Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
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).
- Capital
- Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico)
- Government
- federal presidential republic
- Population
- 130,739,927
- Area
- 1,964,375 sq km
- Location
- North America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of America, between Belize and the United States and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betwee…
- Climate
- varies from tropical to desert
- Natural resources
- petroleum; silver; antimony; copper; gold; lead…
- Languages
- Spanish only 93.8%; Spanish and indigenous languages (including Mayan; Nahuatl; and others) 5.4%…
- Religions
- Catholic 77.7%; no religion 10.6%; other Evangelical Churches 7.5%; Jehovah Witness 1.2%…
- Independence
- 16 September 1810 (declared independence from Spain);
- Administrative divisions
- 32 states (estados, singular - estado); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuah…
- Currency
- Mexican pesos (MXN)
- Export partners
- USA 76%; Canada 5%; China 2%; Germany 2%…
- Import partners
- USA 46%; China 20%; Germany 4%; Japan 3%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain