Daily Murders in the nation Fall Thirty-Seven Percent During Claudia Sheinbaum, According to Government Data

The typical number of everyday killings per month in the country has dropped by thirty-seven percent since Head of State Claudia Sheinbaum assumed power, according to new government figures. But, security analysts have warned that homicide numbers might not point to better countrywide stability.

Notable Drop in Daily Averages

There was an average of almost 55 homicides a day in November compared with roughly 87 when Claudia Sheinbaum began the presidential office in the previous September. This data was shared by the director of the country’s national safety system, Marcela Figueroa Franco, during the leader's daily news conference on a recent Tuesday.

“The result in killings that we’ve had in these months is remarkably important,” the President remarked, adding that last month the least figure of murders were recorded for any November in the past 10 years.

Historical Background and Government Plan

Intense drug cartel internal conflicts, coupled with the government’s highly military efforts to combat the trafficking organizations, have led to Mexico’s homicide rate escalate in recent times. The rate peaked at a maximum of 36,773 killings in 2020, as reported by the nation's national statistics office.

That resulted in Mexico a murder rate over 4x greater than the US. Since then, homicides have been on the decline, dropping to 33,550 last year. The President has credited her national security strategy for an ostensibly steeper drop in killings this year.

At a media briefing in August, the Mexican leader stated: “There is a plan, we have tracking of the strategy, and we have specific tracking town by town in certain cases. The approach functions. And we have to keep working at it every day.”

The main elements of Sheinbaum’s safety strategy involve:

• Reinforcing Mexico’s federal guard.
• Enhancing information gathering and investigative capabilities.
• Increased coordination between government authorities.

Analyst Skepticism and Statistical Concerns

But, security analysts cautioned that relying on murder numbers to draw a conclusion of peace was problematic. This is notably true given the rise in different crimes such as abductions.

“It would be positive news if this was a decrease, but I think we can’t just look at the murder data and conclude: ‘Alright, good,’” stated Cecilia Farfán-Méndez, an authority on Mexico's organised crime. “I would be guardedly optimistic.”

As reported by the policy analysis organization Mexico Evalúa, killings in total fell by more than 20% in the first 10 months of this year versus the same period last year. Yet, missing persons cases have gone up by 15% and in some states have risen by as much as 200%.

“Statistics on homicides is not valid for estimating the context of insecurity,” stated Armando Vargas, a security analyst at Mexico Evalúa. “Firstly, we have police and prosecutors who do not have the resources or the inclination to properly identify and classify remains. Secondly, organised [criminals] … have the capability to hide violence through disappearances.”

Vargas pointed out that relying on monthly means of everyday killings was additionally problematic because it could obscure periods when there were particularly elevated levels of killings.

“Employing the per-day average makes spikes of violent crime less visible,” he said.

Detentions and Seizures as Metrics of Progress

An area where the administration can point to the success of its safety strategy is on arrests and seizures. Close to 40,000 people were apprehended between last October and November 2025 for major offenses, according to official figures. More than 20,000 weapons were taken and 311 tonnes of narcotics confiscated.

“Trump can't claim President Sheinbaum of inaction, because in reality she is doing a lot with these thousands of arrests, thousands of confiscations, and all the tactical weakening of organised crime. It’s extremely politically profitable,” commented Vargas.

Persistent Unrest and Societal Anger

Yet in spite of these measures, Mexico remains grappling with extreme violence, with a number of regions in the midst of cartel-fueled conflict. In the previous month there was a high-profile murder of a well-liked mayor in the region of Michoacan, among 10 local leaders assassinated in the past year.

Weeks after, thousands of youth protested in the capital and across the country to show their outrage at graft and cartel violence.

“The federal government presents [data] in a way to construct a picture of safety. From a political standpoint it’s highly successful, socially it’s extremely questionable,” the analyst remarked.