Mexico

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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes

Geography

Location

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

23 00 N, 102 00 W

Map references

North America

Area

total : 1,964,375 sq km

land: 1,943,945 sq km

water: 20,430 sq km

comparison ranking: total 15

Area – comparative

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Area comparison map:

Land boundaries

total: 4,389 km

border countries (3): Belize 276 km; Guatemala 958 km; US 3,155 km

Coastline

9,330 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

varies from tropical to desert

Terrain

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

Elevation

highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,636 m

lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m

mean elevation: 1,111 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land: 49.4% (2022 est.)

arable land: 9.8% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 1.5% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 38.1% (2022 est.)

forest: 33.7% (2022 est.)

other: 16.9% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

59,910 sq km (2022)

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s): Laguna de Chapala – 1,140 sq km

salt water lake(s): Laguna de Terminos – 1,550 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] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Gulf of America) Rio Grande/Bravo (607,965 sq km)

Pacific Ocean drainage: (Gulf of California) Colorado (703,148 sq km)

Major aquifers

Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains Aquifer

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

tsunamis along the Pacific coast; volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south; hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of America, and Caribbean coasts

volcanism: volcanic activity in the central-southern part of the country; the volcanoes in Baja California are mostly dormant; Colima (3,850 m) is Mexico’s most active volcano and is responsible for periodic evacuations of nearby villagers; it has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Popocatepetl (5,426 m) poses a threat to Mexico City; other historically active volcanoes include Barcena, Ceboruco, El Chichon, Michoacan-Guanajuato, Pico de Orizaba, San Martin, Socorro, and Tacana; see note 2 under “Geography – note”

Geography – note

note 1: strategic location on southern border of the US; Mexico is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world’s volcanoes and up to 90% of the world’s earthquakes

note 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: 130,739,927 (2024 est.)

male: 63,899,138

female: 66,840,789

comparison rankings: total 10; female 10; male 10

Nationality

noun: Mexican(s)

adjective: Mexican

Ethnic groups

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

note: Mexico does not collect census data on ethnicity

Languages

Spanish only 93.8%, Spanish and indigenous languages (including Mayan, Nahuatl, and others) 5.4%, indigenous only 0.6%, unspecified 0.2% (2020 est.)

major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Spanish audio sample:

Religions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.3% (male 15,647,805/female 14,754,004)

15-64 years: 68.6% (male 43,651,105/female 45,983,174)

65 years and over: 8.2% (2024 est.) (male 4,600,228/female 6,103,611)

2024 population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 45.9 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 33.9 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 11.9 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 8.4 (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 30.8 years (2024 est.)

male: 28.8 years

female: 32.7 years

comparison ranking: total 132

Population growth rate

0.72% (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 122

Birth rate

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

comparison ranking: 118

Death rate

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

comparison ranking: 134

Net migration rate

-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 131

Population distribution

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

Urbanization

urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)

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

Major urban areas – population

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother’s mean age at first birth

21.3 years (2008 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

comparison ranking: 101

Infant mortality rate

total: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 10.9 deaths/1,000 live births

comparison ranking: total 109

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.6 years (2024 est.)

male: 71.6 years

female: 77.7 years

comparison ranking: total population 140

Total fertility rate

1.79 children born/woman (2024 est.)

comparison ranking: 142

Gross reproduction rate

0.88 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)

total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

6.1% of GDP (2021)

10.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

2.59 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 98.2% of population (2022 est.)

total: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

rural: 1.8% of population (2022 est.)

total: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

28.9% (2016)

comparison ranking: 28

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 4.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 3.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.19 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.)

comparison ranking: total 91

Tobacco use

total: 13.8% (2025 est.)

male: 21.8% (2025 est.)

female: 6.3% (2025 est.)

comparison ranking: total 107

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

4.2% (2021)

comparison ranking: 70

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56.6% (2023 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 3.6% (2018)

women married by age 18: 20.7% (2018)

Education expenditure

4.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

15.9% national budget (2021 est.)

comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 97

Literacy

total population: 95% (2020 est.)

male: 96% (2020 est.)

female: 94% (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years (2022 est.)

male: 14 years (2022 est.)

female: 15 years (2022 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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

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

Climate

varies from tropical to desert

Land use

Urbanization

urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

441.049 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.)

from consumed natural gas: 180.684 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total emissions 13

