Culiacán, Sin. – This coming April 30th is Children’s Day in Mexico, and on the occasion of the commemoration, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) collected data on boys and girls living in the country.
Through this process, detailed information is obtained about the size and demographic structure of this population, as well as the demands for care they require and the circumstances in which they operate.
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This work contributes to a more complete understanding of the realities faced by children in Mexico.
According to the National Survey for the Care System (ENASIC), in 2022, 36.3 million boys and girls from 0 to 17 years old resided in the country. This was equivalent to 28.1 percent of the population in Mexico. Of these, 51.8 percent correspond to children, and 48.2 percent to women.
Needs and care
The survey indicates that 38.8 million households in Mexico, and at least 78.1 percent, equivalent to 30,291, 25, at least one minor requires support or care.
In this sense, the main caregiver for boys and girls from 0 to 17 years old is the mother (83.2 percent), followed by the grandmother (6.7 percent), and finally another person, such as uncle, aunt, father, grandfather, etc., (10.1 percent).
Education
In the educational field, 87.8 percent of children from 3 to 17 years old go to school. 74.3 percent of boys and girls between 3 and 5 years old attended preschool, kindergarten, or primary school, while 99.0 percent of those between 6 and 11 years old were enrolled.
In the 12 to 17 year old group, the attendance percentage was 83.6 percent.
25.7 percent of children ages 3 to 5 did not attend any educational institution.
Mainly, this was due to the perception that it was not necessary due to their young age (71.7 percent).
Other reasons include economic difficulties, lack of available educational centers, schedules incompatible with family needs, and health or disability problems (17.0 percent in total). The remaining 11.1 percent was attributed to various causes.
Infants living with their parents
Coexistence between parents and their children involves essential care such as upbringing, education and attention to basic needs such as food, clothing and health, among other vital aspects.
According to Enasic 2022 data, there were 31,959,326 people between 15 and 60 years old with children or stepchildren between 0 and 17 years old, which represents 39.8 percent of the population in that age group. Of them, 27,582,940 people (86.3 percent) shared the same household with children.