Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Mexico

Summary of key data and information

	Summary of key data and information
Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1)	According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the homeless population is defined as people who do not have a place of residence, that is, who spend the night in public places.
Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3)	5 778 individuals, representing 0.005% of the total population (2020)
	13% are women, 87% are men
	Point-in-time count, based on the Population and Housing Census
	ETHOS Light groups included	Included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces Not included: ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)
	Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4)	There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness at national level.
Homelessness Strategy (Table 5)	National Homelessness Strategy: Mexico does not have a national homelessness strategy.
Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6)	Population and Housing Census – Point-in-time enumeration of people sleeping rough: a special point-in-time enumeration was conducted on a single night in March at pre‑identified public locations (Table 6.1) Population and Housing Census – Enumeration of people living in collective and non-conventional dwellings: collects information on individuals living in collective living arrangements and non-conventional dwellings (Table 6.2)

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness

	Statistical definition
Homelessness	According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the homeless population is defined as people who do not have a place of residence, that is, who spend the night in public places.

Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology

Year	Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals)	% of total population	ETHOS Light 1 People living rough	ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation	ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless	ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions	ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings	ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends
2020	5 778	0.005%	5 778	3 907	41 102	149 275	169 836	Not included
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: Yes Refugees: Yes Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes

Note: The headline estimate reflects individuals living rough (ETHOS 1) at the time of data collection. ETHOS 2 includes emergency accommodation such as public shelters or dormitories for people experiencing street homelessness. ETHOS 3 comprises temporary accommodation for homeless or vulnerable populations, including shelters for indigenous people, migrants, women experiencing violence, relatives of hospitalised persons, and other forms of short-term social accommodation. ETHOS 4 refers to institutional accommodation that replaces the dwelling on a long-term basis, such as children’s homes, residences for older adults, rehabilitation centres, psychiatric facilities, and residences for persons with terminal or incurable illnesses. ETHOS 5 includes non-conventional housing arrangements that function as the person’s usual place of residence but are not intended for permanent habitation, such as premises not built for residential use, mobile dwellings, and hotels, motels, boarding houses, or guesthouses used as habitual residences.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Population and Housing Census (2020) (Censo de Población y Vivienda).

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2020

	Single adults	Men	Women	Youth (aged 15‑29)	Older people (aged 65 and over)	Families with children (# of households)
Headline estimate of homelessness	NA	5 052	726	1 040	761	NA
As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness	NA	87.44%	12.56%	18.00%	13.17%	NA
ETHOS Light 1: People living rough	NA	5 052	726	1 040	761	NA
ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation	NA	2 796	1 020	424	1 168	NA
ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless	NA	18 119	17 992	13 456	1 099	NA
ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions	NA	53 054	36 611	49 158	30 367	NA
ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings	NA	89 981	79 855	37 930	20 417	NA
ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: Yes Refugees: Yes Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes

Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive. The information on older people refers to individuals aged 60 years and over, due to data availability. The youth and older people in ETHOS 5 omits individuals living in hotels, motels, boarding houses, or guesthouses used as habitual residences.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Population and Housing Census (2020) (Censo de Población y Vivienda).

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness

	Legal framework
Law that governs data collection on homelessness	None.
Legal obligations	Although it is not explicitly considered by current legislation, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) is responsible for regulating and co‑ordinating the National System of Statistical and Geographic Information, which includes statistics to estimate the number of people living on the streets.

Table 5. Homelessness strategy

	Homelessness strategies in place
National Homelessness Strategy	None.
Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist	No.

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness

6.1. Population and Housing Census – Point-in-time enumeration of people sleeping rough
Description All residents in Mexico are required to participate in the Population and Housing Census (Censo de Población y Vivienda). For the specific measurement of people sleeping rough, a special point-in-time enumeration was conducted on a single night in March at pre‑identified public locations. This operation targeted individuals observed sleeping in streets or public spaces and constitutes the basis for the official national headline estimate of homelessness. Data collected for this group are limited to basic demographic characteristics and location at the time of enumeration.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Street counts / point-in-time enumeration of individuals sleeping rough in public spaces
Lead authority(ies) National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI)	Source(s) of information Direct observation and enumeration conducted by census field staff during the special point-in-time operation.
Scope National level	Depth of data Basic demographic characteristics (sex and age) Location at the time of enumeration Living situation: sleeping rough in public spaces
Frequency Every 10 years
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources Census of Population and Housing 2020[Censo de Población y Vivienda](inegi.org.mx) This data collection approach provides the official headline estimate of homelessness in Mexico.
6.2. Population and Housing Census – Enumeration of people living in collective and non-conventional dwellings
Description The Population and Housing Census (Censo de Población y Vivienda) collects information on individuals living in collective living arrangements and non-conventional dwellings using two census instruments, depending on the type of living arrangement. Information on non-conventional dwellings and some collective settings that are not part of the social assistance system (such as premises not built for habitation, mobile dwellings, or hotels used as habitual residences) is collected through the basic census questionnaire. Information on assisted living arrangements (such as shelters, social assistance facilities, and institutions) is collected through the Alojamientos de Asistencia Social questionnaire (Social Assistance Accommodation Census), a dedicated census instrument. Together, these instruments allow for a broader measurement of housing exclusion (ETHOS 2‑5), which is reported separately and is not included in the official headline estimate of homelessness.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Population census using household and collective living questionnaires
Lead authority(ies) National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI)	Source(s) of information Self-reported information collected through the basic census questionnaire and the Alojamientos de Asistencia Social questionnaire, administered during the Population and Housing Census
Scope National level	Depth of data Demographic characteristics (e.g. sex and age) Type of living arrangement (collective or non-conventional dwelling)
Frequency Every 10 years
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources Different census questionnaires are used depending on the living arrangement: the basic census questionnaire for selected non-conventional dwellings and collective settings, and the Alojamientos de Asistencia Social questionnaire for assisted living settings.

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housing-database.html.

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