Mexico City sinking at alarming pace, NASA satellite data shows

New satellite imagery from NASA shows that Mexico City is sinking by roughly 25 centimetres a year—making it one of the fastest-subsiding megacities in the world.

Home to around 22 million people and sprawling across some 7,800 square kilometres, the Mexican capital sits on what was once an ancient lake bed—a geological legacy that continues to shape its fate.

In some areas, subsidence is even more dramatic, averaging about 2 centimetres per month, the space agency warns. 

Hotspots include the city’s main airport and the iconic Angel of Independence. That translates to roughly 24–25 centimetres annually, and over less than a century, parts of the city have dropped by more than 12 metres.

The findings are based on data collected between October 2025 and January 2026 by the NISAR satellite, a joint mission between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization designed to track subtle changes in the Earth’s surface in near real time.

The root cause lies in decades of groundwater extraction and rapid urban expansion, which have depleted the city’s aquifer. As the ground beneath compresses, buildings and infrastructure have begun to tilt—most visibly at historic landmarks like the Metropolitan Cathedral, whose construction dates back to 1573. The shrinking aquifer is also worsening an already severe water crisis.

“It damages part of the critical infrastructure of Mexico City, such as the subway, the drainage system, the water, the potable water system, housing and streets,” said Enrique Cabral of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. “It’s a very big problem.”

NISAR scientist Paul Rosen said the satellite’s data is offering new insight into what lies beneath the surface.

“It’s basically documentation of all of these changes within a city,” Rosen said. He added: “You can see the full magnitude of the problem.”

Researchers hope that, over time, the technology will allow for even more precise monitoring—potentially down to individual buildings.

Beyond Mexico City, scientists aim to use the system globally to track natural disasters, shifting fault lines, and the impacts of climate change, including in regions like Antarctica.

Rosen noted that such data could eventually strengthen early warning systems, helping authorities respond faster—for instance, by issuing evacuation alerts ahead of volcanic eruptions.

By Nazrin Sadigova