The 20 most serious social problems in Mexico

Mexico is a country full of diversity in all aspects. It offers a cultural and historical wealth that impacts locals and strangers, as well as a gastronomic offer recognized throughout the world.

But at the same time there are some conflicts that need urgent resolution. Among the most serious social problems in Mexico are inequality, insecurity and corruption. Unfortunately they are not the only ones.

What are the most urgent social problems in Mexico to solve?

Some of the most acute conflicts in Mexico have been unsolved for many years. The root of these problems is multifactorial, including cultural, political, systematic, internal and external aspects.

The truth is that the most serious social problems in Mexico feed off each other. That is In many cases, a vicious circle has been found in which one problem has been the cause of a more serious one.

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1. Corruption

Corruption is a very serious problem in Mexico. Among OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries

Mexico ranks first in corruption. This situation permeates all social spheres of the country.

2. Poverty

As a consequence of other social problems, poverty afflicts Mexico. More than 50% of the population is below the international poverty line and they belong to the lower class. Of these, a high percentage is in extreme poverty.

3. Delinquency

As a result of corruption and poverty, crime rates have been on the rise. On more than one occasion, some cities in Mexico have been named with the highest rates of violence in the world. Theft and kidnapping keep statistics in alert numbers.

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4. Malnutrition

Malnutrition is a serious social problem that affects mostly Mexican children. 14% of children in rural areas suffer from malnutrition. It is a bigger problem, especially when it leads to health problems that become complex to attend to.

5. Little access to health services

Rural areas have a serious problem in terms of access to health. In general, health services have serious deficiencies. Nevertheless, people furthest from urban areas suffer from this problem to an extreme degree.

6. Lack of education

Education in Mexico is a problematic issue due to various factors. On the one hand, it is known that there is a lag in the acquisition of knowledge compared to other countries. What's more, there are areas where classes are not taught regularly or schools are not even available.

7. Obesity

In contrast to child malnutrition, Mexico also faces an obesity problem. In urban and conurbation areas, a problem of childhood obesity has been present for more than a decade. Lack of exercise and excess junk food They have been decisive in reaching this serious situation.

8. Contamination

Pollution has become a major health problem in the cities of Mexico. Especially in Mexico City, this situation has worsened over the years and the different measures that have been taken have not have been enough to lessen this serious problem, which has claimed the lives of thousands of people.

9. Illiteracy

Education in Mexico is free, but there is a high illiteracy rate. This is because a significant number of children and young people do not attend school. The factors are very diverse, but school dropout is one of the most serious social problems in Mexico.

10. Unemployment

Unemployment rates vary from year to year, but have not been reduced. These statistics refer to formal jobs, that is, they receive a salary, benefits and are regulated by law. Jobs are still few for the number of people of working age.

12. Informal employment

As a consequence of unemployment there are many people doing informal employment. This means that at the same time that they do not pay taxes, do not have benefits such as credits, social security or others, in addition to not having access to a pension.

13. Organized crime

Corruption, crime and poverty have resulted in a rise in organized crime. Groups related to drug trafficking are getting bigger and bigger, more organized, more violent and more powerful.

14. Femicides

In Mexico, murders of women continue to rise. The figures are outrageous especially compared to other countries. Every day in Mexico 9 to 15 women die and only a very low percentage find justice and the guilty are arrested and prosecuted.

15. Domestic violence

A very serious social problem in Mexico is violence inside the home. Unemployment, poverty and malnutrition are both the cause and the result of violence. In other words, many families are involved in a vicious cycle that causes even more problems.

16. Sexism

Along with the Latin American countries, Mexico has a machismo problem. Women are mostly violated by men, either their parents or their partners. The violence that is exerted on them is economic, physical and psychological.

17. Disappearances

The phenomenon of missing persons in Mexico is a very serious social problem. In 2019 there are currently more than 40 thousand missing persons registered. Faced with the ineffectiveness of the authorities, relatives of the disappeared have started a search on their own, and have found hundreds of clandestine graves throughout the country.

18. Child exploitation

Child exploitation is one of the most serious social problems in Mexico. 12% of the child population works. The most worrying thing is that these jobs exceed their physical capacities, so in addition to limiting their childhood and education, they physically damage them.

19. Bad application of justice

Mexico is among the countries with the worst application of justice. Due to the high degree of corruption that permeates the entire system, the administration of justice is problematic in this country. This occurs both in civil and criminal matters.

20. Classism and racism

Mexican society presents classist and racist attitudes. This behavior has prevented minorities from being taken into account and they continue to suffer discrimination. The latest statistics have shown that people report having suffered aggressive attitudes due to their skin color or economic position.

Bibliographic references

• Benito, Carlos. (2000). The Causes of Poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean: The Role of Political Institutions and Governance. Sonoma State University-Economics Department.
• Human rights watch: Events in Mexico (2017). Taken from https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/mexico
• John F. H. Purcell. (1981). Mexican Social Issues. Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science, 34 (1), 43-54.