SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELS IN MEXICO: CLASSIFICATION, DESCRIPTION - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The socioeconomic levels in Mexico are the different strata in which the country's population is classified, according to precise parameters of income, education and employment. It is determined through population censuses carried out by the government or periodic surveys carried out by private organizations.

Such is the case of the Mexican Association of Market Intelligence and Public Opinion Agencies (AMAI), or others such as Rankia. The AMAI, which is the most recognized, applies a statistical model called the 2018 NSE Rule. This model classifies families into seven levels, taking into account six characteristics of the household.

Said segmentation establishes a classification of Mexican households and of each of its members. The parameters that are generally taken into account are: economic and social well-being, health and hygiene, and internet connectivity. Comfort, practicality and entertainment within the home are also considered.

Determining the socioeconomic levels of the population serves marketing purposes for commercial and political purposes. This form of social segmentation allows the design of strategies and decision making to industry, commerce, advertising agencies and the media.

Likewise, it is a valuable instrument used by public bodies, educational institutions and market research companies. Through this, the social structure of the country and the behavior, tastes and social mobility of Mexicans are scientifically analyzed.

Classification and description of socioeconomic levels

The AMAI simplified its methodology to determine the socioeconomic status of Mexican families. The 2018 NSE Rule, which is the instrument used to stratify the population, began to be used in January of this year. Every two years an update of this model will be carried out.

Both the variables and the parameters were reduced in order to better reflect the situation of Mexican households. In addition, the measurement was further optimized after extensive research and analysis. These are the parameters or items for which the study is oriented:

- Educational level of the head of the household.

- Employed persons or domestic workers.

- Number of complete bathrooms.

- Number of cars.

- Number of bedrooms.

- Internet availability.

The IMAI carried out its own calculations to determine the socioeconomic percentage distribution of the Mexican population, taking as a reference the data from the 2016 National Survey of Household Income and Expenditure.

Likewise, the data extracted from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) and its National Survey of Household Income and Expenditure for the years 2014 and 2016 were used.

In this sense, the characteristics of each of the seven socioeconomic levels that exist in Mexico, with statistics updated to 2018, are the following:

Level A / B

82% is made up of households in which the head of the family has university studies (undergraduate or graduate). In 98% of the homes of this level there is a fixed internet service in the home. One of its most outstanding characteristics is the high investment it makes in education (13% of total spending).

This level is the one that spends the least on food (25%). They are generally enterprising and materialistic households, whose purchases are guided by factors such as status or aspirational factors. They have modern and aesthetic homes; 6% of the Mexican population belongs to this level.

They usually have other income in addition to their salary, since they rent their properties, make investments and enjoy insurance, retirement or pension plans.

Level C +

89% of Mexican households that are located at this level have one or more cars or transportation vehicles. 91% have fixed internet access at home. About a third of spending (31%) is destined to the purchase of food and only 5% to footwear and clothing. The characteristics are more or less similar to other socioeconomic levels.

Entrepreneurial families, made up of independent workers or professionals, also belong to this level. They are generally idealistic and their purchases are geared towards satisfying psychological or symbolic needs.

Most of the families of this level live in comfortable and spacious houses, with buildings whose area is more than 200 square meters. They own one or two cars; 11% of the Mexican population is located at this level.

Level C

In 81% of households at this level, the head of the household has higher than primary education and 73% has a fixed Internet connection at home. In terms of food expenses, families of this socioeconomic level spend 35% and only 9% on education.

They focus their purchases towards a good cost-benefit ratio. Younger families live in rented houses or apartments, and older families live in their own houses that generally have only one bathroom.

They depend almost exclusively on a salary that is supplemented by the income of other members of the family. 13% of the Mexican population belongs to this level.

Level C-

In 73% of the households classified at this level, the head of the household has a higher education than primary education. 47% of families have a fixed internet connection in their home; 38% of their income is spent on food and 5% on clothing and footwear.

There are families at this level that are divorced or rebuilt. In 30% of households the head of the family is the woman. The cost-benefit and price factor weighs heavily when making your purchases. Their homes are obtained with support from the State.

In one third of households there is a car of their own and the income comes from a salary or from formal or informal trade. 14% of the Mexican population is classified at this level.

Level D +

In 62% of the families classified in this socioeconomic level, the head of the household has higher than primary education. Only 19% of households have a fixed internet connection in their home.

41% of its income goes to food expenses, 7% to educational expenses and the rest to transport and services.

They are generally families made up of single mothers with children from traditional authoritarian homes, some without rules of coexistence. Your purchases are oriented by price.

They live in shared houses with uncomfortable bathrooms, some of which do not have a sewer system. The main income comes from salaried work in factories or companies. 15% of the population belongs to this level.

Level d

In 56% of households at this level, the head of the family has primary school studies and only 4% have fixed internet in their home. Almost half of their income (46%) is destined to spending on food. They are families struggling to survive, with a materialistic and individualistic concept of life.

Some households are made up mainly of families called "empty nests"; that is, of a one-person type or of young couples without children. They work to cover their basic needs, which is why their homes have little space to eat and sleep.

50% of families at this level usually share the bathroom with other families. Her main source of income is salaried work and she receives government subsidies. 30% of the population (that is, the broadest social class of Mexicans) belongs to this level.

Level e

It is the last socioeconomic level of the population, characterized by having very low income and many housing and public service limitations. In the majority of households (95%) the head of the household does not have an education higher than the primary level. The fixed internet service in their homes is scarce or minimal (0.1%).

This level allocates most of its income to food expenses (52%). On the other hand, the proportion of income dedicated to education is very low (5%).

Childless and single-person families make up the majority of this population segment. They fight for their survival and are guided by individualistic values.

They can only buy basic and necessary food, and do not own appliances. 11% of the Mexican population is at this level.

References

1. How many Socioeconomic Levels are there and what are their main characteristics? Retrieved June 21, 2018 from amai.org.
2. Socioeconomic levels in Mexico. Consulted of rankia.mx
3. Socio-Economic Levels. Consulted from amai.org
4. Socioeconomic levels in Mexico and their importance in the workplace. Consulted of merca20.com
5. Change the method of measurement of Socioeconomic Levels in Mexico. Consulted of economiahoy.mx
6. 30% of Mexicans belong to the penultimate socioeconomic level. Consulted of elfinanciero.com.mx
7. Socioeconomic level. Consulted of es.wikipedia.org