Background: Mexico was the site of several advanced Amerindian civilizations -- including the Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec -- until Spain conquered and colonized the area in the early 16th century. Administered as the Viceroyalty of New Spain for three centuries, it achieved independence early in the 19th century. Elections held in 2000 marked the first time since Mexican Revolution in 1910 that an opposition candidate -- Vicente FOX of the National Action Party (PAN) -- defeated the party in government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He was succeeded in 2006 by another PAN candidate Felipe CALDERON, but Enrique PEÑA NIETO regained the presidency for the PRI in 2012. Left-leaning anti-establishment politician and former mayor of Mexico City (2000-05) Andrés Manuel LÓPEZ OBRADOR, from the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), became president in 2018. The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, or T-MEC by its Spanish acronym) entered into force in 2020 and replaced its predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico amended its constitution in 2019 to facilitate the implementation of the labor components of USMCA. Mexico is currently the US's second-largest goods trading partner, after Canada. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, high underemployment, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities, particularly for the largely indigenous population in the impoverished southern states. Since 2007, Mexico's powerful transnational criminal organizations have engaged in a struggle to control criminal markets, resulting in tens of thousands of drug-related homicides and forced disappearances.

Area
Total: 1,964,375 km²
Land: 1,943,945 km²
Water: 20,430 km²
Comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries
Total: 4,389 km
Border countries (3): (3) Belize 276 km; Guatemala 958 km; US 3,155 km

Coastline: 9,330 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate: varies from tropical to desert

Terrain: high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert

Elevation
Highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,636 m
Lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
Mean elevation: 1,111 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 50.7% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Forest: 34.2% (2023 est.)
Other: 15.1% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 59,910 km² (2022)

Major rivers: Rio Grande river mouth (shared with US [s]) - 3,057 km; Colorado river mouth (shared with US [s]) - 2,333 km
Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Natural hazards: tsunamis along the Pacific coast; volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south; hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of America, and Caribbean coasts
Volcanism: volcanic activity in the central-southern part of the country; the volcanoes in Baja California are mostly dormant; Colima (3,850 m) is Mexico's most active volcano and is responsible for periodic evacuations of nearby villagers; it has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Popocatepetl (5,426 m) poses a threat to Mexico City; other historically active volcanoes include Barcena, Ceboruco, El Chichon, Michoacan-Guanajuato, Pico de Orizaba, San Martin, Socorro, and Tacana; see note 2 under 'Geography - note'

Geography
Note note 1: strategic location on southern border of the US; Mexico is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes
Note note 2: the Sac Actun cave system at 348 km (216 mi) is the longest underwater cave in the world and the second longest cave worldwide, after Mammoth Cave in the United States (see 'Geography - note' under United States)
Note note 3: the prominent Yucatán Peninsula that divides the Gulf of America from the Caribbean Sea is shared by Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; on the northern coast of Yucatan near the town of Chicxulub lie the remnants of a massive asteroid or comet crater about 150 km (93 mi) in diameter and extending into the Gulf of America; the impact is believed to have initiated a worldwide climate disruption that caused a mass extinction of 75% of the earth's plant and animal species, including the non-avian dinosaurs

Population
Total: 130,739,927 (2024 est.)
Male: 63,899,138
Female: 66,840,789
Distribution: most of the population is found in the middle of the country between the states of Jalisco and Veracruz; approximately a quarter of the population lives in and around Mexico City
Growth rate: 0.72% (2024 est.)

Languages: Spanish only 93.8%, Spanish and indigenous languages (including Mayan, Nahuatl, and others) 5.4%, indigenous only 0.6%, unspecified 0.2% (2020 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions: Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant/evangelical Christian 11.2%, other 0.002%, unaffiliated (includes atheism) 10.6% (2020 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 15,647,805/female 14,754,004)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 43,651,105/female 45,983,174)
65 years and over: 8.2% (2024 est.) (male 4,600,228/female 6,103,611)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 45.9 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 33.9 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 11.9 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 8.4 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 30.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 28.8 years
Female: 32.7 years

