Yucatán: Mexico’s Safest State with Record Low Crime

Mérida, Yucatán — The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) has reaffirmed Yucatán as one of the safest states in Mexico, reporting a homicide rate of three per 100,000 inhabitants. This figure places the region on par with countries like Denmark and Norway and stands in stark contrast to other parts of Mexico, where the national average reaches 138 homicides per 100,000 residents—a rate exceeding that of some nations at war.

Declining Violence and Rising Public Trust

During a conference titled “Institutional Capabilities and Social Perceptions on the Administration of Justice in the State of Yucatán,” INEGI Vice President Adrián Franco Barrios highlighted significant reductions in domestic violence, which dropped from 10.5% in 2020 to 4.6% in 2024—well below the national average. He also praised the growing public confidence in the Yucatán Judicial Branch, which has risen to 70%, one of the highest levels in the country.

Accompanied by María Carolina Canto Valdés, President of the State Superior Court of Justice (TSJE) and the Judiciary Council, Franco Barrios cited data from the 2024 National Survey on Victimization and Public Security Perception (Envipe). He noted that the 70% trust level marks the highest recorded in Yucatán over the past decade.

“These results are highly positive for the Yucatán Judicial Branch,” Franco Barrios stated before judicial staff, TSJE magistrates, and Judiciary Council members. “The certainty provided by this institution is reflected in the trust citizens report having in the judges serving the state justice system.”

Judicial Performance and Citizen Satisfaction

Speaking at the “Víctor Cervera Pacheco” auditorium in the TSJE headquarters, Franco Barrios shared Envipe statistics underscoring public satisfaction with judicial services. In 2024, 69.6% of respondents rated the Judicial Branch’s performance favorably—meaning seven out of ten citizens were content with the attention and services received. This figure surpasses the national average and demonstrates strong approval of Yucatán’s judges.

Regarding institutional trust, the federal official noted that 70.6% of the population expressed confidence in the state’s Judicial Branch, significantly higher than the 60% national average. “Yucatán has consistently ranked above this benchmark,” he added.

Franco Barrios emphasized that these positive metrics should not lead to complacency but rather serve as motivation to identify areas for further improvement. “The goal is to continue strengthening certainty, stability, and public trust in the justice system,” he concluded.