Mexico

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More Facts & Figures

Official name: Estados Unidos Mexicanos

Current government officials

Languages: Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous languages

Ethnicity/race: mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%

Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%

National Holiday: Independence Day, September 16

Literacy rate: 91% (2004 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2009 est.): $1.48 trillion; per capita $13,500. Real growth rate: –6.5%. Inflation: 3.6%. Unemployment: 5.6% plus underemployment of perhaps 25%. Arable land: 13%. Agriculture: corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products. Labor force: 45.38 million; agriculture 18%, industry 24%, services 58% (2003). Industries: food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism. Natural resources: petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber. Exports: $229.7 billion (2009 est.): manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton. Imports: $234.4 billion (2009 est.): metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft, and aircraft parts. Major trading partners: U.S., Canada, Spain, South Korea, Japan (2006).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 19.861 million (2006); mobile cellular: 57.016 million (2006). Radio broadcast stations: AM 850, FM 545, shortwave 15 (2003). Radios: 31 million (1997). Television broadcast stations: 236 (plus repeaters) (1997). Televisions: 25.6 million (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 7.629 million (2007). Internet users: 22 million (2006).

Transportation: Railways: total: 17,665 km (2006). Highways: total: 235,670 km; paved: 116,751 km (including 6,144 km of expressways); unpaved: 118,919 km (2004). Waterways: 2,900 km navigable rivers and coastal canals. Ports and harbors: Acapulco, Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Ensenada, Guaymas, La Paz, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Mazatlan, Progreso, Salina Cruz, Tampico, Topolobampo, Tuxpan, Veracruz. Airports: 1,834 (2007).

International disputes: prolonged regional drought in the border region with the U.S. has strained water-sharing arrangements.

Major sources and definitions