Photo: Jujutacular derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Mexico: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Mexico is placed joint 83rd of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 75.07 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 13.05 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
joint83rd
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 75.07Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 13.05Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 12.5Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- 2.7Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024Population in severe food insecurity (%)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Mexico on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
75.07
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Mexico: 75.07. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Central America
- 80.8 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Belize 73.57 · Guatemala 72.6 · United States 79.3
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
13.05
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Mexico: 13.05. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Central America
- 10.05 El Salvador
- Land neighbours
- Belize 12.66 · Guatemala 20.51 · United States 6.472
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Mexico’s is from 2022 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
12.5
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Mexico: 12.5. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Central America
- 9 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Belize 14.96 · Guatemala 46 · United States 3.8
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
2.7
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
Mexico: 2.7. Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Central America
- 2.3 Costa Rica
- Land neighbours
- Belize 2.7 · Guatemala 22.4 · United States 1.1
02Over time
Which way Mexico is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
MexicoWorld median
Mexico rose from 72.56 in 2000 to 75.07 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Mexico World median 2023 75.069 74.630 2022 73.973 74.313 2021 69.750 72.433 2020 70.449 73.063 2019 74.530 74.196 2018 74.301 74.081 2017 74.261 74.029 2016 74.376 74.013 2015 74.432 73.783 2014 74.404 73.330 2013 74.289 73.386 2012 74.128 73.210 2011 73.921 73.003 2010 73.718 72.827 2009 73.628 72.426 2008 73.695 72.264 2007 73.796 72.113 2006 73.746 72.027 2005 73.627 71.876 2004 73.432 71.477 2003 73.308 71.409 2002 73.106 71.173 2001 72.912 70.926 2000 72.562 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
MexicoWorld median
Mexico fell from 27.42 in 2000 to 13.05 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Mexico World median 2024 13.1 14.5 2023 13.4 15.2 2022 13.8 14.7 2021 14.2 15.1 2020 14.6 15.3 2019 15.0 15.7 2018 15.4 16.3 2017 15.8 16.8 2016 16.2 17.5 2015 16.6 17.9 2014 17.0 18.3 2013 17.5 18.7 2012 17.9 18.8 2011 18.4 19.0 2010 18.9 19.2 2009 19.5 20.8 2008 20.0 20.7 2007 20.7 21.8 2006 21.3 22.8 2005 22.1 24.0 2004 23.0 25.9 2003 23.9 26.9 2002 25.0 28.0 2001 26.2 29.1 2000 27.4 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
MexicoWorld median
Mexico fell from 3.4 in 2015 to 2.7 in 2024; the world median went from 3.4 to 4.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Mexico World median 2024 2.7 4.9 2023 2.8 4.7 2022 3.0 5.4 2021 3.2 5.7 2020 3.5 5.6 2019 3.8 5.0 2018 3.8 4.2 2017 3.5 4.0 2016 3.3 3.4 2015 3.4 3.4
03In context
Mexico beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Mexico and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 United Statescompare | =30th | 79.3 | 6.472 | 3.8 | 1.1 |
| Mexico | =83rd | 75.07 | 13.05 | 12.5 | 2.7 |
 Belize | 92nd | 73.57 | 12.66 | 14.96 | 2.7 |
 Guatemala | 156th | 72.6 | 20.51 | 46 | 22.4 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Central America
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Mexico in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Mexico is ahead of the world, and behind
54 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median28
Statistics on which Mexico does better than the middle country measured.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.85275.8No earlier reading
Mexico: 52 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 82nd of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5460.983.546No earlier reading
Mexico: 0.98 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 148th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Malaria Incidence (P. vivax)MAP · 2025 · world median 1.3820.0041.382No real change since 2015
Mexico: 0.004 · world median 1.382 · New P. vivax malaria cases per 1,000 people per year. Malaria Atlas Project (MAP), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.001 to 184.62; lower is better.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.83137.3884.83▲ Improved since 2013
Mexico: 137.38 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8194.381No earlier reading
Mexico: 94.3 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 25th of 153 · derived.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.561.441.5No earlier reading
Mexico: 61.4 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 21st of 127 · derived.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.268.73521.26No earlier reading
Mexico: 8.735 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 92nd of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5759.4437.57No earlier reading
Mexico: 59.44 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 23rd of 115 · derived.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6588.9777.65No earlier reading
Mexico: 88.97 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 29th of 144 · derived.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2581.671.25No real change since 2013
Mexico: 81.6 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 40th of 196 · derived.
Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two DaysUNICEF · 2025 · world median 82.995.482.9No earlier reading
Mexico: 95.4 · world median 82.9 · Newborns with a health check within 2 days of birth (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.3 to 99.9; higher is better.
