Mexico’s Well-Being Paradox: Happiness vs. Insecurity

Mexico — According to the 2025 Self-Reported Well-Being Module (BIARE) from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), Mexicans live with a positive emotional balance. On average, the urban adult population scored 5.4 points on a scale of -10 to 10, indicating that pleasant emotions predominate. However, 6.2% reported feeling more negative emotions and reflected stress, sadness, or tiredness. In daily life, this translates to the majority facing their activities with a favorable attitude, but a very significant portion still experiences tension or discouragement.

Women Report More Physical Pain and Less Energy

The study reveals differences between men and women. Men achieved an average of 5.7 points in emotional balance, while women reached 5.2. Furthermore, women reported more physical pain (an average of 2.8, compared to 2.2 for men) and lower vitality. This connects with everyday experiences: long workdays, double labor burdens, and less rest.

Satisfaction with Life: Family and Housing, the Highest Rated Aspects

In general, Mexicans rate their satisfaction with life at 8.6 out of 10 points, showing optimism. The aspects that make the population happiest are the freedom to make decisions about their life (9.1), housing (8.9), and family relationships (8.8). In contrast, concerns appear regarding citizen security (6.2), where almost a quarter of the respondents declared themselves dissatisfied, and the quality of the environment (7.2).

Sense of Purpose: Gratitude and Resilience

Another relevant finding is the strong sense of purpose in the population. The majority agree that “I am a fortunate person” (9.4) and that they have the freedom to direct their own life (9.3). However, the challenge arises in resilience: when something negative happens, the average agreement with the phrase “I find it hard to get back to normal” was 5.0. This indicates that many Mexicans still struggle to recover emotionally from problems.

In simple terms, the report confirms that a high level of personal and family satisfaction exists in Mexico, but two factors that affect daily life persist: insecurity and environmental concerns. For citizens, this translates into a paradox: although the majority feels grateful and satisfied with their life, they fear for their security and perceive an increasingly deteriorated environment.

What Is the Purpose of Knowing This?

Understanding how Mexicans feel goes beyond economics and cold statistics. The 2025 Self-Reported Well-Being Module (BIARE) from INEGI shows which aspects of life generate satisfaction and which cause discomfort, information that serves to design more effective public policies. If people declare themselves happy with their housing and family, but dissatisfied with security or the environment, governments can focus their efforts on addressing those concerns.

Furthermore, the finding that women report more physical pain and lower vitality reveals specific needs for attention in health and working conditions. But it is not only useful for the authorities: it is also helpful for society in general. These indicators help us understand how we live, what we value, and what worries us. Knowing that the majority feels fortunate and with purpose shows resilience, while the low satisfaction with security or the environmental surroundings reflects everyday fears.

In short, the BIARE complements the GDP: it does not measure money, it measures emotions, and with that offers a more human map of the quality of life in Mexico.