 000 population. Occupying the fifth spot on our list of Most Dangerous Cities in Mexico because of the high rate of criminal gang activity, including kidnappings and extortion.
6. Cancún
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 64
- Population: 848,465
Cancun is another popular tourist city in Mexico to make the list. Cancun made the list due to the increase in local murder rate which doubled in 2018 as a result of escalated violent crime which created a nationwide record-breaking homicide rate in 2018. This can be attributed to illicit activities which are drug and non-drug-related criminal gang violence.
7. Culiacán
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 61
- Population: 966,609
Culiacán is the capital city of Sinaloa state in the northwestern region of Mexico occupying the seventh spot on our list. The city has a long history of been a drug cartel region, this has led to numerous violent crime especially drug-gang gun battles which often results in death. This is the major factor that has led to the high homicide rate of 61 deaths per 100, 000 residents. All efforts to curb the situation in the country so far has proven abortive.
8. Uruapan
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 55
- Population: 346,640
Uruapan is a popular city in Michoacán state plagued with a high rate of violent crimes which has landed this highland inland city on this list of Most Dangerous cities in Mexico. Prominent violent crime in Uruapan is gun-related homicides as a result of organized criminal activities which have continued to increase throughout the city. The city experience a homicide rate of 55 per 100, 000 residents annually which is an increase since 2013.
9. Ciudad Obregón
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 52
- Population: 343,613
Ciudad Obregón city is located in the northwestern region of Mexico and it is home to a population of over 300, 000 people. Ciudad Obregón has continuously been enlisted as a dangerous city due to the high rate of local rival drug-gang violence.
10. Coatzacoalcos
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 48
- Population: 335,077
The city of Coatzacoalcos is a port city located in the eastern part of the country and it is known for violent crime activities including organized criminal gangs have increased their activities, including kidnapping and drug gang-related killings which have increased death rates in the city to 48 per 100, 000 residents. In fact, many residents perceived the city to be dangerous and those who can afford it are moving out of the city and those who can’t stay back.
11. Celaya
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 47
- Population: 510,787
Celaya is the capital city of Guanajuato state located in the central region of the state. The city debuted on our list of dangerous cities in Mexico. Like other cities aforementioned, Celaya also experiences a high rate of violent criminal gang activities which has made the city a hot zone due to criminal activities. Due to the increase in criminal activities, the city surface on the list of Most Dangerous Cities in the World 2020.
12. Ensenada
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 47
- Population: 542,896
Ensenada is a coastal city located on the Baja Peninsula not too far from the southern part of Tijuana. The city also has its fair share of the nationwide increase in violent crime plaguing the country. Currently, there has been an increase in the rate of cartel-related violence despite every effort to curb crime from invading the city, efforts seem not to be enough as the city is currently the 12th most dangerous cities in Mexico 2021.
13. Tepic
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 45
- Population: 512,387
The currently the 13th most dangerous cities in Mexico is Tepic, the capital city of the western Nayarit state. Major crime incident in this city is gun-related homicides which are on the increase since the past couple of years. This is because of the continuous regional clashes between rival drug gangs in the city.
14. Reynosa
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 41
- Population: 711,130
Reynosa is located in the northern region of Mexico and it is among the biggest cities Tamaulipas state, known as a drug cartel. However, the Mexican anti-cartel operations were able to successfully destroy the Gulf and Zetas cartel operating in the area. This has since then brought about wars between emerging splinter groups that ravaged the state. With a homicide rate of 41 per 100, 000 population in the city, there is no way to let this city fall off the list.
15. Chihuahua
- Homicides per 100,000 in 2018: 38
- Population: 938,713
Chihuahua completes our discussion on the dangerous cities in Mexico. The city is the capital of the northern Mexican state and it is located along the Mexican U.S border. Sits at the 15th spot with a homicide rate of 38 per 100, 000 population which is lower than that of 2017 rated to be 49.5 per 100, 000 population. The city suffers mostly from violent crime that is mostly drug-related and gang clashes.
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Conclusion
These cities are not just the most dangerous in Mexico but are also recognized to be the most dangerous in the world. Also, from the cities enlisted here, it seems the crime rate related to gang clashes and drug-related violence is perpetually on the increase despite the effort of security agencies to curb the problem.