Violence displaced members of more than half a million Mexican households in past 5 years

Mexico City (AP) — Violence has forcibly displaced people from more than half a million households across Mexico over the past five years, according to new figures released by the country's national statistics agency. This marks the first time comprehensive data has been shared on the issue, shedding light on the scale of what many have described as an "invisible internal displacement crisis."

Prior to this, the Mexican government had not published detailed information on individuals forced to leave their homes due to ongoing violence, leaving civil society groups to piece together information to grasp the full extent of the problem. The figures, published by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), a government agency, provide a broader snapshot of the crisis.

Between October 2020 and October 2025, 510,000 households in Mexico were forced to flee to another part of the country, affecting 1.6 million people in total.

The displacement has occurred in every region of Mexico, but states with the highest rates of displacement due to cartel violence include Zacatecas, Morelos, Michoacan, Queretaro, and Colima. Tracking internal displacement can be challenging as many people leave their homes in fear and may not be found or report their case. They may also hope to return home later if conditions improve.

David Mora, a Mexico analyst for International Crisis Group, described the new data as a "major breakthrough" that will help authorities and civil society address the long-term humanitarian consequences of the crisis. The INEGI figures do not include people displaced before 2020, meaning the total number of displaced individuals in the country may be higher. The data specifically targets internally displaced people and does not account for those who have fled to the United States.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has addressed specific cases of families displaced by cartel violence, stating that authorities are working to help them return home. However, she has largely avoided discussing forced displacement as a widespread issue, focusing instead on efforts to reduce homicide numbers and combat criminal groups. Sheinbaum has questioned the figures and requested further details from INEGI regarding the methodology used to calculate the numbers.