Particulate matter emissions

17.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 53.1 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2.655 million tons (2013 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2013 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 13.17 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 8.56 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 67.83 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

461.89 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 2

global geoparks and regional networks: Comarca Minera, Hidalgo; Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca (2023)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: United Mexican States

conventional short form: Mexico

local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos

local short form: Mexico

former: Mexican Republic, Mexican Empire

etymology: name may derive from one of the Nahuatl (Aztec) names for the capital city, Metztlixihtlico, which probably meant “the center of the moon;” alternatively, it may come from Mexica, the original name of the Aztec people

Government type

federal presidential republic

Capital

name: Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico)

geographic coordinates: 19 26 N, 99 08 W

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

daylight saving time: DST was permanently removed in October 2022

time zone note: Mexico has four time zones

etymology: name may derive from one of the Nahuatl (Aztec) names for the capital city, Metztlixihtlico, which probably meant “the center of the moon;” alternatively, it may come from Mexica, the original name of the Aztec people

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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

Constitution

history: several previous; latest approved 5 February 1917

amendment process: 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

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: not specified

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch

chief of state: President Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (since 1 October 2024)

head of government: President Claudia SHEINBAUM Pardo (since 1 October 2024)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president

election/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a single 6-year term

most recent election date: 2 June 2024

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%

expected date of next election: 2030

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

Legislative branch

legislature name: Congress of the Union (Congreso de la Unión)

legislative structure: bicameral

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

Legislative branch – lower chamber

chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)

number of seats: 500 (all directly elected)

electoral system: mixed system

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 3 years

most recent election date: 6/2/2024

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)

percentage of women in chamber: 50.2%

expected date of next election: June 2027

Legislative branch – upper chamber

chamber name: Senate (Cámara de Senadores)

number of seats: 128 (all directly elected)

electoral system: mixed system

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 6 years

most recent election date: 6/2/2024

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)

percentage of women in chamber: 50%

expected date of next election: June 2030

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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: 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: federal level includes circuit, collegiate, and unitary courts; state and district level courts

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

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: Ambassador Esteban MOCTEZUMA Barragán (since 20 April 2021)

chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006

telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600

FAX: [1] (202) 728-1698

email address and website:
[email protected]

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

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)

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)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald D. JOHNSON (since 19 May 2025)

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

mailing address: 8700 Mexico City Place, Washington DC 20521-8700

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

FAX: (011) 52-55-5080-2005

email address and website:
[email protected]

https://mx.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juárez, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, Matamoros, Mérida, Monterrey, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo, Tijuana

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

Independence

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 16 September (1810)

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist 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; green stands for hope, joy, and love; white for peace and honesty; red for hardiness, bravery, strength, and valor

note: similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter, has no emblem, and uses lighter shades of green and red

National symbol(s)

golden eagle, dahlia

National color(s)

green, white, red

National anthem(s)

title: “Himno Nacional Mexicano” (National Anthem of Mexico)

lyrics/music: Francisco Gonzalez BOCANEGRA/Jaime Nuno ROCA

history: adopted 1943

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 35 (27 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)

Economy

Economic overview

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)

$2.883 trillion (2024 est.)
$2.842 trillion (2023 est.)
$2.751 trillion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 13

Real GDP growth rate

1.5% (2024 est.)
3.3% (2023 est.)
3.7% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

comparison ranking: 162

Real GDP per capita

$22,000 (2024 est.)
$21,900 (2023 est.)
$21,400 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

comparison ranking: 98

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.853 trillion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.7% (2024 est.)
5.5% (2023 est.)
7.9% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

comparison ranking: 142

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.8% (2024 est.)

industry: 31.6% (2024 est.)

services: 58.2% (2024 est.)

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

comparison rankings: services 103; industry 46; agriculture 122

GDP – composition, by end use

household consumption: 70.3% (2024 est.)

government consumption: 11.2% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 24.2% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services: 36.8% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services: -37.9% (2024 est.)

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

Agricultural products

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

0.2% (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 131

Labor force

60.959 million (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 11

Unemployment rate

2.8% (2024 est.)
2.8% (2023 est.)
3.3% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

comparison ranking: 31

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 5.5% (2024 est.)

male: 5.2% (2024 est.)

female: 6.1% (2024 est.)

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

comparison ranking: total 158

Population below poverty line

36.3% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

43.5 (2022 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 28

Average household expenditures

on food: 25.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 2.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.1% (2022 est.)

highest 10%: 34.4% (2022 est.)

