What are some problems in Mexico City?

Answer 1

Overcrowding. There are 20 million Mexicans living in Mexico City, resulting in many other problems such as environmental degradation, waste disposal, crime, poverty, an inefficient public transportation system, heavy traffic, you name it.

This doesn't mean however, that Mexico City is a hellhole unfit for human living; it is just that such a huge megalopolis has many problems that cannot be easily solved. Just for reference, Mexico City's GDP per capita is around USD 47,396 (city proper only, which includes some 8 million people) which is as high as say, France; the greater metropolitan area's GDP per capita falls to approximately USD 12,641 (and includes all 21.16 million capitalinos) and has the same GDP per capita of say, Brazil.

Answer 2

It began in the 1950's when rural migration into the city caused a rise in population from 3 million in 1950 to 5.1 million in 1960 to 8.7 million in 1970. Nowadays it has a population of over 21.16 million.

Rural migration into the city and construction of many settlements were made on an unordered fashion; many coloniasor boroughs were settled almost overnight, so basic services such as electricity, water, social and security were not available until several years later or never at all.

This lack of basic services is known as spatial inequality.

Answer 3

As the third most populous city in the world (20 million as of 2009), Mexico City has the same problems most Megalopolis face:

• Higher crime rate.
• Higher pollution and environment degradation.
• Widespread poverty.
• Heavy traffic.

However as opposed to what most people think, Mexico City is not an urban jungle where man-eats-man as pictured in films like "Man on Fire". From lubbockonline.com:

An average of 182 violent crimes and 2.7 homicides are reported each day in Mexico City. That compares with 215 violent crimes and 2.1 homicides a day in New York this year. But because so few crimes are reported in Mexico, the actual rate is believed to be much higher.

How much higher? Well, there are areas east of the city where you shouldn't be at night. Besides that, Mexico City is much safer than most cities in the third world.