CapitalMexico City (Ciudad de Mexico)
Population130,739,927
Area1,964,375 km²
GDP per capita$22,000
LanguagesSpanish speakers comprise, those who communicate in both Spanish and indigenous languages account for, speakers of only indigenous languages make up, and are unspecified .
CurrencyMexican pesos
Life Expectancy74.6 yr
Governmentfederal presidential republic
Introduction
Background
Several advanced Amerindian civilizations thrived in Mexico, such as the Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec, until the Spanish conquest and colonization began in the early 16th century. For three centuries, the region was governed as the Viceroyalty of New Spain, eventually gaining independence in the early 19th century. The year 2000 marked a significant political shift when Vicente FOX from the National Action Party (PAN) became the first opposition candidate to win against the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) since the Mexican Revolution of 1910. In 2006, he was succeeded by another PAN candidate, Felipe CALDERON, but the PRI reclaimed the presidency in 2012 with Enrique PEÑA NIETO. In 2018, Andrés Manuel LÓPEZ OBRADOR, a leftist anti-establishment politician and former mayor of Mexico City (2000-05), took office as president representing the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA).
The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA, known as T-MEC in Spanish) came into effect in 2020, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In 2019, Mexico revised its constitution to support the implementation of the labor provisions of the USMCA.
Currently, Mexico ranks as the second-largest goods trading partner of the US, following Canada. Persistent economic and social issues include low real wages, significant underemployment, unequal income distribution, and limited opportunities for advancement, particularly affecting the predominantly indigenous population in the economically disadvantaged southern states. Since 2007, powerful transnational criminal organizations in Mexico have been embroiled in a battle for control over criminal markets, leading to tens of thousands of drug-related homicides and enforced disappearances.
Geography
Area
land
1,943,945 sq km
water
20,430 sq km
total
1,964,375 sq km
Climate
ranges from tropical to arid
Terrain
elevated, rugged mountain ranges; low-lying coastal plains; elevated plateaus; arid regions
Land use
other
15.1% (2023 est.)
forest
34.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
50.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Location
North America, situated between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of America, between Belize and the United States, and adjacent to the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the United States
Coastline
9,330 km
Elevation
lowest point
Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point
Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,636 m
mean elevation
1,111 m
Irrigated land
59,910 sq km (2022)
Major aquifers
Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains Aquifer
Map references
North America
Land boundaries
total
4,389 km
border countries
Belize 276 km; Guatemala 958 km; US 3,155 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
tsunamis along the Pacific shoreline; volcanic activity and severe earthquakes in the central and southern regions; hurricanes affecting the Pacific, Gulf of America, and Caribbean coastlines
volcanism: volcanic activity is prevalent in the central-southern areas of the nation; the volcanoes located in Baja California are primarily dormant; Colima (3,850 m) is recognized as Mexico's most active volcano, frequently necessitating the evacuation of nearby residents; it has been classified as a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, considered significant for research due to its explosive history and proximity to populated areas; Popocatepetl (5,426 m) poses a risk to Mexico City; other historically active volcanoes include Barcena, Ceboruco, El Chichon, Michoacan-Guanajuato, Pico de Orizaba, San Martin, Socorro, and Tacana; refer to note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note
note 1: strategically located on the southern border of the United States; Mexico is one of the nations situated along the Ring of Fire, a region encircling the Pacific Ocean that contains nearly 75% of the globe's volcanoes and up to 90% of its earthquakes
note 2: the Sac Actun cave system, measuring 348 km (216 mi), holds the title of the longest underwater cave worldwide and is the second longest cave overall, following Mammoth Cave in the United States (see "Geography - note" under United States)
note 3: the notable Yucatán Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of America from the Caribbean Sea, is jointly occupied by Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize; on the northern coastline of Yucatán, near Chicxulub, lies the site of a colossal asteroid or comet impact crater approximately 150 km (93 mi) in diameter extending into the Gulf of America; this event is thought to have triggered a global climatic upheaval that led to the extinction of 75% of the Earth's flora and fauna, including non-avian dinosaurs
Natural resources
petroleum, silver, antimony, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
Area - comparative
slightly less than three times the area of Texas
Geographic coordinates
23 00 N, 102 00 W
Population distribution
the majority of the population resides in the central region between the states of Jalisco and Veracruz; about a quarter of the populace is located in and around Mexico City
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s)
Laguna de Terminos - 1,550 sq km
fresh water lake(s)
Laguna de Chapala - 1,140 sq km
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Pacific Ocean drainage
(Gulf of California) Colorado (703,148 sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
(Gulf of America) Rio Grande/Bravo (607,965 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Rio Grande river mouth (shared with US [s]) - 3,057 km; Colorado river mouth (shared with US [s]) - 2,333 km
note: [s] following the country name signifies river source; [m] following the country name signifies river mouth
People & Society
Literacy
male
96% (2020 est.)
