Country Profile: Mexico

Mexico, located in North America, is characterized by its diverse geography that includes rugged mountains, coastal plains, and plateaus. With a population of approximately 130.7 million (2024 est.), it is a federal presidential republic with significant cultural influences from its rich pre-Columbian history. The economy is classified as upper-middle-income, highly integrated with the U.S. through trade, yet faces challenges like income inequality and cartel-related violence. Mexico's governance is marked by a history of democratic transitions, with the current president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, having been elected in 2024.

Geography

Mexico occupies a strategic location in North America, bordered by the United States to the north and Belize and Guatemala to the south. Its total area measures approximately 1,964,375 square kilometers, making it slightly less than three times the size of Texas. The country has a coastline of 9,330 km and features a diverse climate that ranges from tropical in the coastal areas to desert in the north.

• Area: approximately 1,964,375 sq km
• Land boundaries: 4,389 km total, shared with Belize, Guatemala, and the US
• Highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba at 5,636 m
• Natural resources: includes petroleum, silver, and gold
• Population distribution: concentrated in the central regions, particularly around Mexico City

People and Society

The population of Mexico is approximately 130.7 million (2024 est.), with a median age of 30.8 years. The society is diverse, with ethnic groups comprising 62% Mestizo and a significant Indigenous population. Spanish is the predominant language, spoken by 93.8% of the population, while Roman Catholicism is the leading religion, accounting for 78% of citizens.

• Urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023)
• Literacy rate: 95% (2020 est.)
• Life expectancy: 74.6 years (2024 est.)
• Birth rate: 14.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
• Unemployment rate: 2.8% (2024 est.)

Economy

Mexico has a mixed economy categorized as upper-middle-income. The GDP (PPP) is estimated at $2.883 trillion (2024 est.), with a real GDP growth rate projected at 1.5%. The economy heavily relies on the manufacturing sector, trade with the U.S., and remittances from citizens abroad, which account for about 3.7% of GDP.

• GDP per capita: $22,000 (2024 est.)
• Exports: approximately $680.8 billion (2024 est.)
• Imports: around $697.1 billion (2024 est.)
• Debt to GDP ratio: 45.1% (2023 est.)
• Population below poverty line: 36.3% (2022 est.)

Government

The government of Mexico operates as a federal presidential republic with a multi-party system. The capital city is Mexico City, and the country is divided into 32 states. The Constitution was last approved on February 5, 1917, and provides for a bicameral Congress. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo is the current president, elected in June 2024.

• Suffrage: universal and compulsory from 18 years old
• Legislature: bicameral; includes the Chamber of Deputies (500 members) and Senate (128 members)
• Last presidential election: June 2, 2024
• Next presidential election: expected in 2030
• Constitutional amendments: requires two-thirds approval in Congress

Military and Security

The Mexican Armed Forces are organized under the Secretariat of National Defense and the Secretariat of the Navy, with approximately 260,000 active personnel. Military spending is projected at 0.9% of GDP for 2024. The military plays a key role in internal security, particularly in combating drug trafficking and organized crime.

• Active military personnel: approximately 260,000
• National Guard personnel: about 110,000 (2025)
• Mandatory service age: 18 years
• Military expenditures as a percentage of GDP: 0.9% (2024 est.)
• Military service obligation: 12 months for conscripts

Energy

Mexico boasts a total electricity generation capacity of 105.586 million kW (2023 est.), with fossil fuels constituting 79.6% of this capacity. The country has made significant advances in renewable energy, but still imports some energy resources.

• Electricity consumption: 332.042 billion kWh (2023 est.)
• Total petroleum production: 2.101 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
• Natural gas consumption: 97.118 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
• Nuclear energy capacity: 1.55 GW (2025)
• Electricity access: 100% of total population (2022 est.)

Environment

Mexico faces significant environmental challenges, including deforestation, air and water pollution, and scarcity of clean water. The country is also subject to various natural hazards, such as earthquakes and hurricanes.

• Total water withdrawal: 13.17 billion cubic meters (municipal, 2020 est.)
• Municipal solid waste generated: 53.1 million tons (2015 est.)
• Percentage of urban population with improved sanitation: 99.9%
• Deforestation issues: considered a national security issue
• International environmental agreements: a party to multiple agreements including the Paris Agreement

Transportation

The transportation infrastructure in Mexico includes 1,580 airports and 23,389 km of railways. The country has a well-developed network of roads and highways, facilitating trade and travel.

• Civil aircraft registration code: XA
• Major ports: includes key locations like Acapulco and Veracruz
• Heliports: 488 (2025)
• Railways total length: 23,389 km
• Merchant marine: consists of 674 vessels (2023)

Communications

Mexico has a rapidly growing communications sector, with around 140 million mobile cellular subscriptions and 81% of the population using the internet as of 2023. The country transitioned to digital broadcasting in 2016.

• Fixed-line subscriptions: 25.637 million (2023 est.)
• Broadband subscriptions: 26.6 million (2023 est.)
• Television stations: 885 (2022)
• Radio stations: 1,841
• Internet users: approximately 81% of the population (2023 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	130,739,927	2024 estimate
Area	1,964,375 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$2.883 trillion	2024 estimate
Unemployment Rate	2.8%	2024 estimate
Birth Rate	14.3 births/1,000	2024 estimate
Life Expectancy	74.6 years	2024 estimate
Electricity Access	100%	2022 estimate
Military Expenditures	0.9% of GDP	2024 estimate
Total Energy Consumption per Capita	57.539 million Btu/person	2023 estimate
Urban Population	81.6%	2023 estimate