Mexico

Code: MX | Region: North America

Introduction

Background

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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.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

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23 00 N, 102 00 W

Map references

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North America

Area

total

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1,964,375 sq km

land

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1,943,945 sq km

water

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20,430 sq km

Area - comparative

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slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries

total

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4,389 km

border countries

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Belize 276 km; Guatemala 958 km; US 3,155 km

Coastline

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9,330 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

contiguous zone

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24 nm

exclusive economic zone

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200 nm

continental shelf

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200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

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varies from tropical to desert

Terrain

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

Elevation

highest point

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Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,636 m

lowest point

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Laguna Salada -10 m

mean elevation

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1,111 m

Natural resources

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petroleum, silver, antimony, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber

Land use

agricultural land

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50.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.)

forest

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34.2% (2023 est.)

other

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15.1% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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59,910 sq km (2022)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

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Laguna de Chapala - 1,140 sq km

salt water lake(s)

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Laguna de Terminos - 1,550 sq km

Major rivers (by length in km)

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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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

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(Gulf of America) Rio Grande/Bravo (607,965 sq km)

Pacific Ocean drainage

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(Gulf of California) Colorado (703,148 sq km)

Major aquifers

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Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains Aquifer

Population distribution

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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

Natural hazards

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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

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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 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 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

People and Society

Population

total

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130,739,927 (2024 est.)

male

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63,899,138

female

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66,840,789

Nationality

noun

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Mexican(s)

adjective

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Mexican

Ethnic groups

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Mestizo (Indigenous-Spanish) 62%, predominantly Indigenous 21%, Indigenous 7%, other 10% (mostly European) (2012 est.)

note

note: Mexico does not collect census data on ethnicity

Languages

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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)

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La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

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Catholic 77.7%, no religion 10.6%, other Evangelical Churches 7.5%, Jehovah Witness 1.2%; less than 1 percent: Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist, Historics, not specified, Latter Day Saints, other religions  (2020 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years

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23.3% (male 15,647,805/female 14,754,004)

15-64 years

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68.6% (male 43,651,105/female 45,983,174)

65 years and over

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8.2% (2024 est.) (male 4,600,228/female 6,103,611)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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45.9 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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33.9 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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11.9 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

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8.4 (2024 est.)

Median age

total

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31 years (2025 est.)

male

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28.8 years

female

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32.7 years

Population growth rate

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0.81% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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14.73 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

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6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

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-0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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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

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81.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

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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

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1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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0.75 male(s)/female

total population

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0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

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21.3 years (2008 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

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12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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13.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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10.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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74.6 years (2024 est.)

male

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71.6 years

female

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77.7 years

Total fertility rate

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1.85 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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0.9 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

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urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

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6.1% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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10.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

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2.59 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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1 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

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urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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28.9% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

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4.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

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3.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

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0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

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0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

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0.15 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total

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13.8% (2025 est.)

male

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21.8% (2025 est.)

female

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6.3% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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4.2% (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

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53% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

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3.6% (2018)

women married by age 18

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20.7% (2018)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

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4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

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14.2% national budget (2022 est.)

Literacy

total population

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95% (2020 est.)

male

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96% (2020 est.)

female

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94% (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total

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15 years (2022 est.)

male

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14 years (2022 est.)

female

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15 years (2022 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; natural freshwater resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; urban river pollution from raw sewage and industrial effluents; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; serious air and water pollution in urban areas; land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion

note

note: the government considers the lack of clean water and deforestation as national security issues

International environmental agreements

party to

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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

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none of the selected agreements

Climate

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varies from tropical to desert

Land use

agricultural land

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50.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 10.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 2.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 38.1% (2023 est.)

forest

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34.2% (2023 est.)

other

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15.1% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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81.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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441.049 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

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32.087 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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228.279 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

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180.684 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

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17.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions

energy

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1,389 kt (2022-2024 est.)

agriculture

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2,372.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

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1,832.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

other

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49.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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53.1 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

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9.6% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

