Oct 01, 2013
How Safe is Mexico
Thanks to a reader for leading me to this link. This is what I was sent which lead me to finding this site.
Amazing statistics!
The follow excerpt explains how these figures came to be.
This educational site exists to present facts.
Like most countries, Mexico has violent crime. Our concern is that the portrayal of this violence is sensationalized and inconsistent with the portrayals of other countries and travel destinations. We do not suggest that Mexico is completely safe, nor is it as dangerous as it is represented. We offer specific factual comparisons so that travelers can make enlightened choices without the haze of politics and media hype.
“How Safe Is Mexico?” is an independent site.
This site is a project of Black Label Interactive, a firm which has represented travel and luxury brands on every continent. In the interest of remaining impartial, we have not received and will not accept any compensation for creating this site. In 2010, we noticed that some the finest companies in the travel industry were being victimized by inaccurate data and we decided to set the record straight with the most accurate data we could find. This is not intended as a pro-Mexico or anti-anything resource. We hope it neutralizes some misrepresentations and fosters a spirit of excellence within the hospitality industry. About Black Label
Different cities, states, regions and countries report information in different ways. We believe U.N. World Health Organization statistics are a good guide, but do not include some under-reported crime. We supplement WHO data with figures from a private research and consulting firm, RRS y Associados-Prominix, in Mexico which estimates unreported crime to calculate more accurate figures. We compare those numbers to U.S. figures reported by the FBI. Global figures (outside of the U.S. and Mexico) are based on WHO reports. Some of our charts report slightly different data. U.S. city comparisons use FBI data with 2010 statistics. International data from U.N. and Prominix is from 2010-2012. NationMaster.com uses data from various years to draw different comparisons.
We want you choose your travel responsibly.
We hope that by comparing facts from various sources, you will see that Mexico is statistically safer than many popular tourism destinations. The endless barrage of negative media has a harmful effect on the resorts, destinations and people who want nothing more than to showcase what they have to offer. Whether you choose to visit this beautiful and diverse nation or some other exotic place, you should do so based on facts. We wish you safe and memorable journeys wherever your travels take you.
Sources:
- U.N. World Health Organization
- RRS y Associados-Prominix
- U.S. FBI
- U.S. State Department
- NationMaster.com
- USA Today
Facts collected April-June 2012. Fact analysis: June 2012.
There are several pages to navigate through the site with but this graphic really stands out.
I already believe that Mexico is safe but now you might also.
“More than 150,000 Americans safely visit Mexico every day. And while the media sensationalizes stories of violence in Mexico, Mexico is safer than many major U.S. cities. Travelers feel relatively safe visiting popular U.S. cities like Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, Washington D.C, or Atlanta. Visitors from around the world enjoy these vibrant cities in relative, reasonable safety. Yet each of these cities is statistically less safe than Mexico.”
One final statistic. Please forward this post to your friends who always wished they could travel to Mexico but were afraid to do do. It just might help change their mind.
See you in Mexico.
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Hi Contessa:
These are interesting statistics but I’m not sure that I trust them to tell the main story. I looked at the year 2011 and checked homicides for Canada – 598 total. For Mexico I got 12,903 related to drug activity for about 3/4 of 2011 and total homicides for 2011 at 18,601. I believe that Mexico’s population is about double Canada’s so you can do the calculations and ratios.
I’m not sure how things look now compared to 2011 but those numbers don’t make me comfortable. I’m not a Mexico basher, we love the place and would return in a heartbeat if/when the rates come down.
Al
Al…still overall pretty good stats over what we usually see. What rates are you referring to, coming down??? By they way, thanks for making a comment.
George….so now maybe Suzie will rethink her thoughts about coming back???
Deb…I think so.
Sandy…good for you and looking forward to seeing you on the Isla in Feb.
Cheryl…well said but as to Ciudad Juarez, that is an entirely separate situation.
Lynda….so very true, things can and do happen anywhere.
Sandy, thanks for your second comment on the subject…we all should always be aware of where we are walking and most especially the time of day.
With our three months travelling in Mexico we never once felt unsafe, and really enjoyed the different areas we explored.
A good comparison.
I agree with George and Susie – we have traveled for many years in Mexico, driving, flying and by bus. I can only remember one time that I felt jittery and concerned for our safety but DH(dear husband) did not. Will travel again to Mexico in January and sooner if things line up for us.
I think anytime you venture out from the safe confines of your home, you put yourself at risk. However, you just have to use common sense and not do “stupid things.”
It’s sad, but I’ll no longer travel to Cuidad Juaraz which is just over the border from El Paso. It’s just too risky, and unsafe even in the daytime. If you’re in a large city in Mexico, the same safety precautions apply. I’ve actually walked from the cruise ship dock to Old Town in Mazatlan by myself and felt entirely safe. Would I do it in the dark? No, but I wouldn’t walk around in any place unfamiliar to me in the dark.
To not allow yourself to travel to a beautiful location because of “statistics” is sad. Just be aware of your surroundings and if you feel in your “gut” that you’re in a bad location get out. It’s really just a matter of being aware and using common sense.
These are very interesting statistics considering we’ve already traveled in Honduras, Mexico, and Canada this year, as well as across the USA. We just have to use common sense. Sadly, things can and will happen….anywhere!
Cheryl, you are correct, you must be aware of your surroundings at all times and make wise decisions about where and when you walk, especially if you are by yourself.