A TIMELINE OF PEACE

IN MEXICO

FROM THE HEIGHT OF THE DRUG WAR TO TODAY

Organized crime groups have been building a large
narcotics trade, moving marijuana, cocaine and
heroin into the US since the 1980s.
Despite this, levels of violence are relatively
low, as organized crime groups benefit from
corruption and impunity.
As democracy improves around the country,
efforts to reform increase tension with drug
cartels leading to violence.
Homicides escalate for the first time since
the 1990s.
By December 2006, peace has deteriorated steadily
for two years. The drug trade has entrenched
violence and corruption throughout the country.

Mexican citizens respond: thousands join political

protests against the drug war violence.

2003

Life expectancy and per capita income are

on the rise. Mexicos homicide rate
approaches historic lows, having fallen
steadily since the early 1990s.

2004

Mexico reaches its most peaceful year, as measured

by the Mexico Peace Index.

2005

Violence increases: fighting escalates between

different drug cartels, and between the cartels and
law enforcement.

2006

Then-President Felipe Caldern declares war on

organized crime and deploys the Mexican armed forces
to the streets of Mexican cities and towns to forcibly
capture drug cartel operatives.

2007

The drug war intensifies. From 2007 to 2011, the

level of peace in Mexico deteriorates 23 percent and
the homicide rate nearly doubles.

2008

2009
Self-defense groups begin to appear.
Many of these groups are heavily armed
and clash with the drug cartels.

2010

Mexicos least peaceful year, according to the

Mexico Peace Index. The homicide rate peaks in
2011 at 19.7 deaths per 100,000 people.

2011

Ciudad Juarez becomes known as the most

violent city in the world.
2012

The end of 2013 marks a large improvement

in peace. Efforts for peacebuilding have taken
place across the country.

2013

2014
Peacefulness has improved
gradually every year for four years.

2015

www.visionofhumanity.org | Mexico Peace Index 2016

The Mexican army enters Ciudad Juarez, a city of

roughly 1.3 million near Mexicos border with the US.
Violence escalates.

The movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity

begins. Popularly known as Hasta la Madre! (Fed
Up!) the movement calls for an end to drug-fueled
violence and for better anti-crime strategies.
Peace gradually begins to improve, after five years of
violent conflict between organized crime groups, and
multiple Mexican police agencies and armed forces.
The rate of violent crime, homicide and organized
crime related offenses begin to decrease; they'll
eventually drop by 30 percent by 2015.
Protests continue in response to the
disappearance of 43 students in Guerrero.
Today Mexico is 13.5 percent more peaceful than
in 2011. But peace remains 16 percent lower than
the level recorded in 2003, reflecting potential for
further peace gains.