New INEGI Data: Yucatán Surpasses 2.5 Million Mark For the First Time

For the first time, Yucatán has recorded a population of over 2.5 million — 2,502,326 to be precise. This figure represents an increase of approximately 200,000 inhabitants over five years. 

In context, this means Mérida grew more in five years than the second most populous municipality in the state, Kanasín, with a population of just over 150,000 and located just across the Periférico. 

According to the 2025 survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the state experienced an 8.7% population increase, rising to 2.3 million residents.

Josefa Griselda Sosa Andrade, the state coordinator for INEGI, and Arturo Gomez Fernandez, the regional director, presented these findings during a recent press conference. The data illustrate a region undergoing rapid urban and demographic transitions. 

However, a closer look at the statistics reveals that the nature of Yucatán’s growth is shifting significantly. While the state continues to attract new residents, the overall pace of population expansion has decelerated. Between the 2020 Census and the 2025 survey, the average annual growth rate of the resident population settled at 1.4%. This marks a notable decrease from the 2.0% annual growth rate observed between 2015 and 2020.

The Real Estate Boom Outpaces Population Growth

The most striking divergence in the new census data is the relationship between population growth and housing development. While the number of residents grew by 8.7%, the housing inventory expanded at more than double that rate. The total number of private homes in Yucatán jumped from 658,100 in 2020 to 775,331 in 2025. This addition of roughly 117,200 residential properties represents a 17.8% cumulative increase over just five years.

INEGI calculates the average annual housing growth rate at a robust 3.0%. Consequently, the average number of occupants per household has decreased from 3.5 to 3.2 individuals. This reduction signals a fundamental shift in the state’s social fabric. Families are becoming smaller, and single-person households are rising.

Furthermore, this housing surplus reflects heavy real estate investment and speculation, particularly in and around the capital city of Mérida. Developers have constructed thousands of new residential units, apartment complexes, and gated communities to meet anticipated demand from domestic migrants and international expatriates. 

The data suggests that residential construction is moving much faster than the actual arrival or natural increase of permanent residents. This dynamic often results in many unoccupied investment properties or secondary vacation homes rather than primary residences.

An Aging Population

The demographic profile is also aging, aligning with broader national and global trends. In 2020, half of the state’s population was 30 years old or younger. By 2025, the median age increased to 32 years. This gradual aging reflects declining birth rates and rising life expectancy, along with an influx of older adults and retirees relocating to the region for its perceived safety and quality of life. Regarding the gender distribution, women currently make up 51.4% of the population, while men account for the remaining 48.6%.

Critical Infrastructure Deficits

Despite advancements in education, connectivity, and real estate, the state faces severe structural and social challenges. The INEGI survey revealed that 27.9% of the population lacks affiliation with any public or private healthcare institution. This leaves more than a quarter of residents highly vulnerable to medical emergencies and financial instability caused by health issues.

Equally pressing is the state of urban infrastructure. Only 15.3% of homes in Yucatán have drainage systems connected to a public sewage network. Most properties rely on independent septic tanks or biodigesters. 

Given the Yucatán Peninsula’s porous limestone geology and the shallow depth of the underlying aquifer, this lack of centralized wastewater management poses a serious environmental and public health risk. The rapid construction of over 117,000 new homes in five years, without corresponding investments in public sewer infrastructure, puts immense pressure on the region’s fragile underground water systems and cenotes that supply freshwater.