Capital

Mexiko

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: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last Sunday in October

time zone note: Mexico has four time zones

etymology: named after the Mexica, the largest and most powerful branch of the Aztecs; the meaning of the name is uncertain

Citizenship

Mexiko

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: not specified

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Legal system

Mexiko

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

Suffrage

Mexiko

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Area

Mexiko

total: 1,964,375 sq km

land: 1,943,945 sq km

water: 20,430 sq km

Land use

Mexiko

agricultural land: 54.9% (2018 est.)

arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 41.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 33.3% (2018 est.)

other: 11.8% (2018 est.)

Location

Mexiko

North America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the United States and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the United States

Age structure

Mexiko

0-14 years: 23.76% (male 15,844,300/female 15,009,047)

15-64 years: 68.22% (male 43,086,673/female 45,518,891)

65 years and over: 8.02% (2023 est.) (male 4,560,225/female 5,856,393)

Birth rate

Mexiko

14 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Mexiko

7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Mexiko

Spanish only 93.8%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.4%, indigenous only 0.6%, unspecified 0.2%; note - indigenous languages include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages (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.

Life expectancy at birth

Mexiko

total population: 73.5 years (2023 est.)

male: 70.3 years

female: 76.8 years

Major urban areas - population

Mexiko

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)

Median age

Mexiko

total: 30.6 years (2023 est.)

male: 28.9 years

female: 32.3 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Mexiko

21.3 years (2008 est.)

Net migration rate

Mexiko

-0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Mexiko

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

Population growth rate

Mexiko

0.61% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Mexiko

1.73 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Mexiko

urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Mexiko

4.3% of GDP (2018 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Mexiko

total: 15 years

male: 15 years

female: 15 years (2020)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Mexiko

-1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Mexiko

5.44% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Mexiko

56.132 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Mexiko

41.9% (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate

Mexiko

4.38% (2021 est.)

4.45% (2020 est.)

3.48% (2019 est.)

note: underemployment may be as high as 25%

Public debt

Mexiko

54.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

56.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Mexiko

5.69% (2021 est.)

3.4% (2020 est.)

3.64% (2019 est.)

Exports

Mexiko

$522.235 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$434.366 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$492.657 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - partners

Mexiko

United States 75% (2019)

Imports

Mexiko

$544.752 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$411.458 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$495.391 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - partners

Mexiko

United States 54%, China 14% (2019)

Airports

Mexiko

1,714 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Mexiko

total: 21,936,131 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Mexiko

total: 98.8 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 76% (2021 est.)

Railways

Mexiko

total: 23,389 km (2017)

standard gauge: 23,389 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (27 km electrified)

Roadways

Mexiko

total: 704,884 km (2017)

paved: 175,526 km (2017) (includes 10,845 km of expressways)

unpaved: 529,358 km (2017)

Telephones - fixed lines

Mexiko

total subscriptions: 24,366,595 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Mexiko

total subscriptions: 123,920,752 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Mexiko

2,900 km (2012) (navigable rivers and coastal canals mostly connected with ports on the country's east coast)

Disputes - international

Mexiko

Mexico-Belize: Mexico and Belize are working to solve minor border demarcation discrepancies arising from inaccuracies in the 1898 border treaty

Mexico-Guatemala: Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the US

Mexico-US: the US has intensified security measures to monitor and control legal and illegal persons, transport, and commodities across its border with Mexico