Mexico received about 1.4 million foreign patients in 2024, mostly from the United States and Canada, according to the Medical Tourism Packages platform. This gave the country first place in Latin America in terms of the number of medical guest countries and second place in the world, second only to Thailand.
According to industry forecasts, the medical tourism market in Mexico is on track to exceed $10.36 billion by 2030, reflecting an annual growth rate of approximately 17.4%. The main demand comes from cosmetic procedures, bariatric surgery, dentistry, cardiology, ophthalmology and orthopedics.
Surgical rates in Mexico are on average 86% lower than in the United States, which remains a key factor in the influx of patients.
According to Médica Sur, the most popular among visiting patients are:
- liposuction and breast augmentation,
- dental implants,
- bariatric surgery, including gastric bypass,
- laser vision correction,
- orthopedic interventions, including knee replacement.
Patients most often choose Tijuana, Cancun, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
Mexico is ahead of Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and Argentina in terms of the number of medical guest countries attracted. Experts note that to maintain its position, the country needs to strengthen the accreditation of medical institutions and expand public-private quality and safety programs.
Medical tourism is complemented by classic tourism: patients combine treatment with relaxation. The sector benefits from extensive tourism infrastructure — hotels, transport, food and specialized services. Additional growth is attributed to the strengthening of air services and the development of medical personnel training programs.
Professionals believe that the capital Mexico City can become a strategic hub for medical tourism thanks to its extensive network of tertiary care hospitals. Clinics in Mexico City offer treatment at rates that are 70% lower than in the United States while maintaining comparable quality standards. Some institutions are already working with tour operators, providing patients and their families with access to guest areas near the capital.