How many families make up the upper class in Mexico?

Data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) provide a clear picture of how income is distributed in the country, including the composition of Mexico's most privileged class. But what is it made up of? These are the figures:

According to the National Survey of Household Income and Expenditure (ENIGH), The upper class represents only 1.2% of the population, which is equivalent to just over 429 thousand families. .

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The upper class receives an average of 77,975 pesos per month, an amount that contrasts significantly with the 22,297 pesos per month of the middle class and the 11,343 pesos of the lower class. The gap is evident: while the middle class earns twice as much as the lower class, their income is still almost eight times lower than that of the elite .

The Inegi investigation indicates that Upper-class households tend to be made up of small families, with an average of 2.4 members and an average age of 40. Education is a key factor: most members have at least a bachelor's degree. , that is, more than 15 years of schooling.

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This academic level is reflected in their working lives. In more than 80% of these households, at least one person holds a management, leadership, or executive position in the public and private sectors. Nearly 23% even have a member who works directly in the government .

Unlike the middle and lower classes, whose main source of income is salary, the upper class diversifies its income In addition to their salaries, they receive income from their own businesses, property rents, and financial investments . This allows them to maintain a more stable financial cushion in the event of a crisis.

Middle and lower class

For its part, the middle class, which represents 42.2% of households in Mexico—that is, more than 47 million people—is characterized by having relatively stable jobs. , own or rented housing with security, possibility of going on vacation and a certain savings capacity .

The great contrast comes with the lower class, which depends almost exclusively on menial jobs and whose income is barely enough to cover basic needs. .

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The gap between classes is also reflected in food spending . According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), in July 2025, a person living in extreme poverty needed 1,856 pesos per month to feed themselves in rural areas and 2,453 pesos in cities . This means that in an urban setting, around 82 pesos are needed daily for food alone.

The minimum income required to not be considered poor is 3,396 pesos per month in rural areas and 4,718 pesos in urban areas. However, millions of Mexicans do not reach those amounts.

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Extreme poverty is concentrated in southern and southeastern states, such as Chiapas (27.1% of its population), Guerrero (21.3%), Oaxaca (16.3%), Veracruz (8.8%), and Puebla (7.3%) . These figures reflect historical inequalities that persist at the regional level.

INEGI specifies that, although there is no universal definition of "middle class," current estimates are based on current income. Under this parameter, A middle-class household in Mexico has an income of around 20 thousand pesos per month. .

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In addition, they usually have stable employment, access to basic and upper secondary education, decent housing, the ability to plan vacations, and savings for the future . However, vulnerability persists: a layoff, an economic crisis or an accelerated rise in prices can quickly push a middle-class family down the line. .

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OA