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13.33 billion cubic meters (2022)

industrial

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7.953 billion cubic meters (2022)

agricultural

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68.523 billion cubic meters (2022)

Total renewable water resources

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461.888 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks

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global geoparks and regional networks

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Comarca Minera, Hidalgo; Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca (2023)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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United Mexican States

conventional short form

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Mexico

local long form

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Estados Unidos Mexicanos

local short form

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Mexico

former

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Mexican Republic, Mexican Empire

etymology

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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

Government type

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federal presidential republic

Capital

name

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Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico)

geographic coordinates

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19 26 N, 99 08 W

time difference

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UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time

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DST was permanently removed in October 2022

time zone note

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Mexico has four time zones

etymology

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Administrative divisions

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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

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

Constitution

history

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several previous; latest approved 5 February 1917

amendment process

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proposed by the Congress of the Union; passage requires approval by at least two thirds of the members present and approval by a majority of the state legislatures

International law organization participation

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

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yes

citizenship by descent only

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yes

dual citizenship recognized

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not specified

residency requirement for naturalization

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5 years

Suffrage

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18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state

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President Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (since 1 October 2024)

head of government

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President Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (since 1 October 2024)

cabinet

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Cabinet appointed by the president

election/appointment process

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president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a single 6-year term

most recent election date

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2 June 2024

election results

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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

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2030

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch

legislature name

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Congress of the Union (Congreso de la Unión)

legislative structure

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bicameral

note

note: as of the 2018 election, senators will be eligible for a second term and deputies up to 4 consecutive terms

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

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Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)

number of seats

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500 (all directly elected)

electoral system

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mixed system

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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3 years

most recent election date

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6/2/2024

parties elected and seats per party

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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)

percentage of women in chamber

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50.2%

expected date of next election

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June 2027

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

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Senate (Cámara de Senadores)

number of seats

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128 (all directly elected)

electoral system

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mixed system

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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6 years

most recent election date

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6/2/2024

parties elected and seats per party

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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)

percentage of women in chamber

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50%

expected date of next election

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June 2030

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación (consists of the chief justice and 11 justices and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and labor panels) and the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary (organized into the superior court, with 7 judges including the court president, and 5 regional courts, each with 3 judges)

judge selection and term of office

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Supreme Court justices nominated by the president of the republic and approved by two-thirds vote of the members present in the Senate; justices serve 15-year terms; Electoral Tribunal superior and regional court judges nominated by the Supreme Court and elected by two-thirds vote of members present in the Senate; superior court president elected from among its members to hold office for a 4-year term; other judges of the superior and regional courts serve staggered, 9-year terms

subordinate courts

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federal level includes circuit, collegiate, and unitary courts; state and district level courts

note

note: in April 2021, the Mexican congress passed a judicial reform which changed 7 articles of the constitution and preceded a new Organic Law on the Judicial Branch of the Federation

Political parties

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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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador Esteban MOCTEZUMA Barragán (since 20 April 2021)

chancery

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1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006

telephone

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[1] (202) 728-1600

FAX

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[1] (202) 728-1698

email address and website

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mexembusa@sre.gob.mx https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/eua/index.php/en/

consulate(s) general

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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)

consulate(s)

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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)

note

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

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Ambassador Ronald D. JOHNSON (since 19 May 2025)

embassy

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Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtémoc, 06500 Mexico, CDMX

mailing address

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8700 Mexico City Place, Washington DC  20521-8700

telephone

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(011) [52]-55-5080-2000

FAX

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(011) 52-55-5080-2005

email address and website

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ACSMexicoCity@state.gov https://mx.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general

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Ciudad Juárez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Matamoros, Mérida, Monterrey, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana

International organization participation

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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

Independence

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16 September 1810 (declared independence from Spain); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)

National holiday

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Independence Day, 16 September (1810)

Flag

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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 meaning: green stands for hope, joy, and love; white for peace and honesty; red for hardiness, bravery, strength, and valor

National symbol(s)

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golden eagle, dahlia

National color(s)

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green, white, red

National coat of arms

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Adopted in 1968, Mexico’s coat of arms is also used as the Seal of the United Mexican States. The Mexican Golden Eagle, a national symbol, is perched on a prickly pear cactus and eats a snake. Beneath the eagle, oak and laurel leaves are joined by a ribbon in the national colors. The image symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.

