This is how marked inequality is in Mexico

According to an analysis carried out by Oxfam Mexico and the Institute for Studies on Inequality (INDESIG) on the results obtained in the National Survey of Household Income and Expenditure (ENIGH) 2024 of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) , in Mexico The richest 1% of people earn up to 442 times more than the poorest 10% . Furthermore, their income is 44 times higher than the national average , exacerbating the economic gap.

Based on an analysis of the Mexican government's main official tool for measuring these data, the study indicates that the poorest 10% of the country captures 2% of total income, while the richest 1% captures 35%, despite rising incomes across the population.

The analysis states that "although the average income of Mexican households increased by 18.7% between 2018 and 2024, going from 18,381 pesos to 21,825, the slight reduction in inequality and poverty is not enough to guarantee full access to human rights, the development of life projects, social mobility and the reduction of the gap between the richest and the poorest."

According to ENIGH data, the poorest households in Mexico received 2,168 pesos per person per month, while those in the richest 1% received 958,777 pesos, highlighting "extreme" inequality.

The study notes that " economic inequality in Mexico remains alarming ," meaning that "access to rights remains deeply dependent on income level," despite the economic and labor policies of the previous six-year term, which resulted in a 29% increase compared to 2018 for the poorest families.

Measures such as raising the minimum wage led to an increase of up to 54%, to 1,016 pesos, in the labor income of the poorest households , although it states that further adjustments are needed to strengthen its positive effects.

According to the analysis, this situation reinforces the conclusion that "structural inequality persists," forcing families to spend a large portion of their income on services that should be provided by the state.

" Only those with more resources can fully access healthcare, education, decent housing, and care services. For those with low incomes, exercising these same rights entails out-of-pocket expenses that often force them to sacrifice their well-being and life plans," INDESIG director Máximo Jaramillo said in a statement.

In terms of spending, although it has increased , the poorest households spend it on basic needs such as food, housing, and public transportation , while the richest invest it in luxuries, education, entertainment, and private transportation.

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