Trend summary
- Roads cause most transport deaths: 16,772 in 2023, the third yearly rise after the Covid low, with motorcyclist deaths up 52% since 2018.
- Recorded drowning deaths have eased to about 1.25 per 100,000 people. At sea, the worst disasters were the Usumacinta rig accident (22 dead, 2007) and the boats sunk in Acapulco by Hurricane Otis in 2023.
- Mexico averages about 47 aviation accidents a year, mostly small planes and helicopters. It regained the US FAA’s Category 1 safety rating in 2023 after 28 months.
Rising since 2020Road
16,772 road deaths in 2023, a third yearly rise; motorcyclist deaths up 52% since 2018.
Drowning rate easingMaritime
Drowning deaths fell to about 1.25 per 100,000 in 2023; the Navy rescued 117 at sea in summer 2025.
Oversight under strainAviation
About 47 aviation accidents a year; Category 1 FAA rating regained in 2023 after 28 months.
How this page is built. Figures come from the official statistical releases and research linked above; where agencies publish provisional numbers we say so, because they are revised. National death data come from INEGI’s death registrations, which are finalised the year after; preliminary figures are labelled. Some figures come from news reports quoting officials, and we name the outlet. Money is given in Mexican pesos (MX$). Headlines and quotes are our translations from Spanish. Photos are public-domain or Creative Commons images credited in each caption; file photos are illustrative and are not from the events described unless the caption says so. This page tracks trends and is not personal safety, medical, legal or financial advice.