National anthem(s)

title

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"Himno Nacional Mexicano" (National Anthem of Mexico)

lyrics/music

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Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA/Jaime Nuno ROCA

history

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adopted 1943

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

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36 (28 cultural, 6 natural, 2 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales

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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)

Economy

Economic overview

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upper-middle-income economy; highly integrated with US via trade and nearshore manufacturing; weak domestic demand, fiscal consolidation, and trade uncertainty contributing to sluggish growth; low unemployment; challenges from income inequality, corruption, and cartel-based violence

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

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$2.883 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

text

$2.842 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

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$2.751 trillion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

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1.5% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

text

3.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

text

3.7% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

text

$22,000 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

text

$21,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

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$21,400 (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

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$1.853 trillion (2024 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

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4.7% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

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5.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

text

7.9% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

text

3.8% (2024 est.)

industry

text

31.6% (2024 est.)

services

text

58.2% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

text

70.3% (2024 est.)

government consumption

text

11.2% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

text

24.2% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

text

0% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

text

36.8% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

text

-37.9% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

text

sugarcane, maize, milk, oranges, sorghum, tomatoes, chicken, chillies/peppers, wheat, lemons/limes (2023)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

text

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

Industrial production growth rate

text

0.2% (2024 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

text

60.959 million (2024 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

text

2.8% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

text

2.8% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

text

3.3% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

text

5.5% (2024 est.)

male

text

5.2% (2024 est.)

female

text

6.1% (2024 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

text

36.3% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

text

43.5 (2022 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Average household expenditures

on food

text

25.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco

text

2.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

text

2.1% (2022 est.)

highest 10%

text

34.4% (2022 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

Remittances 2024

text

3.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances 2023

text

3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

text

4.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues

text

$342.571 billion (2023 est.)

expenditures

text

$417.843 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt

Public debt 2023

text

45.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

text

14.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024

text

-$5.986 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance 2023

text

-$5.611 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2022

text

-$17.701 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

Exports 2024

text

$680.798 billion (2024 est.)

Exports 2023

text

$649.729 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

text

$630.347 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

text

USA 76%, Canada 5%, China 2%, Germany 2%, Spain 1% (2023)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

text

cars, vehicle parts/accessories, crude petroleum, trucks, computers (2023)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2024

text

$697.067 billion (2024 est.)

Imports 2023

text

$674.695 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

text

$672.914 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

text

USA 46%, China 20%, Germany 4%, Japan 3%, S. Korea 3% (2023)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

text

vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment, cars (2023)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

text

$232.035 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

text

$214.317 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

text

$201.119 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

text

$306.308 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

text

Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

text

18.305 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

text

17.759 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

20.127 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

20.272 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

21.486 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

100% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

text

99.8%

electrification - rural areas

text

100%

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

105.586 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

332.042 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

text

1.97 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

text

4.863 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

45.47 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

79.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

text

3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

text

4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

text

5.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

text

5.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal

text

1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste

text

1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors

text

2 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

text

1.55GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production

text

4.9% (2023 est.)

Coal

production

text

6.296 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption

text

15.132 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

text

4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

text

8.809 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

text

1.16 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production

text

2.101 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

text

1.741 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

text

5.786 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production

text

33.118 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption

text

97.118 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

text

27.92 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

text

64.289 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

text

180.322 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

text

57.539 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

25.637 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

20 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

text

140 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

100 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

text

telecom reform in 2013 ended a quasi-monopoly; now 885 TV stations and 1,841 radio stations, most privately owned; foreign satellite and cable operators are available; completed transition to digital in 2016 (2022)

Internet country code

text

.mx

Internet users

percent of population

text

81% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

text

26.6 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

21 (2023 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

text

Airports

text

1,580 (2025)

