Everyday Killings in Mexico Fall 37% Under the Sheinbaum Administration, Per Government Figures

The typical number of daily killings monthly in the country has decreased by 37% since President Claudia Sheinbaum assumed power, as stated by fresh administrative figures. But, security analysts have warned that murder data could fail to indicate improved countrywide safety.

Significant Decline in Daily Numbers

Officials reported an mean of almost 55 killings a day in last November versus roughly 87 when the President assumed the presidency in the previous September. This information was delivered by the director of the nation's national safety agency, Marcela Figueroa Franco, during the leader's daily press briefing on a recent Tuesday.

“The outcome in murders that we’ve had in these past months is very significant,” Sheinbaum said, noting that last month the smallest figure of murders were registered for any single November in the past 10 years.

Historical Context and Official Plan

Violent cartel rivalries, coupled with the administration's heavily militarised efforts to confront the cartels, have made Mexico’s murder numbers escalate in the past few years. The figure reached a peak of 36,773 homicides in 2020, as reported by the country’s national statistics agency.

That meant Mexico a homicide rate over four times greater than that of the United States. However, murders have been on the decline, declining to 33,550 last year. Claudia Sheinbaum has linked her public safety strategy for an ostensibly more pronounced decline in homicides in the current year.

At a news briefing in August, the head of state said: “There is a plan, there is tracking of the plan, and we have detailed tracking locality by locality in some cases. The approach is effective. And we have to keep working at it daily.”

The main pillars of Sheinbaum’s security plan include:

• Reinforcing Mexico’s federal guard.
• Enhancing intelligence and investigative capabilities.
• Increased collaboration between government authorities.

Expert Warnings and Statistical Limitations

But, security researchers cautioned that relying on murder data to assess the situation of peace was problematic. This is especially true given the increase in other crimes such as people going missing.

“It would be very good news if this was a drop, but I think we must not just look at the homicide numbers and say: ‘Well then, great,’” said Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, an specialist on Mexico's criminal organizations. “I would be tentatively positive.”

According to the policy analysis thinktank Mexico Evalúa, homicides in total fell by more than 20% in the initial 10 months of this year relative to the identical timeframe the previous year. However, disappearances have risen by 15% and in certain states have surged by as much as 200%.

“Numbers on homicides is not valid for assessing the reality of public insecurity,” stated Armando Vargas, a safety analyst at Mexico Evalúa. “Firstly, we have police and prosecutors who do not have the resources or the will to accurately identify and classify corpses. Second, organized [criminals] … have the means to hide violence through disappearances.”

Vargas pointed out that using month-to-month averages of daily homicides was similarly problematic because it could hide days when there were especially elevated levels of killings.

“Relying on the daily mean makes surges of violence less visible,” he stated.

Detentions and Seizures as Measures of Progress

Where the government can cite the effectiveness of its security plan is on detentions and confiscations. Close to 40,000 suspects were apprehended between last October and November 2025 for serious crimes, according to official figures. Over 20,000 weapons were taken and 311 tonnes of narcotics confiscated.

“The former US president can't claim President Sheinbaum of not acting, because in reality she is doing a lot with these many thousands of detentions, thousands of confiscations, and all the tactical weakening of organised crime. It’s highly politically beneficial,” stated Vargas.

Persistent Violence and Societal Frustration

Yet despite these efforts, Mexico is still grappling with extreme bloodshed, with multiple states in the grip of cartel-fueled violence. Recently there was a high-profile murder of a well-liked mayor in the region of Michoacan, one of 10 mayors murdered in the past 12 months.

A short time after, thousands of young people took to the streets in Mexico City and across the country to voice their outrage at graft and drug violence.

“The administration presents [data] in a way to build a narrative of security. From a political standpoint it’s highly successful, from a social perspective it’s highly problematic,” the analyst remarked.