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

Remittances

3.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
3.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
4.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

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

Budget

revenues: $282.751 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $327.211 billion (2022 est.)

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

Public debt

45.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 121

Taxes and other revenues

14.2% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

comparison ranking: 95

Current account balance

-$5.986 billion (2024 est.)
-$5.611 billion (2023 est.)
-$17.701 billion (2022 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 178

Exports

$680.798 billion (2024 est.)
$649.729 billion (2023 est.)
$630.347 billion (2022 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 15

Exports – partners

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

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

Exports – commodities

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

$697.067 billion (2024 est.)
$674.695 billion (2023 est.)
$672.914 billion (2022 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 14

Imports – partners

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

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

Imports – commodities

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$232.035 billion (2024 est.)
$214.317 billion (2023 est.)
$201.119 billion (2022 est.)

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

comparison ranking: 17

Debt – external

$306.308 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

comparison ranking: 2

Exchange rates

Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
18.305 (2024 est.)
17.759 (2023 est.)
20.127 (2022 est.)
20.272 (2021 est.)
21.486 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification – total population: 100% (2022 est.)

electrification – urban areas: 99.8%

electrification – rural areas: 100%

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 105.586 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 332.042 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 1.97 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 4.863 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 45.47 billion kWh (2023 est.)

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 204; imports 47; exports 61; consumption 14; installed generating capacity 17

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 79.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 4.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 5.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 5.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy

Number of operational nuclear reactors: 2 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 1.55GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production: 4.9% (2023 est.)

Coal

production: 6.296 million metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption: 15.132 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 8.809 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 1.16 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 2.101 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 1.741 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 5.786 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production: 33.118 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption: 97.118 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 27.92 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 64.289 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves: 180.322 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

57.539 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: 86

Communications

Telephones – fixed lines

total subscriptions: 25.637 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 9

Telephones – mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 140 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2022 est.)

comparison ranking: total subscriptions 12

Broadcast media

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

.mx

Internet users

percent of population: 81% (2023 est.)

Broadband – fixed subscriptions

total: 26.6 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2023 est.)

comparison ranking: total 10

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

1,580 (2025)

comparison ranking: 4

Heliports

488 (2025)

comparison ranking: 7

Railways

total: 23,389 km (2017)

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

Merchant marine

total: 674 (2023)

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

comparison ranking: total 34

Ports

total ports: 35 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 7

small: 10

very small: 14

size unknown: 4

ports with oil terminals: 21

key ports: Acapulco, Ensenada, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Tampico, Tuxpan, Veracruz

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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: 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

0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Mexican military inventory includes a mix of domestically produced and imported weapons and equipment from a variety of mostly Western suppliers, particularly the US; a considerable portion of its inventory, such as ships and fighter aircraft, are older, secondhand items from the US; over the past decade, the Mexican military has made efforts to acquire more modern equipment; Mexico’s defense industry produces some naval vessels and light armored vehicles, as well as small arms and other miscellaneous equipment (2023)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (16 with parental consent) for voluntary enlistment for men and women; 18 years of age for compulsory military service for men (selection for service determined by lottery); conscript service obligation is 12 months; those selected serve on Saturdays in a Batallón del Servicio Militar Nacional (National Military Service Battalion) composed entirely of 12-month Servicio Militar Nacional (SMN) conscripts; conscripts remain in reserve status until the age of 40; cadets enrolled in military schools from the age of 15 are considered members of the armed forces; National Guard: single men and women 18-30 years of age may volunteer (2024)

note: as of 2023, women comprised about 10% of the active-duty Army, Air Force, and Navy, and about 14% of the National Guard

Military – note

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

Mexican Space Agency (Agencia Espacial Mexicana or AEM; established 2010 and began operating in 2013) (2024)

Space program overview

the AEM’s focus is on coordinating Mexico’s space policy and the country’s commercial space sector, including developing specialists, technologies, and infrastructure, and acquiring satellites; manufactures and operates communications and scientific satellites; conducts research in a range of space-related capabilities and technologies, including satellites and satellite payloads, telecommunications, remote sensing, robotics, Earth and weather sciences, astronomy, and astrophysics; has relations with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial space industries, including those of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its member states (particularly France, Germany, and the UK), India, Peru, Russia, Ukraine, and the US; leading member of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) (2024)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Terrorist group(s): 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: 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