Working Poverty in Mexico Will Fall to 30.7% in 2026
This article by Paz Páez originally appeared in the May 27, 2026 edition of América Economía.
Working poverty in Mexico fell to 30.7% of the population in the first quarter of 2026. This figure represents a decrease of 3.2 percentage points compared to the same period of the previous year, according to INEGI.
The improvement reflects an increase in real per capita labour income, which allowed a larger part of the population to cover the cost of the food basket, equivalent to the Extreme Poverty Line by Income.
Working Poverty is Declining in Mexico
The percentage of the population whose per capita labor income is not enough to purchase the food basket went from 33.9% of the population in the first quarter of 2025 to 30.7% of the population in the first quarter of 2026.
Working poverty measures whether income from work is sufficient to cover the cost of the basic food basket.
| Indicator | First quarter of 2025 | First quarter of 2026 | Variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| National working poverty | 33.9% of the population | 30.7% of the population | -3.2 percentage points |
| Rural working poverty | 48.0% of the rural population | 44.2% of the rural population | -3.8 percentage points |
| Urban working poverty | 29.7% of the urban population | 26.9% of the urban population | -2.8 percentage points |
Decline Affects Both Rural & Urban Areas
In rural areas, working poverty fell from 48.0% of the rural population to 44.2% of the rural population, a reduction of 3.8 percentage points. In urban areas , the indicator fell from 29.7% of the urban population to 26.9% of the urban population, representing a drop of 2.8 percentage points. The reduction was more pronounced in rural areas, although the level of working poverty remains higher than in cities.
Improvement Compared to End of 2025
Compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, national working poverty decreased by 1.6 percentage points, from 32.3% of the population to 30.7% of the population. The quarterly decline was 2.4 percentage points in rural areas and 1.2 percentage points in urban areas.
Labour poverty is part of the analysis of multidimensional poverty in the section on economic well-being, focusing on the ability of labor income to cover the food basket.
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