Heliports

text

488 (2025)

Railways

total

text

23,389 km (2017)

standard gauge

text

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

Merchant marine

total

text

674 (2023)

by type

text

bulk carrier 4, general cargo 11, oil tanker 32, other 627

Ports

total ports

text

35 (2024)

large

text

medium

text

small

text

very small

text

size unknown

text

ports with oil terminals

text

key ports

text

Acapulco, Ensenada, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Tampico, Tuxpan, Veracruz

Military and Security

Military and security forces

text

the Mexican Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de México) are divided between the Secretariat of National Defense and the Secretariat of the Navy: Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa Nacional, SEDENA): Army (Ejercito), Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Mexicana, FAM), National Guard (Guardia Nacional); Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria de Marina, SEMAR): Mexican Navy (Armada de Mexico (ARM), includes Naval Air Force (FAN), Mexican Naval Infantry Corps (Cuerpo de Infanteria de Marina, Mexmar or CIM)) Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection/SEDENA: National Guard (2025)

note

note: the National Guard was formed in 2019 of personnel from the former Federal Police (disbanded in December 2019) and military police units of the Army and Navy

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024

text

0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

text

0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

text

0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

text

0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

text

0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

text

information varies; approximately 260,000 active-duty Armed Forces; approximately 110,000 National Guard personnel (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

text

the Mexican military inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported armaments from a variety of mostly Western suppliers, particularly the US; Mexico's defense industry produces light armored vehicles and some naval vessels, as well as small arms and other miscellaneous equipment (2025)

Military service age and obligation

text

18 years of age (16 with parental consent) for voluntary service for men and women; men at age 18 subject to lottery-based 12-month compulsory military service  (2025)

Military - note

text

the Mexican military is responsible for defending the independence, integrity, and sovereignty of Mexico, as well as providing for internal security, disaster response, humanitarian assistance, and socio-economic development; internal security duties are a key focus, particularly combating narcotics trafficking and organized crime groups, as well as border control and immigration enforcement; the constitution was amended in 2019 to grant the president the authority to use the armed forces to protect internal and national security, and courts have upheld the legality of the armed forces’ role in law enforcement activities in support of civilian authorities through 2028; the military also provides security for strategic facilities, such as oil production infrastructure, and administers most of the country's land and sea ports and customs services, plus a state-owned development bank; in addition, President LÓPEZ OBRADOR placed the military in charge of a growing number of infrastructure projects, such as building and operating a new airport for Mexico City and sections of a train line in the country’s southeast (2025)

Space

Space agency/agencies

text

Mexican Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Mexicana or AEM; established 2010 and began operating in 2013) (2025)

Space program overview

text

has a national space policy with a focus on expanding Mexico's commercial space sector, including acquiring satellites and developing specialists, technologies, and infrastructure; manufactures and operates communications and scientific satellites; conducts research on a range of space-related capabilities and technologies, including astronomy, astrophysics, Earth and weather sciences, remote sensing, robotics, satellite payloads, and telecommunications; works with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial space industries, including those of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the ESA, individual ESA member states (particularly France, Germany, and the UK), India, Japan, Peru, Russia, Ukraine, and the US; led effort to establish the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency and hosts its headquarters (2025)

Key space-program milestones

text

1962-1977 - sounding rocket program 1985 - first Mexican in space on US Space Shuttle; first communications satellite (Morelos-1) built by US and released from the US Space Shuttle 2015 - first successful launch of MEXSAT series of communications satellites by the US 2021 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2024 - contributed five autonomous micro-robots (Colmena project) on failed US commercial Moon lander mission

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

text

Gulf Cartel (CDG); Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG); La Mara Salvatruche (MS-13); Northeast Cartel (CDN); The New Family Michoacana (LNFM); Sinaloa Cartel; United Cartels (CU)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

text

417,546 (2024 est.)

IDPs

text

390,250 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

text

13 (2024 est.)

Illicit drugs

USG identification

text

major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)