Baja California Sur began 2026 ranking among the states with the highest crime rates in the country, according to official figures from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP) and the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO).
Although the state generally continues to rank among those with the lowest number of intentional homicides, other crimes are following an upward trend that is a cause for concern among both experts and citizens.
One of the primary “red flags” is domestic violence. In January 2026 alone, Baja California Sur ranked as the state with the second-highest number of domestic violence cases in Mexico, recording 270 complaints in a single month.
These figures also reflect a sustained increase over recent years. While 2,493 investigative files for this crime were recorded in 2021, by 2024, that figure had already climbed to 3,344 cases.
Concurrently, IMCO ranked Baja California Sur as the state with the second-highest crime rate per capita, recording a rate of 27.37 common-law crimes per 1,000 inhabitants.
The overall picture also includes an increase in intentional homicides. During 2025, 113 investigative files were opened for murders—nearly double the number of cases recorded in 2024.
Another crime exhibiting an alarming trend is small-scale drug dealing. Official data indicate that investigations related to drug sales more than doubled in just three years, now exceeding 1,000 annual case files within the state.
Experts warn that, although Baja California Sur no longer faces the levels of extreme violence recorded a few years ago, it is currently experiencing a social crisis characterized by crimes that directly impact the families and neighborhoods of the region.
Source: peninsulardigital