female
94% (2020 est.)
total population
95% (2020 est.)
Languages
Languages
Spanish speakers comprise 93.8%, those who communicate in both Spanish and indigenous languages (such as Mayan, Nahuatl, and others) account for 5.4%, speakers of only indigenous languages make up 0.6%, and 0.2% are unspecified (2020 estimate).
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
Catholics represent 77.7%, individuals with no religious affiliation constitute 10.6%, other Evangelical denominations account for 7.5%, and Jehovah's Witnesses make up 1.2%; less than 1 percent includes Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist, Historic denominations, unspecified groups, Latter Day Saints, and various other faiths (2020 estimate).
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
total population
0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.75 male(s)/female
Birth rate
14.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
28.8 years
total
31 years (2025 est.)
female
32.7 years
Population
male
63,899,138
total
130,739,927 (2024 est.)
female
66,840,789
Nationality
noun
Mexican(s)
adjective
Mexican
Tobacco use
male
21.8% (2025 est.)
total
13.8% (2025 est.)
female
6.3% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
81.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)
Ethnic groups
Mestizos (people of Indigenous and Spanish descent) constitute 62%, predominantly Indigenous individuals represent 21%, those identified as Indigenous alone make up 7%, while other ethnicities (primarily European) account for 10% (2012 estimate).
Child marriage
women married by age 15
3.6% (2018)
women married by age 18
20.7% (2018)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
45.9 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
33.9 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
8.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
11.9 (2024 est.)
Physician density
2.59 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.1% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
10.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
1 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.85 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.2% national budget (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
13.4 deaths/1,000 live births
total
12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
10.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.81% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.9 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
A significant portion of the populace resides in the central region of the country, particularly between the states of Jalisco and Veracruz; around one-quarter of the inhabitants live in and near Mexico City.
Life expectancy at birth
male
71.6 years
female
77.7 years
total population
74.6 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
3.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
4.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 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)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
28.9% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
21.3 years (2008 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53% (2023 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
4.2% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
14 years (2022 est.)
total
15 years (2022 est.)
female
15 years (2022 est.)
Environment
Climate
ranges from tropical to arid
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks
Comarca Minera, Hidalgo; Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca (2023)
total global geoparks and regional networks
2
Land use
other
15.1% (2023 est.)
forest
34.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
50.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
81.6% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.4% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
49.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
1,832.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
1,389 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
2,372.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
53.1 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
9.6% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
shortage of hazardous waste disposal sites; natural fresh water resources are limited and contaminated in the north, while they are difficult to access and of low quality in the central and extreme southeastern regions; urban rivers are polluted by untreated sewage and industrial waste; deforestation; extensive erosion; desertification; significant air and water pollution in metropolitan areas; land subsidence in the Valley of Mexico resulting from groundwater depletion
Total water withdrawal
municipal
13.33 billion cubic meters (2022)
industrial
7.953 billion cubic meters (2022)
agricultural
68.523 billion cubic meters (2022)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
441.049 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
180.684 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
32.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
228.279 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
17.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
461.888 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Government
Flag
