How to identify if you are middle or lower class according to Inegi

The National Household Income and Expenditure Survey (ENIGH) conducted by INEGI reveals marked economic disparities among Mexicans. According to 2025 data, the upper class represents just 1.2% of the population, with an average income of 77,975 pesos per month. The middle class earns around 22,297 pesos per month, while the lower class earns 11,343 pesos, revealing a significant gap.

Upper-class households tend to be small, with an average of 2.4 members and a median age of 40. Education is key: most have at least a bachelor's degree. Furthermore, more than 80% have a member in management, leadership, or government positions, supplementing their income with businesses, rentals, and financial investments.

In contrast, the middle class represents 42.2% of households—more than 47 million people—and is characterized by stable jobs, owning or securing a home, the ability to take vacations, and the ability to save. Their average income is almost double that of the lower class, but is still considerably lower than that of the elite.

The lower class depends primarily on menial jobs, with incomes that barely cover basic needs. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), in July 2025, a person living in extreme poverty needed 1,856 pesos per month in rural areas and 2,453 pesos in urban areas just for food. To avoid being considered poor, the minimum income is 3,396 pesos in rural areas and 4,718 pesos in cities.

Extreme poverty is concentrated in southern and southeastern states, such as Chiapas (27.1%), Guerrero (21.3%), Oaxaca (16.3%), Veracruz (8.8%), and Puebla (7.3%). These figures reflect persistent historical inequalities.

INEGI (National Institute of Statistics and Geography) specifies that, although there is no universal definition of "middle class," it is estimated that a household with an income close to 20,000 pesos per month, with stable employment, basic and secondary education, decent housing, and savings capacity, can be considered within this group. However, economic vulnerability remains: a layoff, a crisis, or inflation can quickly push a family into the lower class.