Primary causes of subsidence
Mexico City was built atop an ancient lake bed, with many downtown streets originally serving as canals. Extensive groundwater pumping and urban development have severely depleted the underlying aquifer. This aquifer depletion is the primary driver of the city's rapid sinking, which has been occurring for more than a century.
Scale and severity of the problem
Mexico City is sinking by nearly 10 inches annually, making it one of the world's fastest-subsiding major cities. In some areas, subsidence occurs at a rate of 0.78 inches per month. Over less than a century, the total drop has exceeded 39 feet. Historic monuments and older buildings, including the Metropolitan Cathedral which began construction in 1573, are visibly tilted. The Angel of Independence monument has had 14 steps added to its base as surrounding land sank.
Impact on critical infrastructure and water crisis
The sinking damages critical infrastructure including the subway system, drainage systems, water and potable water systems, housing, and streets. The contracting aquifer has contributed to a chronic water crisis that experts anticipate will only worsen. According to Enrique Cabral, a geophysics researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, this represents a very big problem for the city's fundamental systems.
NASA satellite monitoring and recent developments
New satellite data from NASA's NISAR satellite, a joint initiative between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization, revealed the precise rate of subsidence based on measurements taken between October 2025 and January 2026. The satellite can track real-time changes on Earth's surface with remarkable detail. Researchers hope to eventually obtain building-by-building measurements to better understand and mitigate the problem.
Government response and future mitigation
For decades, the Mexican government largely ignored the subsidence problem except for stabilizing foundations under monuments like the cathedral. Following recent flare-ups of the water crisis, officials have begun funding more research. Scientists emphasize that understanding the problem is the first step toward long-term mitigation. The NISAR satellite imagery will be key for planning how to address the ongoing crisis. 
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