Population growth rate: 0.72% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 14.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: most of the population is found in the middle of the country between the states of Jalisco and Veracruz; approximately a quarter of the population lives in and around Mexico City

Urbanization
Urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 22.281 million MEXICO CITY (capital), 5.420 million Guadalajara, 5.117 million Monterrey, 3.345 million Puebla, 2.626 million Toluca de Lerdo, 2.260 million Tijuana (2023)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 71.6 years
Female: 77.7 years

Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.2% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.8% (2024 est.); 2.8% (2023 est.); 3.3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico)
Geographic coordinates: 19 26 N, 99 08 W
Time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: DST was permanently removed in October 2022
Time zone note: Mexico has four time zones
Etymology: name may derive from one of the Nahuatl (Aztec) names for the capital city, Metztlixihtlico, which probably meant 'the center of the moon;' alternatively, it may come from Mexica, the original name of the Aztec people

Administrative divisions: 32 states (estados, singular - estado); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Cuidad de Mexico, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatan, Zacatecas

Legal system: civil law system with US constitutional law influence; judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (since 1 October 2024)
Head of government: President Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (since 1 October 2024)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a single 6-year term
Most recent election date: 2 June 2024
2024: Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo elected president; percent of vote - Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (MORENA) 59.4%, Xóchitl GÁLVEZ Ruiz (PAN) 27.9%, Jorge Álvarez MÁYNEZ (MC) 10.4%, other 2.3%
2018: Andrés Manuel LÓPEZ OBRADOR elected president; percent of vote - Andrés Manuel LÓPEZ OBRADOR (MORENA) 53.2%, Ricardo ANAYA Cortés (PAN) 22.3%, José Antonio MEADE Kuribreña (PRI) 16.4%, Jaime RODRÍGUEZ Calderón (independent) 5.2%, other 2.9%
2012: Enrique PEÑA NIETO elected president; percent of vote - Enrique PEÑA NIETO (PRI) 38.2%, Andrés Manuel LÓPEZ OBRADOR (PRD) 31.6%, Josefina Eugenia VÁZQUEZ Mota (PAN) 25.4%, other 4.8%
Expected date of next election: 2,030
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Congress of the Union (Congreso de la Unión)
Legislative structure: bicameral
Note: as of the 2018 election, senators will be eligible for a second term and deputies up to 4 consecutive terms

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and red; Mexico's coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak, perched on a cactus) is centered in the white band

National anthem
Title: 'Himno Nacional Mexicano' (National Anthem of Mexico)
Lyrics/music: Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA/Jaime Nuno ROCA
History: adopted 1943

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 36 (28 cultural, 6 natural, 2 mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 1.5% (2024 est.); 3.3% (2023 est.); 3.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 1.5% (2024 est.); 3.3% (2023 est.); 3.7% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 70.3% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 11.2% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 24.2% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 36.8% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -37.9% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 3.8% (2024 est.)
Industry: 31.6% (2024 est.)
Services: 58.2% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 60.959 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.8% (2024 est.); 2.8% (2023 est.); 3.3% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.8% (2024 est.); 2.8% (2023 est.); 3.3% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $342.571 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $417.843 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 14.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $680.798 billion (2024 est.); $649.729 billion (2023 est.); $630.347 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: cars, vehicle parts/accessories, crude petroleum, trucks, computers (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $697.067 billion (2024 est.); $674.695 billion (2023 est.); $672.914 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, cars (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 105.586 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 332.042 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 1.97 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 4.863 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 45.47 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 99.8%
Access electrification - rural areas: 100%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 79.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 5.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 5.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 6.296 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 15.132 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 8.809 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 1.16 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 2.101 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 1.741 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 5.786 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 33.118 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 97.118 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 27.92 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 64.289 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 180.322 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 441.049 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 32.087 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 228.279 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 180.684 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 57.539 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 25.637 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 140 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 81% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 26.6 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2023 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 1,580 (2025)

Heliports: 488 (2025)

Railways
Total: 23,389 km (2017)
Standard gauge: 23,389 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (27 km electrified)

Merchant marine
Total: 674 (2023)
By type: bulk carrier 4, general cargo 11, oil tanker 32, other 627