Mexico’s murder rate fell slightly in 2012

Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) released national and state-by-state homicide statistics for 2012 on Monday.

In total, there were 26,037 homicides across Mexico, a slight drop from the 27,213 recorded in 2011. Nationwide, the average homicide rate was 22 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Guerrero and Chihuahua proved the most dangerous states in Mexico last year with homicide rates of 77 per 100,000 inhabitants, while Yucatan was the safest state with a rate of just two per 100,000.

There were 1,560 homicides recorded in Jalisco in 2012, a very minor increase from the 1,529 recorded the previous year. The state’s average of 20 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants (just below the national average) remained unchanged from 2011 to 2012.