Position 27th of 109 · derived.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9562.5152.95No earlier reading
Mexico: 62.51 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 136 · derived.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,3022,982No real change since 2014
Mexico: 3,302 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 51st of 155 · derived.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.57565.5▲ Improved since 2018
Mexico: 75 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3917.716.39No real change since 2013
Mexico: 17.7 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 76th of 222 · derived.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.6130.564▲ Improved since 2010
Mexico: 0.613 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 61st of 172 · derived.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.773.167.7No earlier reading
Mexico: 73.1 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 46th of 127 · derived.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.75.2No real change since 2013
Mexico: 2.7 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 103rd of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.020.039▼ Worsened since 2018
Mexico: 0.02 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 68th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1636.3538.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Mexico: 6.353 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 122nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
INFORM Severity IndexACAPS · 2025 · world median 3.12.83.1▲ Improved since 2022
Mexico: 2.8 · world median 3.1 · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis). ACAPS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.3 to 4.7; lower is better.
Position 49th of 81 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.7890.762No real change since 2013
Mexico: 0.789 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 81st of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.42026.4▲ Improved since 2017
Mexico: 20 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 84th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.916.520.9▲ Improved since 2015
Mexico: 16.5 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 74th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8582.6452.858▼ Worsened since 2014
Mexico: 2.645 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 104th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2110.1510.21No real change since 2010
Mexico: 10.15 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 82nd of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6542.1146.65▼ Worsened since 2013
Mexico: 42.11 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 100th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2612.0812.26No real change since 2014
Mexico: 12.08 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 102nd of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median13
Statistics on which Mexico does worse than the middle country measured.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1348.2338.134▼ Worsened since 2014
Mexico: 8.233 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 100th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.3580.351No real change since 2013
Mexico: 0.358 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 88th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7145.58133.7▼ Worsened since 2013
Mexico: 145.58 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 99th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 918991▲ Improved since 2015
Mexico: 89 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 908890▼ Worsened since 2015
Mexico: 88 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.451714.45No real change since 2013
Mexico: 17 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 88th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.57.4365.5No real change since 2014
Mexico: 7.436 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 65th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.743540.74No earlier reading
Mexico: 35 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 86th of 136 · derived.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6966.47102.69▲ Improved since 2013
Mexico: 66.47 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.280.25▲ Improved since 2014
Mexico: 0.28 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4660.127.46No real change since 2013
Mexico: 60.1 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 53rd of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.4841.953.48▼ Worsened since 2015
Mexico: 41.95 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35517272.35No earlier reading
Mexico: 517 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.996.996.9No earlier reading
Mexico: 96.9 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 414141▼ Worsened since 2012
Mexico: 41 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
No better end11
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6540.720.65No earlier reading
Mexico: 40.7 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.45135.4No real change since 2013
Mexico: 51 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2552.941.25No real change since 2013
Mexico: 52.9 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8378.2257.83Moved since 2013
Mexico: 78.22 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Children with Functional DifficultiesUNICEF · 2024 · world median 1316.213No earlier reading
Mexico: 16.2 · world median 13 · Children aged 5-17 with a functional difficulty (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.9 to 35.2.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.889.6386.88No earlier reading
Mexico: 9.638 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8941.0738.89Moved since 2015
Mexico: 41.07 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 67th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0523.6520.05No earlier reading
Mexico: 23.65 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.732.691.73Moved since 2014
Mexico: 2.69 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 76th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.544.55Moved since 2017
Mexico: 4.54 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1713.5516.17No real change since 2013
Mexico: 13.55 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
No current reading for Mexico
Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff (last 2022), Fatal Occupational Injuries (last 2021), Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum) (last 2007) and Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) (last 2007). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Mexico’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Mexico’s 8th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Education & Knowledge24th of 1983/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 55th of 1774/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 61st of 1844/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation59th of 1764/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital72nd of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labour67th of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technology74th of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 83rd of 2004/4 keys
- Gender & Equality89th of 1834/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 101st of 1944/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality97th of 1593/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties126th of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 117th of 1774/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience142nd of 1934/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability148th of 1864/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Mexico can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Americas
United States=30th4/4 keysHighest in Central America
Costa Rica60th4/4 keysThis page
Mexico=83rd4/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Mexico and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Mexico on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Mexico rank on health & wellbeing?
Mexico is placed joint 83rd of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Mexico?
75.07 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Mexico?
13.05 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Mexico compare with United States on health & wellbeing?
United States is placed joint 30th of 200, and Mexico joint 83rd. Life Expectancy at Birth: United States 79.3, Mexico 75.07; Under-Five Mortality Rate: United States 6.472, Mexico 13.05; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: United States 3.8, Mexico 12.5; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity: United States 1.1, Mexico 2.7.
How have Mexico’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 72.56 in 2000 to 75.07 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 27.42 in 2000 to 13.05 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity fell from 3.4 in 2015 to 2.7 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Mexico?
No current reading is published for Mexico on Births Attended by Skilled Health Staff, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum) and Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum). They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 54 statistics on this page come from 18 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Mexico’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Mexico (banner) — Jujutacular derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Mexico: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/mexico/health