Country Profile: Mexico

Mexico is a vibrant country located in North America, sharing borders with the United States, Belize, and Guatemala, with coastlines along the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean. With a population of over 130 million, it is the second-largest country in Latin America and has a diverse cultural heritage stemming from advanced Amerindian civilizations. The economy, marked as upper-middle-income, is heavily intertwined with the United States through trade and manufacturing, yet faces challenges such as income inequality and cartel violence. Governance is characterized by a federal presidential republic, currently led by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who took office in October 2024.

Geography

Mexico spans an area of approximately 1,964,375 square kilometers, making it slightly less than three times the size of Texas. The country's terrain is diverse, featuring high rugged mountains, low coastal plains, and high plateaus, with the highest point being Volcan Pico de Orizaba at 5,636 meters. The climate varies from tropical to desert across its regions, and natural resources include petroleum, silver, and copper.

4,389 km of land boundaries shared with the US, Belize, and Guatemala.
9,330 km of coastline along the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
50.7% of land is used for agriculture (2023 est.).
Home to the Sac Actun cave system, the longest underwater cave in the world.

People and Society

With a population estimated at 130.7 million in 2024, Mexico is one of the most populous countries in the world. The society is composed predominantly of mestizos (62%), along with various indigenous groups. About 81.6% of the population lives in urban areas, with significant cultural diversity, including a majority Catholic populace (77.7%).

31 years is the median age (2025 est.).
14.73 births per 1,000 population (2025 est.).
2.59 physicians per 1,000 population (2022).
Literacy rate stands at 95% (2020 est.).

Economy

Mexico has an upper-middle-income economy that is highly reliant on trade with the United States, accounting for 76% of its exports. Challenges include low domestic demand and income inequality. The GDP estimated at $2.883 trillion in 2024, reflects a diverse economic structure with services constituting 58.2% of its composition.

3.8% contribution from agriculture to GDP (2024 est.).
Unemployment rate remains low at 2.8% (2024 est.).
36.3% of the population lives below the poverty line (2022 est.).
Exports to the US amounted to $680.798 billion in 2024.

Government

Mexico is structured as a federal presidential republic, divided into 32 states. The political system underwent significant changes with the election of Andrés Manuel López Obrador in 2018, followed by the recent election of Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo in 2024. The constitution, effective since 1917, provides for universal suffrage at age 18.

Most recent election held on June 2, 2024.
50.2% of the Chamber of Deputies comprises women.
The Mexican National Guard was established in 2019 to enhance public security.

Military and Security

The Mexican Armed Forces consist of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, focusing on both national defense and internal security issues, particularly combating drug trafficking. The military's role expanded with constitutional amendments allowing military involvement in public security.

Approximately 260,000 active-duty personnel (2025).
Military expenditure was 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.).
The National Guard includes around 110,000 personnel (2025).

Energy

Mexico has achieved 100% electrification, with the energy sector heavily reliant on fossil fuels, which make up 79.6% of its electricity generation capacity. There is a growing focus on renewable sources like solar and wind, contributing to energy diversification.

Total electricity consumption was 332.042 billion kWh in 2023.
2.101 million barrels of oil produced daily (2023 est.).
Proven reserves of natural gas are 180.322 billion cubic meters (2021 est.).

Environment

Mexico faces significant environmental challenges, including water scarcity and urban pollution. Deforestation and erosion have prompted the government to consider clean water access a national security issue.

441.049 million metric tons of CO2 emissions recorded in 2023.
The country’s land use includes 34.2% forest cover (2023 est.).
It is party to numerous international environmental agreements, addressing issues like biodiversity and climate change.

Transportation

Mexico boasts a robust transportation network, including 1,580 airports and 23,389 km of railways. The country’s merchant marine fleet consists of 674 vessels, supporting both cargo and passenger transport.

35 ports are strategically located for trade (2024).
488 heliports enhance accessibility and logistics (2025).
The country has a significant number of mobile phone subscriptions, exceeding 140 million (2023).

Communications

Communications infrastructure in Mexico has evolved significantly, with over 140 million mobile cellular subscriptions and high internet penetration, reaching 81% of the population.

25.637 million fixed-line telephone subscriptions reported in 2023.
26.6 million fixed broadband subscriptions as of 2023.
Transition to digital broadcasting was completed in 2016.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	130,739,927 (2024 est.)
Area	1,964,375 sq km
GDP	$2.883 trillion	(2024 est.)
Energy consumption	57.539 million Btu/capita	(2023 est.)
Birth rate	14.73 births/1,000	(2025 est.)
Unemployment rate	2.8%	(2024 est.)
Life expectancy at birth	74.6 years	(2024 est.)
Poverty rate	36.3%	(2022 est.)
CO2 emissions	441.049 million metric tons	(2023 est.)
Electrification rate	100%	(2022 est.)