Tampico was ranked the safest city in Tamaulipas and one of the ten with the best perception of security nationwide, according to the results of the National Urban Public Security Survey (ENSU) for the first quarter of 2025.
The study, conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), reveals that Tampico residents maintain a positive perception of security in their city, placing it among the top ten nationwide.
The safest municipalities in Mexico
According to the survey data, the perception of insecurity in Tampico is below the national average, reflecting the results of security strategies implemented in coordination between state and municipal authorities.
This is the list of security perceptions from the National Urban Public Security Survey (ENSU):
San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo León: 10.4%
Benito Juárez, Mexico City: 20.4%
Piedras Negras, Coahuila: 20.5%
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco: 23.0%
Saltillo, Coahuila: 24.5%
Los Cabos, Baja California Sur: 24.7%
Los Mochis, Sinaloa: 25.8%
La Paz, Baja California Sur: 27.8%
Tampico, Tamaulipas: 29.7%
Reynosa, the most unsafe municipality in Tamaulipas
In the first quarter of the year, from January to March 2025, four municipalities in the state appeared with different percentages of security perceptions, including Tampico, with the highest. 29.7%, Nuevo Laredo with 43.4%, Ciudad Victoria with 51.0%, and Reynosa with 74.1%.
Regarding the perception of insecurity in specific physical spaces, in March 2025, 69.1% of the population reported feeling unsafe at ATMs located on public roads; 62.8% on public transportation; 56.1% on the road; and 53.2% at the bank.
Where do women feel unsafe?
Statistics indicate that 75.8% of women reported feeling unsafe at ATMs located on public roads and 67.3% on public transportation. In contrast, 61.5% of men reported feeling unsafe at ATMs located on public roads and 57.0% on public transportation.
Among the criminal or antisocial behaviors that stand out in the first quarter of 2025:
58.0% mentioned situations related to alcohol consumption on the streets
49.6% reported robberies or assaults
40.4% reported vandalism in homes or businesses
39.2% reported drug sales or consumption
39.1% reported frequent gunshots
24.5% reported violent gangs or gang activity
14.7% reported illegal electricity tapping (diablitos)
3.4% reported illegal theft or sale of gasoline or diesel (huachicol)
Compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, there was a statistically significant decrease of 1.9 percentage points in drug sales or consumption around their homes, 1.4 in violent gang activity or gang activity, and 1.3 in alcohol consumption on the streets.
Cities are recording an upswing in the perception of insecurity nationwide. In March 2025, 61.9% of the population aged 18 and over, residing in 91 urban areas of interest, considered it unsafe to live in their city.
This does not represent a statistically significant change compared to March (61.0%) and December (61.7%) of 2024. In this edition, 18 urban areas of interest showed statistically significant changes compared to December 2024: seven with decreases and 11 with increases.
In March 2025, 67.5% of women and 55.0% of men considered living in their city unsafe.
As of the latest entry in the database, the municipality of Tampico has maintained a positive trend in recent years in terms of perceived security, which has also favored its tourism and economic development, maintaining its position as the safest state.
Source: oem
