Drug trafficking is nothing new for Mexico but the level of violence associated with the movement of illicit substances into the US market is unprecedented, as cartels battle for turf and smuggling routes.
Most observers believe more than 60,000 people have died in the violence since Mexico's current president, Felipe Calderon, sent the military to battle drug gangs in December 2006.
Statistics used in this graphic come from a database maintained by the Mexican president's office, while media outlets including El Universal and Reforma have published other figures that indicate far higher levels of violence.
The violence increased significantly between 2007 and 2010, the most recent year for which government data is available.
Yet the violence has not engulfed the entire country. Rather, as the map indicates, specific regions where Mexico borders the US, and coastal states with ports, have seen the worst fighting.
The military strategy, coupled with schisms within trafficking organisations, are reportedly responsible for the violence intensifying.
US authorities say the Zetas are one of Mexico's most powerful gangs alongside the Pacific region's Sinaloa federation, led by fugitive billionaire Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
Much of the northeast is in the clutches of the Zetas cartel, which was founded by former Mexican special forces soldiers who went rogue and are known for decapitating and dismembering their enemies.
The Zetas were originally hired as enforcers for the Gulf Cartel but turned on their employers and have fought them for control of lucrative drug routes to the US.
Hover over the different states on the map to learn more.
Data Source: Mexican president's office
Download Data from Google Fusion Tables here
Executions: 9792
Attacks and Clashes: 342
Ciudad Juarez, the border city near El Paso, Texas, is where the conflict between the Sinaloa and Juarez cartels is most focused.
Executions: 27
Attacks and Clashes: 4
Executions: 266
Attacks and Clashes: 38
Executions: 182
Attacks and Clashes: 18
The violence has been attributed, by the local press, to the presence of Los Zetas.
Executions: 398
Attacks and Clashes: 39
Executions: 2388
Attacks and Clashes: 339
Violence is reportedly a consequence of the conflict between Beltran Leyva and La Familia Michoacana.
Executions: 379
Attacks and Clashes: 73
The violence has been attributed, by the local press, to the presence of Los Zetas.
Executions: 90
Attacks and Clashes: 17
Executions: 11
Attacks and Clashes: 2
Executions: 477
Attacks and Clashes: 52
The death of Arturo Beltran Leyva led to a surge of violence in 2010.
Executions: 630
Attacks and Clashes: 22
Executions: 143
Attacks and Clashes: 24
Executions: 1461
Attacks and Clashes: 77
Executions: 18
Attacks and Clashes: 1
Executions: 1893
Attacks and Clashes: 119
Executions: 1076
Attacks and Clashes: 177
The arrest of Alfredo Beltran Leyva unleashed the conflict between Beltran Leyva's cartel and the Gulf cartel.
Executions: 560
Attacks and Clashes: 99
The rise in violence has been attributed to the increased presence of the Gulf and Sinaloa cartels.
Executions: 761
Attacks and Clashes: 714
Much of the violence has been attributed to the conflict between the Gulf cartel and Los Zetas.
Executions: 679
Attacks and Clashes: 288
Los Zetas and the Gulf cartel have been battling in Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon for control of "drug corridors", or smuggling routes.
Executions: 4114
Attacks and Clashes: 270
Executions: 1609
Attacks and Clashes: 283
Executions: 339
Attacks and Clashes: 114
The increase in violence is caused by the conflict between La familia Michoacana, Beltran Leyva and the Sinaloa Cartel.
Executions: 141
Attacks and Clashes: 46
It is not clear why the violence has increased, but it is suspected that it may be as result of the presence of the the Gulf cartel, and La Familia Michoacana.
Executions: 35
Attacks and Clashes: 2
Executions: 70
Attacks and Clashes: 60
Executions: 128
Attacks and Clashes: 24
Executions: 465
Attacks and Clashes: 51
Executions: 941
Attacks and Clashes: 131
The violence has been attributed to the conflict between Beltran Leyva and the Sinaloa cartel.
Executions: 1488
Attacks and Clashes: 239
Executions: 124
Attacks and Clashes: 24
The violence has been attributed, by the local press, to the presence of Los Zetas.
Executions: 148
Attacks and Clashes: 3
The violence has been attributed, by the local press, to the presence of Los Zetas.
Executions: 25
Attacks and Clashes: 0
The violence has been attributed, by the local press, to the presence of Los Zetas.
Executions:
Attacks and Clashes: