Mexico

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Mexico's Information


Capital	Mexico City
Languages	Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%, indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%
Ethnic Groups	Mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 62%, predominantly Amerindian 21%, Amerindian 7%, other 10% (mostly European)
Religion	Roman Catholic 82.7%, Pentecostal 1.6%, Jehovah's Witness 1.4%, other Evangelical Churches 5%, other 1.9%, none 4.7%, unspecified 2.7% (2010 est.)
Government	Federal presidential republic
Independance	16 September 1810 (declared); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)
Area	1,964,375.00 km²
Water Area	20,430.00 km²
Land Area	1,943,945.00 km²
Population	123,166,749.00 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
Location	North America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the United States and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the United States
No. Bordering Countries	3
Bordering Countries	Belize 276 km, Guatemala 958 km, US 3,155 km
GDP(PPP)	$2,310,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$18,900.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partner is the United States.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, and fruits.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are the United States, China, and Japan.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include metalworking machines, steel mill products, and agricultural machinery.
Climate	Varies from tropical to desert
Terrain	High, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert

Where is Mexico?

Located in North America, Mexico has a 4,389.00 km border with Belize (276 km), Guatemala (958 km) and US (3,155 km). It has a 9,330.00 km coastline. Mexico has strained water-sharing arrangements with the United States, and also experiences a high volume of illegal immigration from Central American countries.

Mexico City is the capital city of Mexico. Until January 2016, it was known as the Distrito Federal (Federal District). It was first built in 1325 making it one of the oldest capitals in the Americas. It is the most populous city in the country with a metropolitan population of more than 21.2 million. Thanks to its rich history it has a lot to offer to tourists, for example, the Ancient city of Teotihuacan and the Historic Centre of Mexico City which are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Its climate is an Oceanic Subtropical Highland Climate due to its elevated tropical location.

Geography

Mexico has a mean elevation of 1,111 m above sea level.

It has a varied climate, from tropical to arid. Its terrain is mostly made up of high rugged mountains, with desert, low coastal plains, and high plateaus.

Population

Mexico has a population of 123,166,749 making it the 11th largest in the world. The majority of the population can be found in the states of Jalisco and Veracruz.

Spanish is the official and most widely spoken language. The major ethnic groups reported are mestizo and Amerindian. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic.

Mexico is ethnically diverse with a large number of languages. Nonetheless, most people speak Spanish and study English as a second language. The Mexican government recognizes 68 indigenous languages which are split further into 364 dialects. The Law of Linguistic Rights protects the rights of Mexicans to use other indigenous languages in a formal context and while communicating. However, many of them are in danger of extinction. There are several phrases in Mexican Spanish used in daily conversations, though the accent differs from European Spanish. Moreover, there are at least three variations of sign language being used in Mexico.

Government

Mexico is an independent country. It declared its independence in 1810. Its constitution was last ratified in 1917.

The United States of Mexico has a presidential and a federal type of government. The head of state and commander-in-chief is the president. Power in the government is shared between the three arms of government consisting of the legislature, the judiciary, and the executive. Mexico's current constitution was adopted in 1917. The 31 Free States of Mexico are governed by the governor and their deputies. Each of the states is free and has three arms of government, each working independently. The country’s Congress is made up of two chambers: the deputies chamber has 300 members while the senator’s chamber has 200 members. In total, Congress has 500 members. The presidential general elections are held after every six years. To win the presidential elections the candidate must get the majority of the votes cast. The president can only serve for one term of 6 years. Citizens aged 18 years and above are allowed to vote in the general elections.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Mexico's GDP is $2,310,000,000,000.00 (USD) with $18,900.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 11th largest economy and its citizens the 86th richest in the world. The currency of Mexico is the Peso (MXN).

Its major export partner is the United States. Its main exports are manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, and fruits. Its major import partners are the United States, China, and Japan. Its major imports include metalworking machines, steel mill products, and agricultural machinery.

Flag

The Mexican flag is comprised of tricolor stripes of green, white, and red. On the white stripe, there is a coat of arms. The coat of arms is made up of an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak and talons. The white stripe is in the middle of the flag. Green represents hope, while white is for unity, and red is for the blood shed in war. The Mexican flag has a long history behind its design. However, the flag’s colors were maintained through the years with changes only on the coat of arms.