description: three vertical bands of equal width in green (on the left), white, and red; the coat of arms of Mexico, depicting an eagle grasping a snake in its beak while standing on a cactus, is positioned centrally within the white band
meaning: green represents hope, joy, and love; white symbolizes peace and honesty; red signifies hardiness, bravery, strength, and valor
Capital
name
Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico)
etymology
the name may originate from one of the Nahuatl (Aztec) terms for the capital city, Metztlixihtlico, likely meaning "the center of the moon;" alternatively, it could derive from Mexica, the name used by the Aztec people
time zone note
Mexico spans four distinct time zones
time difference
UTC-6 (one hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
DST was permanently removed in October 2022
geographic coordinates
19 26 N, 99 08 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
not specified
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
several previous; latest approved 5 February 1917
amendment process
initiated by the Congress of the Union; to pass, it requires the consent of at least two-thirds of the members present as well as a majority approval from the state legislatures
Country name
former
Mexican Republic, Mexican Empire
etymology
the name may originate from one of the Nahuatl (Aztec) terms for the capital city, Metztlixihtlico, likely meaning "the center of the moon;" alternatively, it could derive from Mexica, the name used by the Aztec people
local long form
Estados Unidos Mexicanos
local short form
Mexico
conventional long form
United Mexican States
conventional short form
Mexico
Independence
16 September 1810 (independence declared from Spain); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)
Legal system
civil law system influenced by US constitutional law; includes judicial review of legislative actions
Government type
federal presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (comprises the chief justice and 11 justices organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and labor panels) along with the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary (structured into a superior court with 7 judges, including the court president, and 5 regional courts, each with 3 judges)
subordinate courts
the federal level includes circuit, collegiate, and unitary courts; courts at the state and district levels
judge selection and term of office
justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the president of the republic and must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the members present in the Senate; justices serve 15-year terms; judges of the Electoral Tribunal's superior and regional courts are nominated by the Supreme Court and elected by a two-thirds vote of the members present in the Senate; the president of the superior court is elected from among its members for a 4-year term; other judges of both the superior and regional courts have staggered 9-year terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
chief of state
President Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (since 1 October 2024)
election results
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%
head of government
President Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (since 1 October 2024)
most recent election date
2 June 2024
election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a single 6-year term
expected date of next election
2030
National holiday
Independence Day, 16 September (1810)
National color(s)
green, white, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
36 (28 cultural, 6 natural, 2 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Mexico City (c); Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl (c); Teotihuacan (c); Whale Sanctuary of El Vizcaino (n); Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (n); Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley (m); Historic Puebla (c); El Tajin (c); Historic Tlacotalpan (c); Historic Oaxaca and Monte Albán (c); Palenque (c); Chichen-Itza (c); Uxmal (c); Wixárika Route through Sacred Sites to Wirikuta (Tatehuarí Huajuyé) (c)
Political parties
Citizen's Movement (Movimiento Ciudadano) or MC
Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) or PRI
Labor Party (Partido del Trabajo) or PT
Mexican Green Ecological Party (Partido Verde Ecologista de México) or PVEM
Movement for National Regeneration (Movimiento Regeneración Nacional) or MORENA
National Action Party (Partido Acción Nacional) or PAN
Party of the Democratic Revolution (Partido de la Revolución Democrática) or PRD
Legislative branch
legislature name
Congress of the Union (Congreso de la Unión)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Himno Nacional Mexicano" (National Anthem of Mexico)
history
adopted 1943
lyrics/music
Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA/Jaime Nuno ROCA
National symbol(s)
golden eagle, dahlia
National coat of arms
Established in 1968, Mexico’s coat of arms also serves as the Seal of the United Mexican States. The national symbol, the Mexican Golden Eagle, is depicted atop a prickly pear cactus consuming a snake. Below the eagle, oak and laurel leaves are entwined with a ribbon in the national colors, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.
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
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
term in office
3 years
number of seats
500 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
6/2/2024
expected date of next election
June 2027
percentage of women in chamber
50.2%
parties elected and seats per party
National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) (236); Ecologist Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) (77); National Action Party (PAN) (72); Labour Party (PT) (51); Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) (35); Citizens' Movement (MC) (27); Other (2)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
term in office
6 years
number of seats
128 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
6/2/2024
expected date of next election
June 2030
percentage of women in chamber
50%
parties elected and seats per party
National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) (60); National Action Party (PAN) (22); Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) (16); Ecologist Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) (14); Labour Party (PT) (9); Other (7)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 728-1698
chancery
1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone
[1] (202) 728-1600
consulate(s)
Albuquerque (NM), Boise (ID), Brownsville (TX), Calexico (CA), Del Rio (TX), Detroit (MI), Douglas (AZ), Eagle Pass (TX), Fresno (CA), Indianapolis (IN), Kansas City (MO), Las Vegas (NV), Little Rock (AR), Los Angeles (CA), McAllen (TX), Milwaukee (WI), New Orleans (LA), Oklahoma City (OK), Omaha (NE), Orlando (FL), Oxnard (CA), Philadelphia (PA), Portland (OR), Presidio (TX), Salt Lake City (UT), San Bernardino (CA), Santa Ana (CA), Seattle (WA), St. Paul (MN), Tucson (AZ), Yuma (AZ)
chief of mission
Ambassador Esteban MOCTEZUMA Barragán (since 20 April 2021)
consulate(s) general
Atlanta (GA), Austin (TX), Boston (MA), Chicago (IL), Dallas (TX), Denver (GA), El Paso (TX), Houston (TX), Laredo (TX), Miami (FL), New York (NY), Nogales (AZ), Phoenix (AZ), Raleigh (NC), Sacramento (CA), San Antonio (TX), San Diego (CA), San Francisco (CA), San Jose (CA), San Juan (Puerto Rico)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/eua/index.php/en/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
(011) 52-55-5080-2005
embassy
Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtémoc, 06500 Mexico, CDMX
telephone
(011) [52]-55-5080-2000
mailing address
8700 Mexico City Place, Washington DC 20521-8700
chief of mission
Ambassador Ronald D. JOHNSON (since 19 May 2025)
consulate(s) general
Ciudad Juárez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Matamoros, Mérida, Monterrey, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana
email address and website
[email protected]
https://mx.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACS, APEC, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CABEI, CAN (observer), Caricom (observer), CD, CDB, CE (observer), CELAC, CSN (observer), EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-3, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, MIGA, NAFTA, NAM (observer), NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance, Paris Club (associate), PCA, SICA (observer), UN, UNASUR (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina (observer), UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, USMCA, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$342.571 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$417.843 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$630.347 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$649.729 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$680.798 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$672.914 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$674.695 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$697.067 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
beverages and food, tobacco, chemical products, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, apparel, automotive, consumer goods, tourism
Labor force
60.959 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2023
45.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
4.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
3.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
21.486 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
20.272 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
20.127 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
17.759 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
18.305 (2024 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$306.308 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
an upper-middle-income economy; closely linked to the United States through trade and nearshore manufacturing; sluggish growth attributed to weak domestic demand, fiscal consolidation, and trade uncertainties; low unemployment rates; facing challenges related to income inequality, corruption, and violence from cartels
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
3.3% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
2.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
2.8% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
USA 76%, Canada 5%, China 2%, Germany 2%, Spain 1% (2023)
Imports - partners
USA 46%, China 20%, Germany 4%, Japan 3%, S. Korea 3% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$21,400 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$21,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$22,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
3.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
1.5% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
sugarcane, maize, milk, oranges, sorghum, tomatoes, chicken, chillies/peppers, wheat, lemons/limes (2023)
Exports - commodities
automobiles, vehicle parts/accessories, crude oil, trucks, computers (2023)
Imports - commodities
vehicle parts/accessories, refined oil, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, automobiles (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$17.701 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$5.611 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$5.986 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
14.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.853 trillion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
70.3% (2024 est.)
government consumption
11.2% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
24.2% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
36.8% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-37.9% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
36.3% (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
25.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
2.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.5% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
4.7% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
0.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$2.751 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$2.842 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$2.883 trillion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
5.2% (2024 est.)
total
5.5% (2024 est.)
female
6.1% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$201.119 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$214.317 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$232.035 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
31.6% (2024 est.)
services
58.2% (2024 est.)
agriculture
3.8% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.1% (2022 est.)
highest 10%
34.4% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
43.5 (2022 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
8.809 million metric tons (2023 est.)
production
6.296 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
15.132 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.)
