Quintana Roo Records Low Mortality Rate but High Suicide Rate

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Quintana Roo maintains one of the lowest overall mortality rates in Mexico, but preliminary data show the state also posted one of the country’s highest suicide rates last year.

The figures come from the 2025 death statistics released by INEGI, Mexico’s national statistics agency. The agency recorded 8,593 deaths in the state, a crude rate of 451 per 100,000 residents, well below the national average of 584.

Low Overall Mortality

That places Quintana Roo among the four states with the lowest mortality, behind Campeche, Nuevo León, and Baja California Sur. The low rate is linked to the state’s relatively young population, which reduces the share of deaths related to aging.

The state also posted favorable numbers for chronic diseases. The standardized death rate for diabetes mellitus was 51.1 per 100,000 residents, compared with 73.4 nationally. For malignant tumors, the crude death rate was 43.9 per 100,000, the second-lowest in the country.

Heart Disease and Other Causes

Heart disease, the leading cause of death in Mexico, was also lower in Quintana Roo. The crude rate was 76.2 deaths per 100,000, the lowest among all states. However, when adjusted for age, the rate rises to 139.4, slightly above the national average. The difference underscores how the state’s demographic profile affects overall figures.

The INEGI report also noted that external causes such as accidents and homicides accounted for 10.2 percent of all deaths registered in Mexico in 2025.

Suicide Rate Near Top Nationally

The most worrying contrast appears in suicide data. Quintana Roo’s standardized suicide rate was 11.8 per 100,000 residents, nearly double the national rate of 6.8. That puts the state in second place nationally, tied with Aguascalientes and behind only Chihuahua, which recorded 13.9.

Nationwide, eight out of 10 people who die by suicide are men, and more than half of cases involve people aged 15 to 34.

The figures show that while Quintana Roo has favorable mortality indicators overall, suicide prevention and mental health care remain significant challenges for authorities.