crude oil estimated reserves
5.786 billion barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
1.741 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Electricity
exports
1.97 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
4.863 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
332.042 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
105.586 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
45.47 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
27.92 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
64.289 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
33.118 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
97.118 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
180.322 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors
2 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production
4.9% (2023 est.)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
1.55GW (2025 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
100%
electrification - urban areas
99.8%
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
57.539 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
5.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear
3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal
1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
79.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
5.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
81% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
The telecommunications reform of 2013 concluded a near-monopoly; currently, there are 885 television stations and 1,841 radio stations, the majority of which are privately owned; foreign cable and satellite providers are accessible; the transition to digital broadcasting was finalized in 2016 (2022)
Internet country code
.mx
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
25.637 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
20 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
140 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
100 (2022 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
26.6 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
21 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
10
medium
7
key ports
Acapulco, Ensenada, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Tampico, Tuxpan, Veracruz
very small
14
total ports
35 (2024)
size unknown
4
ports with oil terminals
21
Airports
1,580 (2025)
Railways
total
23,389 km (2017)
standard gauge
23,389 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (27 km electrified)
Heliports
488 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
674 (2023)
by type
bulk carriers 4, general cargo vessels 11, oil tankers 32, miscellaneous 627
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
XA
Military & Security
Military - note
The Mexican military holds the responsibility for safeguarding the independence, integrity, and sovereignty of Mexico. Its duties encompass internal security, responses to disasters, humanitarian aid, and promoting socio-economic development. A primary focus is on internal security, which includes tackling narcotics trafficking, organized crime syndicates, and managing border control and immigration enforcement. An amendment to the constitution in 2019 empowered the president to deploy the armed forces for the protection of internal and national security, and courts have affirmed the legitimacy of the armed forces' involvement in law enforcement activities assisting civilian authorities until 2028. Additionally, the military ensures the security of critical facilities, such as oil production infrastructure, oversees most of the nation's land and sea ports, and manages customs services through a state-owned development bank. Furthermore, President LÓPEZ OBRADOR assigned the military to oversee an increasing number of infrastructure initiatives, including the construction and operation of a new airport for Mexico City and sections of a train line in the southeast of the country (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
The Mexican Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de México) are categorized under the Secretariat of National Defense and the Secretariat of the Navy:
Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa Nacional, SEDENA): Army (Ejército), Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Mexicana, FAM), National Guard (Guardia Nacional); Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria de Marina, SEMAR): Mexican Navy (Armada de México, ARM), which includes the Naval Air Force (FAN) and the Mexican Naval Infantry Corps (Cuerpo de Infantería de Marina, Mexmar or CIM)
Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection/SEDENA: National Guard (2025)
Military service age and obligation
Individuals can volunteer for service at 18 years of age (16 with parental consent); men must participate in a lottery for a 12-month compulsory military service at age 18 (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The inventory of the Mexican military comprises a combination of both domestically manufactured and imported weapons from numerous suppliers, predominantly from the West, especially the United States. Mexico's defense sector produces light armored vehicles, certain naval vessels, as well as small arms and various other equipment (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
Data varies; there are approximately 260,000 active-duty personnel within the Armed Forces and around 110,000 members of the National Guard (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Gulf Cartel (CDG); Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG); La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13); Northeast Cartel (CDN); The New Michoacana Family (LNFM); Sinaloa Cartel; United Cartels (CU)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country
major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
390,250 (2024 est.)
refugees
417,546 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
13 (2024 est.)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Mexican Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Mexicana or AEM; founded in 2010 and commenced operations in 2013) (2025)
Space program overview
possesses a national space policy aimed at enhancing Mexico's commercial space industry, which includes satellite acquisition and the development of specialists, technologies, and infrastructure; produces and manages communications and scientific satellites; engages in research across a variety of space-related fields and technologies such as astronomy, astrophysics, Earth sciences, weather sciences, remote sensing, robotics, satellite payloads, and telecommunications; collaborates with multiple international space agencies and commercial space sectors, including those from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the European Space Agency (ESA), various ESA member nations (notably France, Germany, and the UK), India, Japan, Peru, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States; spearheaded the initiative to create the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency and serves as its headquarters (2025)
Key space-program milestones
1962-1977 - sounding rocket initiative
1985 - first Mexican astronaut in space aboard the US Space Shuttle; first communications satellite (Morelos-1) constructed by the US and deployed from the US Space Shuttle
2015 - inaugural successful launch of the MEXSAT series of communications satellites by the US
2021 - entered into the US-led Artemis Accords for lunar and space exploration
2024 - provided five autonomous micro-robots (Colmena project) for a failed US commercial lunar lander mission
